Striking STEM Gold: Scientists in the Classroom

Jillian Worssam, the first STEM City Teacher of the Year, and professional science educator at Sinagua Middle School, had a big day on Friday, October 23rd, with her "Scientists in the Classroom" program. Initiated by Jillian several years ago, this program now includes 19 community STEM partners (link here for a list of all classroom STEM partners) that are paired with Jillian's and other science educators classes at Sinagua Middle School. On Friday, TGen North, Nestlé Purina, Mountain Heart and  Lowell Observatory each had representatives visiting one of Jillian's 8th grade classes.

Mike Valentine initiates students to the world of TGen North

Scientists in the Classroom consists of two separate initiatives. The monthly classroom mentor program, and a one-on-one scientist-with-student mentoring program for Honors Classes. You can read more about both at the program website and in this Arizona Daily Sun article by Corina Vanek here.

Nestlé Purina has been a classroom partner for the past three years. Here, David Hopkins, Training Coordinator at Nestlé Purina, has the students use beads to demonstrate the correct sequence and proportions to make a complete and accurate batch recipe for a pet food product. Having an interactive component engages students in the integrated science, math, engineering and technology of Purina's process.

Ande Burke, the Marketing Director for Mountain Heart, has the distinction of being the very first classroom mentor for the Scientists in the Classroom program!

Try to find Ande Burke, Marketing Director with Mountain Heart, with her mentor class!

Rory Hack, Honors student, with her mentor Jeff Hall, Director of Lowell Observatory

The one-on-one program where a scientist is paired with Honors student includes Jeff Hall, the Director of Lowell Observatory, who visited Jillian's class to present the latest in space to the entire class. Rory Hack, his mentee, will become the classroom expert on Dr. Hall's research. Scientists in this program are not all local; there are 60 partners total, and some are from as far away as Russia and Scandinavia, New Zealand, and the Antarctic bases! Scientists and students share two e-mails per month as students learn more about the scientist and their research and produce podcasts, videos, papers and more.

Dr. Hall presents information on planets and stars to an 8th grade Honors class.