Portland Metro STEM Partnership to Celebrate Successful First Year of Programming

PORTLAND, Ore., April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Portland Metro STEM Partnership and key sponsor Intel will hold the third annual Intel STEMposium on April 26, 2013, at Quatama Elementary School in Hillsboro, Ore. The Portland Metro STEM Partnership is a collective impact partnership comprising public and private organizations with a shared goal of transforming science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the area's K-12 schools. The event will highlight the successful transformation of STEM learning taking place in the region's schools through the collective work of partners from K-12 education, higher education, community education providers, and business.

"Oregon's economic recovery is dependent on increasing student readiness for college and career and growing a locally educated workforce ready to work in STEM fields," said Bill Becker, executive director of the Portland Metro STEM Partnership and director of the PSU Center for Science Education. "This third annual Intel STEMposium marks the beginning of a transformational change in the relationships among key stakeholders in Oregon K-12 STEM education. Using the collective impact model, we're implementing programs and services that support STEM transformation in classrooms around the region. Our work serves as a prototype of a regional STEM hub."

The Intel STEMposium will be held at Quatama Elementary School in Hillsboro, Ore., one of seven STEM Transformation Schools to be highlighted at the event. Over the past year, each STEM School has worked to build a school-based Networked Improvement Community (NIC), a local partnership of educators, parents, business leaders, and educational content providers all focused on developing and implementing a school-wide STEM investment plan. Each school will share the highlights of their year of work at the event and will participate in networking to broaden their NIC.

The STEMposium will celebrate successes from these seven inaugural STEM Schools:

Beaverton School District: Chehalem Elementary, Highland Park Middle
Forest Grove School District: Joseph Gale Elementary
Hillsboro School District: Tobias Elementary, Quatama Elementary
Portland Public Schools: Boise-Eliot/Humbolt School, Jefferson High School

In addition to hosting partner Intel, the Portland Metro STEM Partnership comprises more than 40 partners, including founding partners Vernier Software & Technology and Portland State University, among others.

"Intel believes that young people are the key to solving global challenges.  A solid math and science foundation—coupled with skills such as critical thinking, collaboration and problem solving—is crucial for success. We all prosper when our students succeed," said Jill Eiland, Intel's Corporate Affairs Manager. "Over the last decade, Intel and the Intel Foundation have invested more than $1 billion around the world toward improving education so that our children can compete in the 21st century global economy.  As a founding partner of the Portland Metro STEM Partnership, Intel understands the economic and workforce development challenges we face. A successful STEM partnership will build a workforce with the right science, technology, engineering, and math skills to drive economic prosperity and promote U.S. competitiveness. We look forward to working with our partners to ensure student success in the STEM fields and encourage others to join this collective effort."

About the Portland Metro STEM Partnership
The Portland Metro STEM Partnership is a regional collaboration of public and private organizations with a shared goal of transforming science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the region's K-12 schools. Through the development and implementation of innovative STEM teaching and learning practices, and while advancing Oregon's 40-40-20 goal for education, all Oregon students will develop the necessary scientific literacy and technological knowledge they need to excel as citizens of our increasingly complex world. Learn more at www.pdxstem.org.

SOURCE Portland Metro STEM Partnership