We are thrilled to announce e4usa's partnership with the Tennessee STEM Innovation Network (TSIN), a vital organization dedicated to improving STEM education across the state. This collaboration aims to connect innovative schools, teachers, and administrators with essential resources, foster local school-to-industry partnerships, and support the development of groundbreaking educational programs.
As part of this partnership, TSIN will sponsor 10 high school educators from Tennessee to participate in e4usa’s summer 2025 professional development training and year-round programming. This initiative empowers educators to deliver high-quality engineering education in their classrooms, equipping them with the necessary tools to inspire the next generation of innovators.
Brandi Stroecker, Director of TSIN-Battelle, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership: "As we look toward summer 2025, this partnership holds immense promise for empowering Tennessee’s K-12 teachers and students. By providing hands-on, accessible engineering training, we can foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills in students across the state. This partnership is a key opportunity to equip educators with the tools to inspire the next generation and meet the demands of a STEM-driven world."
The e4usa summer 2025 training workshop will deliver a comprehensive professional development experience for participating educators, complemented by ongoing year-round support. This includes:
- Comprehensive Professional Development Materials: Participants will receive instructional guides and resources for Units 1-4, MyDesign 1, winter professional development, year-round coaching, and access to a liaison, ensuring a structured approach to teaching the e4usa curriculum.
- Access to the e4usa MyDesign Platform: Teachers will be equipped with tools for assessing student projects and organizing their portfolios using the MyDesign Platform.
- MyDesign Scoring Rubric: Participants will receive detailed instruction on using the MyDesign rubric to evaluate student work effectively.
- Lesson Plans and Activity Guides: Educators will gain access to hands-on lesson plans and activity guides for immediate implementation in their classrooms.
- Community of Practice Access: Participants will join the e4usa online community of educators for ongoing collaboration and support.
- Certificate of Completion: A formal certificate recognizing their participation and readiness to implement the e4usa curriculum will be awarded.
Takeaways for participants include an in-depth understanding of the e4usa curriculum, practical classroom techniques, insights into student-centered learning, assessment expertise, hands-on engineering experience, and valuable collaboration and networking opportunities. e4usa’s engagement with teachers will extend beyond the summer and include year-round support, professional development, and community.
This partnership with TSIN-Battelle represents a significant step forward in elevating STEM education in Tennessee, creating a dynamic learning environment for both educators and students. At e4usa, we are excited to expand our footprint in the wonderful state of Tennessee! We look forward to launching our teacher and school recruitment efforts toward the end of November. Stay tuned for more information, or feel free to email us at info@e4usa.org with any questions!