Char-Em ISD’s mobile science, technology, engineering, and math initiative, known as Char-Em Street STEM, has been awarded a $2,500 Education Excellence Award from the SET SEG Foundation, in partnership with the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB).
SET SEG is a non-profit organization based in East Lansing that provides specialized insurance, risk management, and employee benefit solutions to Michigan public schools and their employees.
“This is an incredible achievement, as only 12 programs were selected from a substantial number of applications we received from public schools across Michigan,” said Molly Mellema, SET SEG Foundation Executive Director.
Beltz excites kindergarteners at Blackbird Elementary School in Harbor Springs with captivating STEM activities.
Street STEM Consultant Brandon Beltz said the award will be used to help the STEM trailer continue to provide the most cutting-edge, current technology for getting students in Char-Em ISD excited about science, technology, engineering and math.
“We are so grateful to SET SEG for seeing the value in our Street STEM program,” said Beltz. “This award will help ensure our students in grades kindergarten through 8th are receiving the same educational experiences in STEM that their peers in more metropolitan areas are receiving.”
Street STEM reaches approx. 5,000 students throughout Charlevoix, Emmet, and northern Antrim counties each school year. Typically, teachers will coordinate a visit from Beltz in their classrooms, where he demonstrates the technology to students and staff. After the visit, teachers are able to check out the STEM materials at no cost from Char-Em to use in their classroom throughout the school year.
Often, Street STEM’s mascot, Eureka, makes a visit to the classrooms when Beltz is on-site, further exciting the young students about the program.
Beltz works with students at the Patricia A. Taylor School for Exceptional Learners with STEM activities.
“Our model is very unique, in that we are not only giving students the chance to use the latest and greatest technology available, but we are empowering teachers to utilize the technology themselves after our visit,” said Jim Rummer, Director of Career and Technical Education for Char-Em ISD. “The fact that we have received so much support from community-oriented entities like SET SEG demonstrates that this work is making an impact in the lives of students.”
Learn more about Char-Em Street STEM on the Career Tech website: www.charemisdcareertech.org/stem/
Eureka is always a hit with kids of all ages! Here is Eureka with Petoskey elementary school students.