Overview

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education is at the center of nationwide efforts to provide our students with 21st century skills. Critical thinking, discovery, innovation and problem solving are the keys to success in tomorrow’s economy and STEM related job opportunities are growing at a rapid rate. While the STEM job market is ever-expanding, there is also a wealth of support for the case that fluency in STEM subjects is vitally important for every student; regardless of their eventual pursuit of STEM vocation.

The Apple STEM Network will take every opportunity to collaboratively provide resources and infrastructure through the coordinated efforts of K-12 educators, business partners, nonprofits, higher education institutes and community leaders to promote STEM literacy with a commitment to support and empower educators in our community to foster a deep appreciation of the utility of STEM fluency in each and every student.

North Central Washington is home to many underrepresented populations in STEM professions; therefore, great emphasis is placed on equity in connecting ALL students to STEM learning experiences, early and often, with hands-on experiences to spark interest and development opportunities and open doors to new career paths for these students who might someday prove to be an invaluable perspective as part of a thriving STEM profession.

STEM by the Numbers

Washington STEM’s annual STEM by the Numbers reports let us know if the system is supporting more students, especially students of color, students living in poverty and/or rural backgrounds, and young women, to be on track to attain high-demand credentials.

View the North Central regional STEM by the Numbers report here.

Programs + Impact

NORTH CENTRAL CAREER CONNECT WASHINGTON SERIES

As the regional lead for the North Central Career Connect WA region, the Apple STEM Network championed the development of 6 new Career Launch programs and celebrates the opportunity for students to earn credentials and benefit from paid-work experiences during their development. In addition, the collaborative efforts of the regional partnerships have served thousands of rural youth with career exploration and preparation experiences that serve to inspire and ignite their career development paths. The NCESD Network Services Tech program which was developed to meet a growing demand for trained technicians to provide technology services for the 29 School Districts in North Central Washington, was endorsed by the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges and Career Connect Washington in November.

COMPUTER SCIENCE PARTNERSHIPS

In partnership with Microsoft Philanthropies and TEALS (Technology Education & Literacy in Schools), the North Central Educational Services District, OSPI and Code.org the Apple STEM Network leveraged just over $123,000 to expand access to computer science education in the region. In 2020, the Central Washington region was nationally recognized as 1 of 10 CS ecosystems working to develop of a broad support system for Computer Science educators and students.

EARLY LEARNING IN NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON

The Apple STEM Network in partnership with North Central education service district (NCESD) has leveraged $145,000 in new funds to support Early Learning in the region. This includes a $35,000 Creative Start Regional Grant that supports arts integration efforts in Early Learning communities. It also inlcudes an $87,600 Child Care Partnership grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to foster collaborative partnerships that expand Child Care Capacity in Okanogan County.