SummerSTEM

Connecting Educators with STEM Professionals to Enhance Instruction in Wake County Public Schools

SummerSTEM is a collaboration between WakeEd Partnership, the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS), and numerous businesses and organizations in North Carolina. This award-winning program enriches educators’ understanding of the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in the workplace using Project-Based Learning (PBL) with an emphasis on STEM businesses and careers.

During SummerSTEM, one-hundred K-12 educators from WCPSS schools engage in hands-on experiences designed to bring real-world lessons to the classroom.

For one week during the summer, educators participate in immersive experiences with local companies exploring targeted career fields and experience college-level applied STEM instruction a Wake Technical Community College. Throughout the following school year, experienced educator mentors coach SummerSTEM participants in lesson design and project-based learning.

In the spring, as the school year comes to a close, educators and their students present the impact of the PBL work completed in the classroom at a public STEMposium event.

What is SummerSTEM?

Professional Development for Educators

Direct instruction in project-based learning
Investigation in community college instruction in applied STEM fields
Immersion in STEM work settings with STEM professionals
Coaching in lesson design using feedback protocols
Leadership experiences aligned with National Teacher Leader Model Standards

Community Engagement for Businesses

Create interactive immersion experiences for educators that demonstrate the relationship between the classroom and the business world
Support educators as they implement their SummerSTEM experiences into their classrooms
Become a program sponsor so that more educators can attend SummerSTEM

SummerSTEM 2021 Business Partners

SummerSTEM Impact

of Wake County Public Schools

Participated in SummerSTEM

Wake County Students

Directly Impacted by SummerSTEM Teachers

Wake County Schools

Participated in SummerSTEM

Professional Development that Changes Teaching and Improves Learning

In December 2018, Amy Germuth published an article in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Teacher Leadership, describing WakeEd Partnership’s SummerSTEM program as a model for effective professional development for educators in North Carolina’s largest school district.

Read Report

STEMPOSIUM 2021

Explore our Virtual STEMposium

WakeEd’s SummerSTEM program empowered 100 K-12 teachers to bring real-world lessons to the classroom through partnerships with leading STEM organization in the Triangle. Join us online to “meet” some of the inspired educators and dedicated business partners who are going above and beyond for Wake County students.

Virtual STEMposium

Presented By

In Partnership With

SummerSTEM News

Learning for Learning’s Sake

Jun 1, 2020

As I reflect on the 2019-2020 school year, despite its challenges, it was a year of new beginnings and growth. Seemingly overnight, I had to adapt to a new normal, one that did not involve interacting with my students, coworkers, and administrators on a daily basis.

“Get ‘em hooked” with Grossology

Jun 1, 2020

We have a saying at York Elementary School on the first day of school: “Get ‘em in. Get ‘em fed. Get ‘em home safely.” Since we transitioned to virtual learning, my mantra has changed. “Get ‘em in. Get ‘em hooked. Keep ‘em excited.”

Building Bridges through STEM and Project-Based Learning

Jun 1, 2020

As an Elementary School Teacher, my job is to build upon a child’s innate curiosity, to turn their love of exploring, questioning, and discovering into the foundation for their academic success. In our ever-changing world, my top priority is to equip first graders with the hard and soft skills they need to look at a problem and create solutions.

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Get Involved

Teachers

Teams of two educators apply to participate. School administrators complete a portion of the application to demonstrate support for their teams. Applications open in early to mid-spring.