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

Finding a Silver Lining: COVID-19 and Online Learning

Jun 1, 2020

Like any educator you would talk to right now, the 2019-2020 school year has been one that I know I will never forget. My name is Magan Keith and I am an 8th grade English/Language Arts and Social Studies teacher at Wendell Middle School.

STEM education or educated companies? We need both.

Mar 31, 2020

When it comes to careers in STEM, we need more women involved. According to the World Economic Forum, in science alone, less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women and this under-representation occurs in every region in the world.

Learning to Treasure Wild Ducks with IBM

Jul 27, 2018

There is a saying, “treasure your wild ducks,” meaning value the outside-the-box thinkers and those who will try new things to push the envelope. IBM strives to live by this philosophy as they implement Agile and Design Thinking.

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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.