Central Washington University

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The mission of Central Washington University is to prepare students for enlightened, responsible, and productive lives; to produce research, scholarship, and creative expression in the public interest; and to serve as a resource to the region and the state through effective stewardship of university resources. CWU is a dynamic, creative, and inclusive environment that promotes engaged learning and scholarship. It is distinguished regionally for the rigor of its curriculum and scholarship, for the excellence of its pedagogy, for the vibrancy of its co-curricular and residential experiences, for its commitment to providing access to higher education, and for its efforts to advance the social and economic health of the region. It is typified by an entrepreneurial spirit that establishes it as a national leader in higher education. It has a strong commitment to engaged learning and scholarship, internationalism, sustainability, inclusiveness, and life-long learning.

NextGen STEM implementation at Central Washington University (CWU) works most closely with the Engineering Integration, Clinical Practice, Diversity, Education for Sustainability (EfS), M in STEM (Math), and Computer Science (CS) Working Groups, and at least one CWU faculty member serves on each of these working groups.

KEY PARTNERS: Key partners at CWU include the Department of Science Education and the Department of Mathematics in the College of the Sciences and the Department of Curriculum, Supervision, and Educational Leadership (CSEL) and Department of Education, Development, Teaching, and Learning (EDTL) in the College of Education and Professional Studies. Key K-12 partners include: the school districts of Eastmont, East Valley, Ellensburg, Kittitas, Selah, Thorp, Wahluke, and Yakima, as well as the Apple STEM Network and South Central STEM Network.

Metrics of successful implementation of NextGen STEM Teacher Preparation include:

By 2020:

• CLINICAL PRACTICE: Increase support for Teach STEM Program mentor teachers by implementing training modules at mentor orientation sessions, as well as utilizing two new tools for productive mentor-candidate conversations; develop week-by-week planning and goal-setting tool for Teach STEM teacher candidates; test new induction plan for first cohort of Teach STEM graduates (AY 19-20)
• ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE: Work with K-12 and industry partners to develop, and then present draft proposal for new Masters program in STEM Leadership to college deans
• ENGINEERING, CS, MATH, and EfS: Increase cross talk between mathematics and science methods courses for elementary education programs; Write four, sustainability-focused, STEM-integrated activities for elementary teacher education courses, and publish them on the NextGen Engineering Integration webpage;
• COMPUTER SCIENCE: Approve a minor degree pathway for the Washington State Computer Science teaching endorsement
• DIVERSITY: Generate a report examining demographic data for Teach STEM students as compared to university, college, and comparable programs and present it to the Teach STEM Steering Committee for recommendations and next steps

By 2025:

• SUSTAINABILITY: Increase focus on sustainability in CWU STEM education programs, by infusing sustainability throughout the Teach STEM curriculum and/or developing and implementing a pathway for candidates to earn the Washington State Environmental and Sustainability Education Specialty Endorsement
• DIVERSITY: Use climate surveys to assess and address any DEI-related student concerns in STEM education programs; use targeted recruiting and support strategies to increase recruitment and retention of students from partner school districts
• CLINICAL PRACTICE: Improve transition from Teach STEM class-based field practicum to student teaching, including improved resources for student teaching field supervisors and additional student teaching support by Teach STEM Master Teachers

Barriers and Strengths:

• CWU is geographically located in a rural area. This presents challenges to providing and supporting candidate clinical practice experiences.
• The NextGen-WA collaborative has created a strong culture of collaboration throughout Washington State that can be leveraged to support CWU, statewide, and national STEM education goals.
• Strong culture of collaboration through NextGen network; strong university-wide support for sustainability goals, streamlined and flexible Gen Ed program; strong culture of collaboration in place due to STEM Teach program at Central for Secondary STEM education.

Team members include:

CWU: Christina Black, Adriano Cavalcanti, Jennifer Dechaine, Anne Egger, Susana Flores, Linda Graf, Emilie Hancock, Brent Hancock, Darin Knapp, Ian Loverro, Arthur Morken, Mark Oursland, Ian Quitadamo, Allyson Rogan-Klyve, Keith Salyer, Timothy Sorey

K-12 Systems: Mark Cheney, Sue Kane, Larry Davidson; numerous principals and teachers consult on issues