Page 10 - TTWISummer2026

STEM
Page 10 Electronic Edition: www .teachingtodaywi .com

Problem Solving Super Learners

K–12 STEM Programs Prepare Students for Careers in Industries Now and in the Future

Jennifer Haynor said.
“We’ve been doing some hands-on
building activities and really watching them
when what they’re trying to build is not
successful, and coming together with their
partner or their group to try and problem
solve that,” added Rawson STEM teacher
Katy Casleton.
That cooperation and team trouble-
shooting is a skill in and of itself that job
seekers need to be successful in their adult
lives.
“The younger students are where I
notice the biggest impact,” agreed Jolene
Wasilewski. She teaches STEM at both
Blakewood and E. W. Luther schools.
“They come in with the mindset of like ‘I’m
going to need your help.’ But then some-
thing happens between winter and spring,
and they start to kind of blossom. And
next thing you know, you just kind of look chance to get in and practice the skills that
around the room, and they’re no longer they may potentially use later on in their
School District of South Milwaukee of just what we do in STEM class, we’re asking you for help. Just that hum in the careers.”
For students, learning about what
Programming, designing, collaborat- opening them up to the possibility of things classroom of like, kids critically thinking someone wants to do, or doesn’t want to do
ing, prototyping, and redesigning — that’s that they can do in their future.” and working together.” with their lives, is part of a public educa-
what happens in labs and design studios Thinking about the future is what the In high school, students start realizing tion, Roemer said.
in the tech industry. It’s also happening in School District of South Milwaukee is how those skills translate into what they “Right now, for our youngest learners,
South Milwaukee’s STEM labs. doing with its STEM program — some- might want to do with their lives. we’re preparing them for careers that don’t
An acronym for science, technology, thing made possible in part by the Safe, “One of my favorite things about yet exist,” she said.
engineering, and math, STEM is a hands- Supported, Successful referendum, which teaching at the high school is that I am
on way to look at the world that combines was overwhelmingly passed by voters in reaching learners who are really starting to
all those disciplines. 2024. think about what the rest of their life looks
“I think STEM is the future,” said Julie “A number of years ago, we had the like,” High School STEM teacher Karen www.sdsm.k12.wi.us
Barnett, the Middle School STEM teacher. opportunity to think about how we wanted Matthews said. “Students really have a
“By allowing our students into STEM and to expand programming, and we had a
getting them exposed to the vocabulary, number of our high school and middle
the productive struggles, and other pieces school students interested in pursuing
careers in science, technology, engineering,
and math, which we call STEM in schools,”
Superintendent Deidre Roemer said. “And
every one of our students experiences high
levels of skill development in varying
ways, from K–4 all the way up through 12th
grade.”
There are three elementary STEM
teachers serving the district’s four schools.
Similar to library, physical education, and
music class, students now attend STEM
class.
“In a lot of ways, what’s great about
elementary STEM is that students can shine
in ways that they can’t necessarily in the
regular classroom. STEM is very hands-on.
First of all, they are building and construct-
ing, and it’s also often connected to some
kind of tech,” elementary STEM teacher

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