Page 13 - TTMNSummer2025
P. 13

STEM
        Teaching Today Minnesota | Summer/Back to School 2025                                                                                 Page 13



          Labor and Industry Announces 2025 Youth Skills Training Grant Recipients

                                                                                  •  meaningful  industry  exposure  for      Minneapolis Public Schools - Career
                                                                                    diverse students,                 and Technical Education
                                                                                  •  an offering of at least one industry-     Monticello High School
                                                                                    related course for high school credit,     Princeton Public Schools
                                                                                  •  a pathway to industry-recognized certi-     Robbinsdale Area Schools
                                                                                    fication/credentialing, and        Rochester Public Schools
                                                                                  •  paid work experiences in one or more      Roseau School District
                                                                                    of the  following  industries:  advanced
                                                                                    manufacturing, agriculture, automotive,      Shakopee High School
                                                                                    health care and information technology.      TrekNorth Jr. and Sr. High School
              Seventeen  partnerships across Min-  expand YST programs throughout Minnesota.                           West Central Area School District
          nesota will receive funding to develop and   Successful  applicants  will  demonstrate  the   Employers  must  be  approved  for YST
          expand programs to offer meaningful career   ability to achieve program objectives through   paid work experiences prior to student learn-     West St. Paul, Mendota Heights, Eagan
          exposure and paid work experience for stu-  various means including outreach, education,   ers being placed at employer sites. Download   Area School District
          dents 16 years of age and older.   training, and supportive services for students.   employer  approval  forms.  Programs  are   Grants can be used to create programs,
                                             The goal of the YST program is to create path-  not required to be a YST grant recipient to   recruit  students  and  employers,  provide
          Objective                          ways  for  students  to  high-growth  in-demand   become an approved YST program.  training,  transport students and pay for
              The Youth Skills Training (YST) program   occupations and support industry with future   YST grants will be awarded to the fol-  industry-related  student  certifications.  A
          encourages, promotes and supports the devel-  talent.                 lowing  17  partnerships,  which  will  receive   ninth round of grant applications will open
          opment of local partnerships between schools,                         and split $1.5 million in funding to be used   in winter 2025.
          employers  and  community  organizations.   Eligibility               for programs operating from July 1, 2025, to
          These local partnerships provide students with   YST  programs  are  composed  of  a   June 30, 2027. Alexandria Area High School More information
          related classroom instruction, safety training,   minimum  of  one  school  partner  and  one      Alexandria Area High School  For  more  information  about  Youth
          industry-recognized credentials and paid work   employer  partner.  They  may  include  mul-     Cass Lake-Bena High School  Skills Training contact Jo Daggett, program
          experience  in  the  high-growth,  in-demand   tiple  schools,  employers  and  community      createMPLS  manager,  at  651-284-5354  or  jo.daggett@
          occupations  of  advanced  manufacturing,   organizations.                 Dawson-Boyd Public Schools  state.mn.us;  Nimo  Samatar,  program  con-
          agriculture, automotive, health care, and infor-  School partners do not need to go                     sultant, at 651-284-5184 or nimo.samatar@
          mation technology. The Minnesota Department   through  a  formal  approval  process,  but      Edina Public Schools  state.mn.us;  or  Faye  Blough,  program  spe-
          of Labor and Industry (DLI) awards grants to   should meet with YST staff to demonstrate a      Faribault Public Schools  cialist,  at  651-284-5341  or  faye.blough@
          local  partnerships  to  create,  implement  and   plan to provide the following:     Marshall Public Schools  state.mn.us.





        From Theme Parks to Survivor Island Continued from Page 12
        matter, this isn’t a writing class.’ Now,   foam tubing, tape, various sized boxes and
        everything is writing class,” says Shelley.   stands  and  marbles.  They  raise  and  lower
        “They’re  seeing  a  little  bit  more  how  this   their tubing and shift angles to observe the
        skill I’m developing in math has an applica-  effects on the marble — and their future roll-
        tion in science. This skill I’m developing in   ercoaster.
        language arts has this application over here.”  As Lindsay works her way around the
            This way of learning — for teachers   room, she asks each group questions. “Why
        and students — is amazing. It also takes a   did  making  the  loop  shorter  help?  Did  it
        lot  of  teacher  time                               work  better  when
        and effort.                                          you started higher or
            “I  don’t  ever                                  lower? Why is that?”
        want  to  not  team   “We have been so amazed           After  they  have
        teach or integrated   by the number of students      their designs, they
        teach,  and  it  is  time   wanting to come in at lunch,   will write their claim,
        consuming,”   says   working at home, or giving up   evidence and reason-
        Shelley. “We just                                    ing.  Then,  they’ll
        have to acknowledge   outside play time to work on   go through the steps
        that.”              this project. We are loving it!”  of  making  a  model.
            The    benefits                                  They’ll draw and label
        of  interdisciplinary                Lindsay Leet,    each component, note
        learning  and  team               science teacher    the relationships and
        teaching are worth it.                               create descriptions.
            “I just love the                                    One      group
        stuff  we’ve  come  up  with  together,”  says   cheers  as  their  marble  lofts  a  break  in  the
        Lindsay.  “It  is  so  much  better  than  what  I   track, lands on the other side and continues
        would have ever come up with on my own.”  to the track’s end. In the corner, the horror   approaches and discoveries.
            On this day, the Inquiry class is splitting   themed  team  is  working  on  a  severe  loop.   This energy around the learning has
        into two rooms. Some groups stay to work   Across the room the fantasy team (plenty of   been  one  of  the  most  rewarding  things  for   www.springlakepark
        on their park designs. Some groups head to   wizards, unicorns, and dragons) has a large   teachers — especially seeing students vol-  schools.org
        the science lab to work on their rollercoast-  drop and curve going.  There is a general   unteer their time.
        ers. In the lab, they quickly get to work with   buzz in the room as teams discuss different
   8   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18