Southwest Dubois teachers bring STEM to life through fellowship experience
What happens when passionate teachers, creative thinking, and hands-on learning collide? At Southwest Dubois County School Corporation, it looks a lot like the STEM Fellowship in action.
This year, the second cohort of Southwest Dubois educators — Nick Herron, Taylor Duckworth, Amanda Thompson and Stacey Metz — joined the STEM Fellowship, a dynamic 10-month professional learning experience hosted by Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI).
Designed to support elementary and middle school educators, the program focuses on building innovative STEM teaching practices while also developing leadership skills that extend beyond the classroom. It starts with an experience that’s anything but ordinary.
During the two-day kickoff, our educators jumped right into the real world of STEM. They met with industry leaders to better understand workforce needs, toured local companies to see STEM careers in action, and rolled up their sleeves with hands-on experiences in robotics and manufacturing simulations. They also collaborated with STEM mentors and explored new tools they could bring directly back to their classrooms.
The experience extended across the region, with sessions at Ivy Tech Community College in Bloomington, Vincennes University in Jasper and WestGate at the Crane Technology Park. Along the way, our educators connected with key industry partners, including visits to Cook Medical, Cook Polymer, and TASUS, and participated in a manufacturing simulation with Jasper Engines & Transmissions.
This immersive kickoff set the tone for the entire fellowship year—one filled with collaboration, innovation, and inspiration. More importantly, it equipped educators with fresh perspectives and practical strategies to create engaging, relevant STEM learning opportunities that truly connect with students.
At the fellowship’s culminating event, that work was on full display. Teachers showcased their projects during a poster gallery walk, giving administrators and guests a chance to see firsthand the creativity and dedication behind each idea. It was part celebration, part inspiration—and a powerful reminder of what happens when educators are given the time and support to grow
One standout example came from Southridge Middle School, where Mr. Herron brought STEM to life through a creative “Splash and Safari” lab inspired by the local favorite, Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari. As part of the experience, the park’s head of human resources even videoed in to present students with a real-world challenge: design and build a water slide that meets specific criteria.
Students fully embraced the opportunity, combining creativity with problem-solving. One student shared, “Making the survey was fun and different than what we normally do. We used the survey to make decisions for our project. That way we are building rides people like!” Another added, “My favorite thing about the lab was using my hands to build something.”
Organizers emphasized that support from school leadership is critical to making opportunities like this possible. When teachers are encouraged to explore new approaches, students benefit in meaningful and lasting ways.
Back in Southwest Dubois classrooms, that impact is already clear. Students are experiencing hands-on, more relevant learning—let’s be honest, more fun.
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