2019 - 2020 CSO Overview
Leadership Training Institute
The Chief Science Officers program grew to include over 70 CSOs in 2019! These CSOs represented over 18,000 of their peers from 26 schools and 14 districts throughout Bay, Midland, and Saginaw counties. CSOs and their advisors attended the Leadership Training Institute at Saginaw Valley State University in August 2019 and interacted with many local STEM professionals. CSOs also participated in a STEMazing Race around campus and created their STEM Action Plans. All LTI sessions were developed by the newly created CSO Leadership Council, consisting of 2nd and 3rd year CSOs interested in further developing their leadership and networking skills.
Participating School Districts:
Bangor Township School District, Bay City Public Schools, Bridgeport-Spaulding Community Schools, Carrollton Public Schools, Essexville-Hampton Public Schools, Frankenmuth School District, Freeland Community School District, Hemlock Public Schools, Lutheran Schools, Missouri Synod (St. John’s Lutheran School and Valley Lutheran High School), Midland Public Schools, Saginaw City School District, Saginaw Township Community Schools, and Swan Valley School District.
International CSO Summit
These young leaders from the Great Lakes Bay Region, along with delegations from throughout the U.S., Mexico, Colombia, and Kuwait, traveled to Washington, D.C. in October 2019 for the International CSO Summit. There, they worked as an international cabinet to determine innovative solutions for STEM issues in their regions, discuss STEM education issues with national leaders from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and met with STEM leaders at the National Science Foundation, NASA, and the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Action Plans
While some Action Plans were cut short due to Covid-19 many CSOs were still able to bring STEM awareness to their schools and communities. Some of the amazing Action Plans this year included Teen Science Cafes, STEM Nights, STEMonstrations for elementary students, Flight Night, taking students to a MidMichigan simulation lab, bulletin boards in school, and even 3-D printing protective gear for healthcare workers. CSOs also helped assemble Math in the Mail kits with the Saginaw ISD and collaborated with the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance.
Cabinet Meetings
Chief Science Officers from the Great Lakes Bay Region attended their fall Cabinet Meeting at the Chippewa Nature Center in October 2019. CSOs explored forest trails, learned about threats to native plant species in Michigan, and discovered how nature benefits our health. STEM professionals from Chippewa Nature Center, Little Forks Conservancy, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service informed our CSOs on the importance of protecting our environment.
CSOs met at Saginaw Valley State University in January 2020 to examine qualities of strong leaders and further develop their own leadership skills. While on campus, CSOs met with Dr. Ruth Jones, Branch Chief for Industrial Safety at the NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Dr. Jones shared her experiences with the students and was genuinely impressed with what the CSOs are doing in their schools and communities. CSOs also met with various on-campus groups from career services, business/entrepreneurship, engineering, and chemistry to learn more about what college-level STEM research really entails.
Celebration
At the yearly CSO Celebration, all CSOs are recognized for their accomplishments in their schools and communities. Special recognition is given to the students, advisors, and community partners who went above and beyond to spread STEM awareness and ensure the success of the CSO program in the Great Lakes Bay Region.
2019-20 GLBR Cabinet Awardees:
Innovative CSO: CSO Ava N (H.H. Dow High School)
Innovative CSO Team: CSOs Meredith P and Al K (Northeast Middle School)
Outstanding CSO Advisor: Ms. Mary Knochel (Cramer Jr. High School)
Outstanding CSO Industry Mentor: Mrs. Lori Flippin, STEM Initiative Leader at the Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance
Master CSOs: Carrie M (Heritage High School) and Maggie G (Frankenmuth High School)
Master CSO Advisors: Mrs. Emily Morse (Heritage High School) and Mr. Gordon Culver (Frankenmuth High School)
Legacy CSO: CSO Taryn V (Midland High School)
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