Vision

The Kummer Center for STEM Education will be Missouri’s leading resource for innovation in PK-12 STEM education. By focusing on high quality student experiences and teacher training, the Center will widen the pipeline of diverse STEM educators and professionals in Missouri. These individuals will inspire the next generation of teachers and employees in STEM fields, which will ultimately have a sustainable impact on communities in the future.

Mission

The Center’s mission is to engage teachers and student to increase STEM proficiency and raise awareness of STEM careers throughout Missouri, with special attention to creating equity and inclusion for underrepresented student STEM related fields. 

  • The Center will provide diverse STEM learning experiences to PK-12 students on S&T’s campus and at their schools through collaborative partnerships with school districts and S&T faculty, staff, and students. 
  • The Center will partner with the South Central Regional Professional Development Center (located on the S&T campus), regional school districts, and S&T faculty in Teacher Education and STEM disciplines to enhance student engagement and success at all levels.

Priorities

The Center’s key priorities at its inception will be to provide high quality teacher professional development in STEM content areas and develop an inventory of resources and experiences aimed to inspire student engagement and awareness of STEM-related careers.

  • Resources and experiences will include summer camps, a mobile STEM lab, field trips, after-school programs, teacher conferences and workshops, research experiences for teachers and students, and community outreach events. The Center’s flexible space in designed for interactivity and collaboration in support of these mission-centered activities.