Government : Local educator participating in STEM Externships Program

Ann Conklin, a Spanish and science teacher at Vinton-Shellsburg High School in Vinton, is among 86 teachers across Iowa participating in the 2025 Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program. This program offers teachers the chance to gain hands-on STEM-related work experiences at various local workplaces to help enrich their classroom instruction with real-world applications. Since its launch in 2009, the Iowa Governor's STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education has facilitated over 1,000 teacher externships throughout the state. 

Conklin will complete a six-week externship with Benton County Conservation this summer as a Naturalist Extern. She provides educational programs at parks, libraries, & learning centers throughout Benton County. She'll be in action at the Benton County Nature Center, open on Mondays from 12 to 4 p.m. or experience a storybook walk during Firefly Festival on Saturday, July 19.

The Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program benefits both participating teachers and local workplace hosts. Educators gain practical workplace experience - boosting their understanding of the job skills and knowledge needed for successful careers and enhancing their classroom instruction with career connected learning. Externship hosts benefit from the expertise of talented and industrious teachers, who can contribute significantly to their projects. These partnerships foster lasting school-business relationships that enhance the community's workforce, making students more aware of local job opportunities and the skills needed to succeed.

This year, the program is supported through state-appropriated funds and investments by Iowa business, industry and community partners and the Iowa Economic Development Authority Grant #21-ARRA-001, Iowa STEM Energy Teacher Externships. This year's contributions from workplace hosts total approximately $158,000 in addition to the STEM Council's investment.