STEM Partners is an innovative program that connects talented teachers with experienced STEM professionals to implement hands-on, minds-on curriculum. Employees from Eli Lilly and Company, IU Health and HNTB volunteer as "STEM Partners" for the duration of a school year, working one-on-one with a teacher to create and enrich the STEM learning environment in the classroom. We are excited to highlight our volunteers and share their rewarding experiences in this volunteer spotlight series!
Stephanie (on the left) pictured with Miss Ashby’s second-grade students.
Stephanie Stout
Research Scientist
Eli Lilly and Company
Stephanie has been a STEM Partner since 2014. Over the years she has volunteered at Blue Academy in Decatur Township and Sycamore Elementary School in Avon, where she currently volunteers with Miss Ashby’s 2nd graders.
Growing up with a mother who taught, Stephanie Stout spent quite a bit of time in the classroom and loved it! Throughout her schooling, Stephanie had several science teachers who inspired and fostered her love for science. For Stephanie, having the opportunity to return to the classroom - an environment she loved as a kid - to share her enthusiasm for science with young students is what drew her to volunteer as a STEM Partner.
“How often do you walk into a room and see 25 faces beam with excitement that you’ve arrived and that they are about to start something fun?” she says of the 2-hour sessions she attends twice per month.
During her five impactful years as a STEM Partner, Stephanie has learned that kids value engaging role models. Stephanie understands that young children yearn for adult role models, and even spending a few moments with them in small groups can help build a relationship.
“Engaging with children can sometimes be intimidating for adults with limited exposure to kids,” she says. “But I have found that students (and teachers) are incredibly gracious when you put yourself out there.”
When Stephanie is interacting with students, Miss Ashby recognizes the clear benefit of Stephanie’s presence in the classroom: students are able to get more hands-on time in small groups because Stephanie is there to assist in leading discussions and providing guidance. Without Stephanie’s presence, it would be a challenge for Miss Ashby to provide enough attention to each group around the classroom.
Although everyone would like to volunteer, it can be tough to find time in your schedule for it. Due to Stephanie’s strong commitment to the program, she plans ahead to establish time for STEM Partners. Stephanie crafts her schedule early in the school year and blocks out her calendar with “out-of-office” notations. Of course, there are days where Stephanie’s schedule is packed and she doesn’t think she can take time away from work, but once she’s in the classroom she always enjoys herself!
Stephanie’s advice for new STEM Partners is to be persistent if you encounter difficulty in communications - or even scheduling - with your paired teacher. Stephanie learned that teachers juggle multiple streams of communication and additional demands that can make connecting with a STEM Partner difficult. Don’t let this challenge discourage you! Maintain persistence and reach out to TechPoint Foundation for Youth or your STEM Partner contacts at your organization for help! For those who aren’t sure whether STEM Partners would be a good fit for them, Stephanie adamantly states that the program will likely be one of the most rewarding parts of your day or week!
Thank you Stephanie for volunteering as a STEM Partner and thank you to Miss Ashby and her second graders for participating in the STEM Partners program! This program wouldn’t be what it is today without the commitment of the STEM Partners volunteers and teachers!