Industry Sponsored Mobile App Now Available to Connect Teachers with Volunteers

The STEM Partners Foundation today announced the release of the STEM Mentor Exchange (STEM MX), a mobile app designed to connect teachers with industry volunteers and resources, and provide students with the learning experiences that will prepare them for the thousands of new STEM-skilled jobs being created every day. In Utah alone, it is predicted that STEM jobs over the next 10 years will grow 25% compared to 20% for all other jobs.

STEM MX will make it easier for teachers to invite skilled volunteers into their classrooms to assist in teaching a wide range of STEM-Plus subjects, from computer coding to elementary grade fundamentals, or provide support for: special projects, science fairs, guest lectures, industry tours, work-based learning experiences, etc.

“Dell is committed to putting technology and expertise where it can do the most good for people,” said Vance Checketts, Vice President and General Manager at Dell EMC. “STEM MX offers Dell employees an opportunity to give back to the community and share their expertise in classrooms, preparing and encouraging students for careers in STEM.”

“Technology advances are changing the workplace so rapidly it’s imperative that educators align their efforts with industry to help prepare our students for the future,” said Sydnee Dickson, Utah State School Superintendent. “We are grateful for the contributions so many industry leaders and volunteers are making. I invite all of our teachers to create STEM MX profiles and list their needs for the coming year. This will help industry volunteers know what’s needed and where they can serve.”

“The opportunity and need for industry to support STEM education and career paths of more than 700,000 students in Utah has never been greater,” said Richard Nelson, President & CEO of the Utah Technology Council. “STEM MX will connect thousands of industry volunteers and over 30,000 teachers across the state and change the lives of many students; especially girls, minorities, and those attending Title I schools.”

“Creating tools that help educators leverage the talents of skilled professionals to activate students into STEM careers has a clear impact on economic development,” said Cydni Tetro, President, Women Tech Council. “Providing educators streamlined ways to reach industry experts and integrate them into their curriculum will accelerate the success of our students.”

“We invite skilled volunteers from tech, trades and professional sectors to download STEM MX on their phones, build individual profiles, listing the skills and resources they can add to the tools available to K-12 educators,” added Brent Petersen, President/CEO, STEM Partners Foundation. “By bringing educators and mentors together we can inspire our kids to pursue STEM careers and lead the next wave of innovation.”

Users can now download STEM MX, free of charge, from the Apple App Store and Google Play and begin building their profiles and listings of NEEDS or OFFERINGS.

STEM MX will also give corporate and education partners access to the activity data of their employees, enabling them to more successfully direct volunteer efforts and provide matching grants.

Development of the STEM Mentor Exchange has been a volunteer effort by Utah executives and engineers from Dell EMC, Comcast, Adobe, Pluralsight, IM Flash, and The Boeing Company; along with support from the Utah Technology Council, Women Tech Council, Silicon Slopes, Bio Utah, Utah Manufacturers Association, Salt Lake Chamber, Utah Career Center, and Utah STEM Action Center.

About STEM Partners Foundation:

The STEM Partners Foundation is a public 501c(3), formed by the STEM Utah Industry Coalition with the support of the Utah Technology Council. It was created to foster collaboration between K-12 teachers and industry, to produce more STEM-skilled graduates.

In 2014 the Coalition launched the Curiosity Unleashed media campaign to promote STEM education and support the Utah STEM Action Center. Coalition partners included: Adobe, Chevron, Comcast, Dell EMC, doTerra, EnergySolutions, Fidelity Investments, Goldman Sachs, IM Flash, KUTV 2, L3 Communication Systems-West, Merit Medical, Nelson Labs, NuSkin, Orbital ATK, Rocky Mountain Power, Tesoro, and US Synthetic.

Today the STEM Partners Foundation is joined by many other companies, educational institutions and organizations in and outside of Utah.