Leadership in Integrative Stem Education: Collaborative Strategies for Facilitating an Experiential and Student-Centered Culture

269 Pages·2021·6.006 MB·English

by  Rachel Louise Geesa, Mary Annette Rose, Krista Marie Stith

Praise for Leadership in Integrative STEM Education
“The authors of this text have done an excellent job highlighting practical advice
and leadership practices that help promote Integrative STEM programming. This
resource includes useful strategies for collaborative work, environmental design,
community partnerships, and intentional professional development. Educational
leaders who strive to develop STEM-literate citizens will benefit greatly from
studying its contents.” —Patrick Biggerstaff, EdD, director of career and techni-
cal & adult education, Area 31 Career Center, Ben Davis High School
“Educational leaders would definitely benefit from Leadership in Integrative
STEM Education. The authors have shared step by step innovative ways for
PK-12 leaders (district, school, and classroom) to create an integrative STEM
environment based on collaboration and student-centered learning in all dis-
ciplines. It is a must read to prepare all students to be career/college ready.”
—Linda Curtis, EdD, former principal deputy director and associate director of
academics, United States Department of Defense Education Activity
“School counselors play a significant role to help students open their eyes to a
world of infinite possibilities. Our collective goal is to utilize inclusive practices
to encourage every student to acquire inquiry, innovation, critical thinking, and
problem-solving skills to realize their future dreams. The book authors persua-
sively communicate the critical importance of creating a climate and culture that
motivates students to become engaged in activities and experiences.” —Carol A.
Dahir, PhD, professor and former chair of school counseling, New York Institute
of Technology
“Integrative STEM education is the foundation for interdisciplinary science
and will foster a sense of curiosity for those interested in learning, questioning,
and creating—especially girls and other traditionally underrepresented popula-
tions. This book will help educational leaders cultivate inclusive and integrative
science-based communities for everyone and promote opportunities in myriad
scientific fields, including Public Health.” —Andrea L. DeMaria, PhD, assistant
professor of public health, Purdue University
“STEM education provides students with interdisciplinary opportunities to
learn in authentic and relevant ways, but the critical role of PK-12 leadership in
promoting STEM education has been mostly overlooked. This book provides a
comprehensive review of key concepts, examples, and resources for educational
leaders seeking to integrate STEM practice in their institutions, districts, schools,
and classrooms.” —David DeMatthews, PhD, associate professor of educational
leadership and policy, University of Texas at Austin
“Leadership in Integrative STEM Education provides the tools necessary for
educational leaders to make a change to our current system. To meet the needs of
the future STEM career openings, we need to make a change now. The concepts,
strategies, examples, and resources provided here are the first step to making this
happen!” —Becky Moening, EdD, mathematics specialist, Wiley Publishing and
adjunct faculty member, Ivy Tech Community College
“Integrative STEM education is brought full circle with the transparency given to
school leaders’ work in creating cultures of 21st-century STEM literate, skilled
graduates. University faculty and PK-12 leaders can utilize this timely, com-
prehensive book in their courses and professional learning to shine light on the
transformative role of leadership in guiding and assessing STEM.” —Carol A.
Mullen, PhD, professor of educational leadership, Virginia Tech
“Given the hugely influential effects of STEM in our daily lives, STEM educa-
tion is a necessity. The issue, then, for school leaders is not whether to STEM
but how to STEM. In response, this book offers an integrative and collaborative
approach, includes a focus on equity issues, and involves all of the school’s
community.” —Jim Scheurich, PhD, professor, Indiana University–Purdue Uni-
versity Indianapolis (IUPUI)
“Integrative STEM education is not just combining Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Mathematics. It is a unique and critical subject to be taught
from Pre-K to lifelong learning. This book can help educators understand how
to teach, assess, and promote integrative STEM education from a viewpoint of
educational leaders.” —Hyuksoon Song, PhD, associate professor of education,
Georgian Court University
“Leadership in Integrative STEM Education provides school leaders and educa-
tors a practical guide for adopting integrative STEM in all aspects of schooling.
As the coordinator of STEM Leadership Institute and a school leader educator,
I found this book very helpful to integrate STEM into all PK-12 classrooms
through collaboration and community engagement.” —Olcay Yavuz, PhD, asso-
ciate professor of educational leadership & policy studies, Southern Connecticut
State University
Leadership in
Integrative STEM
Education

Leadership in
Integrative STEM
Education
Collaborative Strategies for
Facilitating an Experiential and
Student- Centered Culture
Edited by
Rachel Louise Geesa
Mary Annette Rose
Krista Marie Stith
ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD
Lanham • Boulder • New York • London
Published by Rowman & Littlefield
An imprint of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc.
4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706
www .rowman .com
86-90 Paul Street, London EC2A 4NE, United Kingdom
Copyright © 2022 by Rachel Louise Geesa, Mary Annette Rose, and
Krista Marie Stith
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any
electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems,
without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote
passages in a review.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available
Library of Congress Cataloging-i n- Publication Data
Names: Geesa, Rachel Louise, 1982– editor. | Rose, Mary Annette, 1958– editor. | Stith,
Krista Marie, 1984– editor.
Title: Leadership in integrative STEM education : collaborative strategies for facilitating
an experiential and student-centered culture / edited by Rachel Louise Geesa, Mary
Annette Rose, Krista Marie Stith.
Other titles: Leadership in integrative Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics
education
Description: Lanham : Rowman & Littlefield, [2021] | Includes bibliographical
references and index. | Summary: “Leadership in Integrative STEM Education
provides a series of strategies for educational leaders to make informed decisions
when building robust and inclusive integrative STEM programs at the organization-
level”—Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021021618 (print) | LCCN 2021021619 (ebook) | ISBN
9781475857351 (Cloth : acid-free paper) | ISBN 9781475857368 (Paperback : acid-
free paper) | ISBN 9781475857375 (ePub)
Subjects: LCSH: Educational leadership—United States. | Science—Study and
teaching—United States. | Technology—Study and teaching—United States.
| Engineering—Study and teaching—United States. | Mathematics--Study and
teaching—United States.
Classification: LCC LB2805 .L3443 2021 (print) | LCC LB2805 (ebook) | DDC
371.2/011—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021021618
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021021619
™
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of
American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.
This book is dedicated to educational leaders who challenge preconceived
notions about PK–12 schooling. Educational leaders who innovate drive
the momentum to inspire and improve integrative science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, as well as promote
inclusive excellence for all students.

Contents
List of Tables and Figures xv
Foreword by Fenwick W. English xix
Preface xxiii
Acknowledgments xxxi
1 Introduction: Educational Leadership and Integrative
STEM Education 1
Krista Marie Stith, Rachel Louise Geesa, and Jim Egenrieder
STEM Literacy 2
STEM, Integrated STEM, and Integrative STEM 3
Championing Integrative STEM 7
Theoretical Grounding 10
Calls for STEM Improvements 10
Preparing Students in Knowledge and Skills 11
Navigating an Integrative STEM Ecosystem 16
Standards Alignment for Educational Leaders 21
Challenges with Integrative STEM Implementation 21
Conclusion 23
ix