Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Program participants gathered in Ankeny on July 22 for the Iowa STEM Teacher Externships Forum, an annual event that celebrates the summer’s accomplishments and a jumping-off point for further collaboration and partnerships among externs, workplace hosts, and program mentors.
This summer, 96 externs—29 of them were from right here in the Southeast Iowa STEM Region—were placed with 78 unique workplace hosts for six-week experiences that connected teachers to professionals in local workplaces, providing opportunities to gain valuable STEM-related perspectives that can be applied in the classroom. Since its launch in 2009, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education has facilitated more than 1,100 teacher externships in a variety of industries throughout the state.
“Just like in the classroom, I am blown away by the importance of the skills of communication, problem solving and collaboration that are required to function at a high-level here, regardless of your role on the team or place in the company,” says Alex Bendlage, science teacher at Thomas Jefferson High School in Cedar Rapids and 2026 extern. Bendlage worked with the Collins Aerospace tactical communications team to support systems and testing engineers by working on various forms of radios and their auxiliary devices, including conducting environmental tests, creating reusable templates and presentation materials, and other tasks to help maximize testing efficiency.
The Iowa STEM Teacher Externship Program is already preparing for next year’s externship experiences. To learn more about how to participate next summer, either as a teacher or a workplace host, visit the Externship Program page linked below.
2026 Southeast Iowa STEM Region externs and workplace hosts
Matt Cain, West Branch High School—Bio::Neos
Adam Brown, Calamus-Wheatland Secondary School—Cedar County Conservation
Kristen Finney, Hawthorne Elementary—Climax Molybdenum/Lee County Conservation
Emma Bopp, Calamus-Wheatland High School—Clinton County Conservation
Eric Brown, Clinton Middle School—Clinton County Conservation
Evan Haan, Clinton High School—Clinton County Conservation
Alex Bendlage, Thomas Jefferson High School—Collins Aerospace
Luke Kirby, East Buchanan High School—Geater Machining and Manufacturing
Trever Moore, Pleasant Valley High School—HNI
Jim Glad, Isaac Newton Christian Academy—Indian Creek Nature Center
Abby Brown, Clinton—Iowa Library for the Blind and Print Disabled
Cassie Bowdre, Lisbon Community School District—Jones County Conservation
Brandon Tolle, Bettendorf High School—LeClaire Manufacturing
Brayden Zaruba, Muscatine High School—LMT Defense
Marnee Acker, Susan Clark Junior High—Muscatine County Conservation
Michelle Haller, Muskie Early Learning Center—Muscatine County Conservation
Andrew Koshatka, Washington High School—PAWS & More
Brian Price, Mid City High School—Sears Seating
Rebecca Herman, Iowa BIG—The New Bohemian Innovation Collaborative (NewBoCo)
Ryley Robinson, Marion High School—NewBoCo
Amy Tursi, Marion High School—NewBoCo
Jacob Lanagan, Liberty High School—UI Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
Jessica Hart, Hillcrest Academy—UI Office of the State Archaeologist
Shanti Sellz, Elizabeth Tate High School—USACE Coralville Lake
Brianna Finnegan, Pleasant Valley High School—USACE Mississippi River Project
Andrew Gosse, Davenport West High School—USACE Mississippi River Project
Ty Luett, Pleasant Valley High School—USACE Mississippi River Project
Erin Almelien, Washington Middle School—Washington County Conservation
Harley Doty, South Tama County CSD—Bayer (Williamsburg)