CSTEM 100 Fundraiser

Click here to register as a CSTEM Champion Chairperson

Letter from The CEO

June 13, 2008

Dear CSTEM Champion:

CSTEM Teacher and Student Support Services, Inc. is a non-profit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (c) (3) in 2002 with the mission of reducing achievement gaps with underrepresented students in grades Pre K-12 in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through developmentally appropriate practices, CSTEM (Communication, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) projects facilitate the integration of student inquiry, problem-solving, and collaboration to promote self-directed learning and ready students for the workforce. In an effort to continue to provide assistance to over 70 partnering schools striving to close achievement gaps, CSTEM has kicked-off its fundraiser, The CSTEM 100. This fundraising opportunity will allow you to impact teaching and learning for over 20,000 students. As CSTEM Champion your goal is to raise $1,000.00 through your personal network. To assist in your fundraising efforts, we have inserted the following information:

CSTEM Overview
Benefits to the donors
Fundraising support
Tax Exemption Letter

Having your support enables CSTEM to continue to serve our community by providing quality programs and services that develop our future workforce. As the CEO of CSTEM, I am confirming that no change has occurred in the exempt status, purpose, character or method of the organization's operation since the organization received its tax-exempt status from the IRS. As well, the organization has not operated under any name other than the name on the IRS determination letter. Thank you in advance CSTEM 100 Champion for supporting our summer fundraiser!

Sincerest Regards,
drf
Reagan Flowers, PhD
CEO

Donor Model

Your goal as a CSTEM Champion is to find (9) individuals that will donate $100.00 to CSTEM Teacher and Student Support Services. The minimum goal is to raise $1,000.00 from your personal network. All funds raised over your goal are appreciated and are considered tax deductible by the Internal Revenue Service.

Benefits to the Donor: Name listed on the CSTEM 100 Donor Page, certificate recognizing donation, your business link where applicable on CSTEM website, E-newsletters and E-updates, tax deduction with the IRS, and the benefit of making a difference.

Fundraising Support

CSTEM will mail or email the following documents to individuals you have identified as champions in your network:
- CSTEM Overview
- Tax Exemption Letter
CSTEM will call individuals you have identified as champions in your network to share additional information about our organization, its community impact, and goals for expanding CSTEM beyond the state of Texas.
The identified CSTEM Champion chairperson will receive very brief e-mails, twice weekly, that highlights aspects of CSTEM programs and what we are doing to impact students. The CSTEM Champions will forward these e-mails to individuals you have identified as champions in your network.

CSTEM Overview

Closing the STEM Achievement Gap

“Providing Opportunities that Create Endless Possibilities”

CSTEM’s Mission

Description of Organization and Mission

CSTEM Teacher and Student Support Services, Inc. is a non-profit organization recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 (c) (3) in 2002 with the mission of reducing achievement gaps with underrepresented students in grades Pre K-12 in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Why CSTEM?

Statement of Issue Being Addressed

Research indicates that minority students are lacking education and exposure that prepares and motivates them for careers in STEM-related industries. The National Science Board projected in 2000 the work force needs in the 21st century and found that Hispanic youth (18-to-24- year-olds) will be 17% percent of America's college-age population and in 2025 will represent 22 percent, more than one in five. The Hispanic Engineering and Information Systems report (2004) illustrated that The Science Board's report noted that Hispanic 24-year-olds numbered 497,620 in 1998, and among them, 78,125 had completed four years of higher education. By comparison, Black 24-year-olds numbered 473,402, and 95,878 had bachelor's degrees. Asians and Pacific Islanders are nearly 150,000 strong and had 69,988 bachelor's degrees of which 22,003 of them in science and engineering.

According to the Texas Education Agency, in 2006 the three most common reasons for an Academically Unacceptable rating for school campuses were failing scores on TAKS science and/or math. There are over 120 schools that fall within one or both categories. For the 2005-2006 school year, the African American drop-out rates statewide grades 9-12 was 5.4 % and Hispanic 5.2 %.

CSTEM has been addressing math and science performance areas in many ways. For example, in our 2007 Shell Schlumberger Sea Turtle Challenge, CSTEM connected the various levels of learning into one project for thirty schools. Schools worked together in feeder pattern (elementary, middle, and high school) teams to build robots, design sea turtle sculptures and bill boards, write newspaper articles, and create PowerPoint and oral presentations. Our organization has a proven track record with engaging minority, socio-economically disadvantaged, at-risk, and/or gifted and talented students in hands-on project-based learning experiences. Over 45% of our student participants qualify for free or reduced lunch and over 80% are Black, Hispanic and/or female. In 2007, 99% of the participating Houston Independent School District schools in our challenge received a TAKS performance rating of acceptable, recognized, or exemplary which reflected a 54% increase from their 2006 TAKS performance ratings.

Fulfilling Our Mission - Description of Programs

Student Services

VEX/LEGO Robotics (during and after-school)

Inspires and motivates students by challenging them to build a remotely controlled robot to accomplish a defined task within a competitive setting. Our consultants and partnering school teachers are used as coaches to guide student teams through the engineering design and construction process.

Summer STEM Enrichment Camps

The goal of this project is to provide targeted enrichment that will engage students in hands- on, project-based learning activities that promote problem-solving, thinking outside the box, increased self-esteem, and teamwork.

Girls Exploration Team (GET)

The Girls Exploration Team (GET) initiative allows schools to provide an opportunity for girls to develop and explore their interest in communication, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This initiative develops a culture on school campuses fostering STEM hands-on learning and involving discovery, team building, and problem-solving in an environment that encourages girls to showcase their math and science interest and ability.

Sea Turtle Robotics Challenge

This initiative aims to connect various content areas through project based learning interdisciplinary in scope. The CSTEM Sea Turtle Robotics Challenge upholds a feeder pattern concept which allows elementary, middle, and high school students to collaboratively solve problems in STEM. The robotics competition provides an opportunity for students to develop team building skills, serve as mentors, and apply STEM to solve real-life problems. Through this project, students will understand how their work impacts the lives of others and exposes the needs of sea turtles worldwide. Some of the content areas covered in this project include: Communication, Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, English, Art and History. Students will not only be inspired to continue STEM learning, but they will be made aware of how they can fit into the global community and understand how they can improve different ecosystems. In the end we are one world and one community. It is our responsibility to protect mother earth.

Teacher Support Services

Instructional Resource Kits, materials, and equipment
Curriculum Development
Project-based Learning Professional Development Workshops
STEM enrichment /resource information (i.e. camps, training, scholarships, programs, etc.)
Video documentation of student work
Program/project development and implementation services through collaborative partnerships
STEM Resource Garage (i.e. resources for schools to check out to support instruction)

Parent Programs

Parent and Student STEM Field Experiences
STEM Workshops
STEM Outreach (i.e. summer camps, enrichment, resources, etc.)

Achievements

Since the inception of CSTEM, the organization has effectively bridged gaps in the following ways:

Implemented nine summer programs/camps.
Implemented and supported over twenty-five robotic programs.
Supported the implementation of twenty-four Pre K science centers.
Implemented and facilitated STEM Roundtable Discussions.
Implemented computer animation, video and service learning projects.
Designed and implemented the annual Sea Turtle Robotics Challenge.
Supported internship initiative for college and high school students.
Provided Saturday Science Enrichment.
Provided math and science TAKS enrichment services.
Established the STEM Resource Garage
Provided student scholarships.
Provided teachers with hands-on technical support with completing STEM Projects.

Project Evaluation – Formative and Summative

Goals-Plans for the Future

These goals and plans for the future will be interrogated to form the basis of a project evaluation.

Communicating and collaborating with college mathematics, science, engineering, technology, and education departments; partnering with other organizations and corporations; public, private, and charter schools.
Engaging Pre K-12 students in hands-on, projects-based learning activities that promote problems-solving, thinking outside the box, and teamwork.
Increasing students’ awareness of significance of STEM research globally; multicultural contributions to STEM fields; various career options through mentoring relationships and internships with industry partners, and field trips.
Involving community groups, business/industry, research laboratories, museums, and educational/professional organizations in STEM activities.
Developing students to become effective leaders by involving them in organizing, planning, implementing, and facilitating STEM activities.
Increasing parent awareness of and involvement in student academic progress in STEM activities in an effort of strengthen family support of STEM education.
Training parents to become effective advocates for community improvement.