Innovative Leaders Institute: Bridge to STEM

Leading change: The journey to STEM excellence

Innovative Leaders Institute: Bridge to STEM brings together leaders of aspiring STEM and STEAM schools or those looking to re-ignite their school’s STEM culture and practices. The cohort will strengthen their knowledge of STEM education, STEM culture, and leading for change.

Grounded in the tenets of transformational leadership and the elements of the Quality Model for STEM and STEAM Schools and the STEM and STEAM Designation Rubric, this year-long program adopts a practitioner-oriented approach to creating school-wide STEM culture, ensuring buy-in and providing supports to all stakeholders in transforming educational practices into high-quality STEM teaching and learning, and creating strong community supports through partnerships with business, industry, non-profits, and higher education institutions.

Applications for the 2025-2026 cohort are open now, closing May 1, 2025. Read on for more information.

20220614 pixelpark 0294

Program details

Applications close May 1, 2025

Eligibility

This program is specifically designed to help participants explore best practices for STEM culture and education. 

By program completion, participants will have gained a strong sense of what these best practices look like in a robust, real-world educational setting. 

  • Participants may be a school or district leaders (principal, assistant principal, superintendent, assistant superintendent, etc.)
  • Participants should represent either
    • a school not currently STEM or STEAM designated or
    • a school looking to ignite STEM practices and culture
  • Optional but strongly encouraged: Additional team member(s) such as another school leader, instructional coach, curriculum specialist, or teacher leader

Expectations

Thanks to Ohio’s generous support of the Ohio STEM Learning Network, the $2,750.00 program fee (per school) for the 2025-2026 ILI: Bridge to STEM is waived.

The program participants are expected to:

  • Attend and actively participate in all program meetings (virtual and in-person)
  • Complete asynchronous program tasks and activities

The Bridge to STEM cohort is limited to 18 schools.

Due to the limited number of seats, program fee being waved, and multiple events taking place during the school year, the accepted participants will be required to confirm their district leadership’s (superintendent) support for participating in the program.

Deadline

Applications for the Institute will be accepted on a rolling basis. The applications will close May 1, 2025.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided for all participants during the in-person workshops.

Institute participants will have an opportunity to earn graduate college credit.

The Bridge to STEM experience

2025-2026 dates and locations

1) STEM School Immersion

2) STEM Culture and Identity

3) Business, Community, and School Connections

4) STEM Designation

5) Student Experiences in STEM Schools

6) Teachers in STEM Schools