DeKalb District 428 students gain college confidence through NIU STEAM partnership
Hundreds of DeKalb students – from fourth graders to high schoolers – are gaining hands-on college and career exposure through a growing STEAM partnership between Northern Illinois University and DeKalb School District 428.
The partnership began in 2021 with our Barb City STEAM Team afterschool program on the Northern Illinois University Campus. It has since grown to include a high school afterschool program here on campus and an afterschool program for fourth and fifth graders that takes place at three local elementary schools. Our NIU STEAM staff also run the summer school program for D428 middle schools on NIU’s campus in collaboration with D428 teachers.
“We’re really excited about the continuation and expansion of our partnership with NIU, which we’ve maintained successfully since 2021,” says Sarah Montgomery, director of teaching and learning for DeKalb School District 428. “This collaboration is a wonderful investment in getting our students ready for their futures through varied experiences. Our students experience a high-quality STEAM enrichment program, and by getting students onto the university campus, they are also able to experience a sense of belonging within a university setting. The STEAM programming incorporates much more beyond STEAM, including mentoring, tutoring, snacks and an inviting, safe environment. This engaging approach makes learning fun while seriously expanding students’ academic and career horizons.”
Read more about this transformative partnership in this recent NIU Today story.
