Columbia Gorge STEM Hub
400 E Scenic Drive #207
The Dalles, OR 97058
www.gorgestem.org 541-296-2046
About the STEM Hub
The Columbia Gorge STEM Hub was founded in 2016 when the region applied to the State of Oregon’s Department of Education to have a STEM Hub and was awarded funding in the 2015-17 biennium. It is one of thirteen STEM Hubs across the state of Oregon. The STEM Hub is the convener of a regional network of schools, educators, nonprofits and business partners who are all working together towards the goal to ensure that all learners in the region are STEM literate and future-ready.
The Gorge STEM Hub serves the five-county Oregon region comprised of Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, and Wheeler counties. This area includes ten school districts ranging in size from 53 to 3760 students. The Hub also collaborates with the Gorge’s Washington partners in Skamania and Klickitat counties. All of the region’s Oregon school districts interact with the STEM Hub for at least one project. Local businesses (including several GTA members!) and non-profits also support with STEM Hub efforts by participating in regional work groups, co-leading projects, and providing volunteers or financial contributions. The STEM Hub works through collective impact, an approach that amplifies what can be achieved by the staff of just three.
Many of the STEM Hub’s projects, such as collaborating with school districts on curriculum planning, are done behind the scenes. The more visible parts, like training teens to be STEM Leaders in their communities, working with businesses to increase access to career connected learning, coordinating internships, and community wide events such as the Gorge STEM Fair, build momentum for the Hub’s work as community awareness and participation increases.
The Columbia Gorge STEM Hub’s three broad strategic focus areas each encompass several efforts.
Empowered Educators includes PreK and Elementary trainings and leadership cohorts; lending library; annual summer STEM Symposium; MakerClub after school program (led by site-based educators); Microgrants; and more.
Connected Community includes the annual Gorge STEM Fair; supporting partner events; Family STEM Nights; STEM Hub collaboratories; community newsletters and resource sharing.
Engaged Career Partners includes regional leadership around Career Connected Learning; College & Career Expo; Gorge Career Challenge; developing a summer internship list and guest speakers list.
There are always several projects going across the three focus areas! If you are interested in getting your company involved, or have general insights to share, please contact Christy at: cchristopher@cgesd.k12.or.us
Learn more at www.gorgeSTEM.org
GTA Participation is needed for our August Teacher Externship focused on Modern Manufacturing!
This is a three-day event for secondary teachers and counselors to help them understand what manufacturing looks like in 2022. The event is designed to give teachers first-hand knowledge of the many types of jobs involved and the skills needed in manufacturing, so they can in turn infuse that knowledge in their work with local youth. The event plans include in-person tours of a variety of companies as well as virtual panels. Companies that would like to help with either of these pieces are encouraged to reach out to Christy.
About the Director
Christy Christopher was born and raised in Hood River. She left the Gorge for college and the first ten years of her career, moving back upon seeing that the Gorge had become a more economically diverse place during the decade of her absence. The core aspects of the close-knit, engaged community and the beautiful surroundings that make the Gorge a great place to live, and the proximity to her family were deciding factors in Christy’s decision to return. When not working, Christy can be found outside trail running, traveling to new places, and spending time with her husband and young children.