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STEM

STEM Region 7 ESC logo with a half-gear, half-circuit light bulb.
 
Celebrating Innovation, Connection, and Student Empowerment
 
STEM IN TEXAS
 
STEM education is a method of hands-on teaching and learning where students learn to apply academic content by creatively solving real-world problems with innovative design-based thinking to prepare students for future career opportunities. - Texas Education Agency
 
WHY STEM, WHY NOW?
  • Texas is second nationally in STEM job opportunities.
  • Texas Workforce Commission predicts 1,914,004 STEM job openings in 2026.
  • Middle skill STEM jobs in Texas require 6 months or less of formal classroom training, and wages for these jobs range from $35,000 to $95,000 per year. The demand for individuals to fill these jobs is increasing.
  • Texas Education Agency Labor Market Analysis, 2019
 
MISSION
 
Our mission is to ignite a culture of innovation across East Texas by empowering educators, engaging students, and connecting communities through high-quality STEM learning utilizing the TEA STEM Education Framework. 
 
Region 7 strives to provide dynamic professional development for teachers and administrators and build partnerships with industry leaders to bring real-world relevance into every classroom.
 
VISION
 
We envision an East Texas where every student becomes a confident thinker, problem-solver, and creator, ready to thrive in the workforce of tomorrow.
 
STEM at Region 7 is an approach to learning that values curiosity, encourages risk-taking, and celebrates failure as a step toward growth. Through doing, building, testing, and reflecting, students learn to understand complex concepts and apply them in meaningful ways.
 
Ecosystem logo
STEM Supports divider
Graphic showing four pillars of STEM supports: Instructional Supports (technical assistance, coaching, program planning), Professional Learning & Leadership (workshops for educators), Community & Industry Connections (college partnerships, externships, career exploration), and Student Experiences (camps, competitions, hands-on learning).
JUMP TO A SECTION:
 
Professional Leadership & Learning   |   Instructional Supports   |   Community & Industry Connections
Student Experiences   |   STEM Goals   |   STEM Team
 
CHECK OUT THESE HELPFUL PAGES:
 
CTE   |  EcoLand   |   Gifted & Talented   |   Digital Learning
Professional Learning and Leadership divider
 
Region 7 empowers educators and leaders with dynamic, cross-content STEM professional development. 
 
FOR TEACHERS:
  • EcosySTEM Statewide STEM Teacher Training and Launch K-5 CS Training
  • CTE Teacher Academies & professional learning for embedded math and science teaching in CTE
  • Digital Learning technology tool services & FITT Conference
  • EcoLand Teacher Certification Training & Camp Early Childhood Conference
  • STEM Innovations - Harnessing Coding & Design Thinking
  • Innovate, Create, & Code series
  • From Ideas to Innovations: Engineering in the Science Classroom
  • Taking Head Start Classrooms Outdoors &  Click, Play, Read: Finding Technology Balance
Region 7 empowers educators and leaders with dynamic, cross-content STEM professional development.
 
FOR ADMINISTRATORS:
  • EcosySTEM Statewide STEM Leadership Training
  • AI Alliance for administrators
  • District and campus administration support for Robotics and CTE Engineering
Instructional Supports divider
 
Region 7 provides hands-on, TEKS-aligned tools and coaching to embed STEM practices into daily instruction.
 
  • CTE Google Classroom Connection
  • Digital Learning project-based learning support and modeling
  • Ecoland inquiry-based learning model lessons
  • Ecoland standards-based exemplars
  • Head Start coaching, co-teaching, and mentoring STEM in the classroom
  • Modeling with Texas Mobile STEM Lab Lessons
Region 7 ESC_Community & Industry Connections
 
Through strong partnerships, Region 7 connects classrooms to careers with real-world STEM experiences.
 
  • LeTourneau University
  • Stephen F. Austin State University
  • University of Texas at Tyler
  • Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering
  • Lockheed Martin
  • Trane
  • Federal Bureau of Investigation
  • Texas Department of Transportation
  • R. Lacy | Crain Energy
  • Reed Environmental Consulting
  • Komatsu
  • Eastman
  • Fastenal
  • CHRISTUS Health System
Student Experience divider
 
Region 7 inspires student innovation through STEM camps, competitions, and hands-on learning opportunities.
 
G/T STUDENT SEMINARS:
 
  • Imagination Fair
  • Innovative Inventions
  • Model United Nations
  • Elementary Robotics
  • CREATE
  • Competition Robotics
  • Ecoland fieldtrips & virtual experiences
  • TAME Regional Competition & Scholarship opportunity
  • eSports Tournament
  • CTE industry tours
  • CTE guest speaker events
STEM Goals divider
 
  • Support districts in navigating the TEA STEM Education Framework and utilizing the TEA STEM Toolkit
  • Expand interdisciplinary and EcosySTEM PD offerings
  • Strengthen partnerships with rural districts and industries
  • Develop region-wide STEM Pathways for students
  • Increase access to virtual STEM learning and robotics programs
STEM Team divider
 
Let us know how we can support STEM in your district. Contact us today!