ROI’s STEM Fellowship newest cohort announced, program expands with mentor program

7/1/2025

Eighth STEM Fellowship cohort launches with 19 educators and five mentors

Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) is proud to announce its eighth STEM Fellowship cohort and a new mentorship program. The 19 selected educators in Cohort 8 will begin their fellowship year in August 2025, bringing the total number to 149 Fellows working to grow high-quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning throughout the Indiana Uplands region. Five STEM Fellow alumni have also been invited to participate in a mentorship program, guiding the newest Fellows in classroom integration, navigating Fellowship experiences, and engaging with regional industry sectors.

“The Indiana Uplands is home to a growing number of STEM career opportunities, and local employers are looking for talent equipped to lead in fields like advanced manufacturing, engineering, life sciences, and tech,” said Michi McClaine, Vice President of Talent Development at ROI. “To meet that need, it’s essential that students are introduced to STEM early and stay engaged as they move through their education.”

“The ROI STEM Fellowship is designed to give educators the tools, experiences, and industry connections they need to bring real-world STEM learning into their classrooms,” McClaine added. “This year, we’ve expanded the program by inviting alumni to serve as mentors for our newest cohort. Their insight and experience help strengthen the Fellowship network and offer valuable peer support that benefits not just educators but entire school communities across the region. At the same time, this mentorship opportunity allows alumni to give back to the program that helped shape their own journey, and continue growing their careers as leaders in education in new and meaningful ways.”

ROI STEM Fellowship – Cohort 8

STEM Fellowship participants are Indiana Uplands educators nominated by their school principals and selected by ROI. Selected educators participate in monthly professional development during their fellowship year on STEM integration and teaching practices, are connected to regional partners through key sector industry tours and career information sessions, and become part of a regional STEM Fellowship network. Fellows receive a $2,000 stipend at the conclusion of the fellowship year, along with relevant supporting STEM resources and materials.

The STEM Fellowship is designed to enhance educators’ confidence as educational leaders and STEM experts. Working with ROI’s education team, educators participate in ongoing professional development in STEM-relevant topics, including computer science integration, engineering design process, microelectronics, digital fabrication, robotics, and AI. Each professional development event offers new instructional ideas, a deeper understanding of how to integrate STEM throughout the instructional day, and valuable career connections with industry sector partners. In addition to honing their skills, Fellows provide STEM support to colleagues.

The STEM Fellowship program was developed in response to the findings of ROI’s periodic Occupational Needs Assessments, which emphasize the importance of having STEM-literate students to meet current and future workforce needs and provide a basis for continued economic growth and prosperity in our region. Throughout their fellowship, educators are encouraged to think more deeply about STEM teaching and find ways to make meaningful connections between academic content and future opportunities for students. Fellows also explore STEM content and topics related to the Uplands’ key industry sectors: national security and defense, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing. Each fellowship session includes participation from industry and community partners, as well as guidance on how to effectively integrate career exposure in ways that are age-appropriate for their students.

Since the Fellowship program launched in 2017, more than 149 educators have been selected to advance STEM learning in their schools. This new cohort joins a vibrant community of practice that extends across 27 school districts in all 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands region.

A new enhancement to the program is the introduction of the STEM Fellowship mentors. Alumni of previous cohorts were invited to serve as mentors for new Fellows, supporting them in classroom integration, navigating Fellowship experiences, and engaging with regional industry sectors. Mentors will attend monthly sessions, provide feedback to ROI, and benefit from their own continued growth through advanced training and leadership development. This intentional structure further strengthens ROI’s STEM ecosystem by creating multi-year leadership pathways for Indiana Uplands educators.

The first cohort of STEM Fellowship Mentors are eager to give back to a program that helped shape their educational career.

“As a mentor, I want to give back to a program that helped me grow,” said STEM Fellow Cohort 4 member Cory Rayhill from Barr-Reeve Community Schools.“I’m excited to support new Fellows, stay connected to the STEM community, and continue learning alongside others while helping bring real-world STEM strategies to classrooms.”

“I am eager to become a STEM Fellow mentor because I have a strong passion for STEM education,” said STEM Fellow Cohort 3 member Tabitha Lengacher from North Daviess Community Schools. “It has significantly reshaped how I view teaching and learning. I see this mentorship opportunity not only as a chance to support my fellow educators but also as a way to continue growing in my role.” This intentional structure further strengthens ROI’s STEM ecosystem by creating multi-year leadership pathways for educators throughout the Indiana Uplands.

“These efforts ensure the STEM Fellowship continues to serve as a model for educator leadership and regional alignment in STEM education,” added McClaine. “By supporting current and past cohorts of educators, ROI remains committed to sustaining a robust network of change-makers capable of shaping future-ready classrooms and career pathways across the region.”