STEM Classes at IU13
Overview of STEM Class
Students at our IU13 center-based facilities and school-based Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Multiple Disabilities special education classes will attend STEM class weekly and engage in hands-on and interactive STEM projects and activities. They will learn about Design Process, Growth Mindset, Coding, and Problem-Based Learning. Students will practice valuable life and career readiness skills such as perseverance, independence, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, empathy, emotional regulation, compromise, utilizing data, and much more!
Why is STEM Important?
STEM helps foster life skills, such as learning how to problem solve, overcome obstacles, and collaborate with peers. These are lasting skills all people need to have for future success. STEM lessons nurture skills such as organization, higher-order thinking, self-esteem, socialization, and teamwork, all of which can be challenging to cultivate in students with learning needs. Through these adapted lessons, we are helping students become better readers, writers, and mathematicians. These lessons build confidence in the students’ ability to learn and create, and help to cultivate a sense of pride.
Andrea Fellows is our IU13 center-based STEM teacher! Previously, she taught 9th-12th grade at the Integrated Emotional Support Program at CEC (IU13) and utilized STEM in her classroom. During this time, her class competed in multiple STEM competitions, including the PA Governor’s STEM Competition in 2020 and 2021. She is now working with all IU13 center-based classes and mentoring teachers to help get their students involved in STEM and STEM competitions!
Let’s learn a little more about Andrea:
Andrea attended Penn State University for her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education, University of Delaware for her Master’s in Exceptional Children and Youth, and Lebanon Valley College for a Master’s in STEM Education. She was the 2020-2021 Annie Sullivan Award recipient, became a Keystone Technology Innovator in 2022, and was awarded the K-12 STEM Teacher of the Year from IU13 and the Lancaster STEM Alliance 2024.
Andrea has always loved science and working on hands-on projects or out in the field. She has experience teaching not only in traditional school settings but also as an educator at the Cape May County Zoo and as a swim lesson instructor and coach. Andrea’s other hobbies and interests include cooking, boating, and her three cats.
- andrea_fellows@iu13.org
- 717-947-1589
Melissa Myer is our IU13 STEM Teacher for students enrolled in the Multiple Disabilities Support and Deaf/Hard of Hearing programs. She has previous experience teaching Multiple Disabilities Support and Learning Support. Melissa enjoyed incorporating STEM activities into her classroom by finding ways to use assistive technology for all students to participate.
Melissa earned her Bachelor’s degree from Neumann University in Elementary and Special Education then attended West Chester University for a Master’s in Special Education. She continues to learn more about STEM education at Millersville University.
Melissa enjoys the privilege of working with students of all ages and learning something new every day. She believes it is important to include and value all ideas to foster a collaborative learning environment for students. As a STEM teacher, Melissa has been able to team up with classroom teachers to enter into various STEM competitions during the 2023-2024 school year.
When Melissa is not in a classroom, you may find her on an adventure with her husband and daughter.
- melissa_myer@iu13.org
- 717-947-1330
