WV Public Education Collaborative outlines STEAM immersions and teacher-recruitment pilots

Donna Petuto, executive director of the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative (WVPEC), and colleagues briefed the committee on a portfolio of programs designed to connect schools, industry and higher education.

Key programs: WVPEC described a STEAM Technical Assistance Center that provides in-person classroom immersions (WVPEC said 63,500 students and 900 teachers have participated across all 55 counties), a K–12 Speakers Bureau (160 speakers), teacher innovation mini-grants (up to $4,000), Remake Learning Days and Spark (early literacy) grants. Presenters said these activities are free to schools and often developed in partnership with local industry and higher education.

Teachers Ascend: Kenyon Launas presented Teachers Ascend, a pilot that recruited 11 out-of-state teachers for a 2024–26 cohort. The model offers an upfront $2,000 bonus, a $6,000 stipend over two years, graduate-tuition assistance and mentor support; pilot teachers were placed mainly in Monongalia and Preston counties in shortage areas and came from five states.

Funding and next steps: WVPEC said much of its current work is philanthropy-funded but it is seeking sustainable models that combine multiple sources. The collaborative highlighted partnerships with industry (EQT, BHE Renewables, Hope Gas) for program support and said it remains available to provide more detail to the committee on request.

Provenance: Topic introduced at SEG 2338 and closed at SEG 2856.