This past May, our school hosted thirteen students from the University of Wisconsin-Stout (UW-Stout) for a two-week visit. The visiting students participated in various classes across TJSS, spanning every level from early childhood to high school.
The delegation included students majoring in Technology Education, Mathematics Education, Early Childhood Education, and Engineering. The goal of this academic and cultural exchange was to explore STEM education practices while strengthening the partnership between UW-Stout and The Thomas Jefferson STEM School.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for our students to be here with you, experience a different educational system, and see firsthand how you operate, the technology you use, and how you foster critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. It’s been great for broadening our horizons and perspectives,” said Kevin Dietsche, one of the faculty members traveling with the group.
John Juliot, an Engineering Technology major, also highly recommended the experience:
“Teaching and mentoring the students here has been an awesome experience. They are incredibly smart for their age—they’re learning concepts I didn’t even cover until college.”
The visit wasn’t just for the students. UW-Stout faculty leads Kevin Dietsche and Dr. Emily Hines conducted professional development workshops for our staff, focusing on “Developing Projects That Foster Creativity” and “Fluency is the Key: Unlocking Alternatives to Round Robin Reading in the Classroom.”
To wrap up the successful visit, our Upper Elementary STEM teacher, Mr. Atilio Morales, led a hands-on introductory programming workshop for the UW-Stout group using Arduino.
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