Delaware businesses to host STEM educators Oct. 10

Taking First State education and business interface endeavors to the next level, the Delaware Foundation for Science and Mathematics Education and the Delaware Department of Education will offer educators an exceptional professional development opportunity Friday, Oct. 10. Teachers will be able to access exclusive behind-the-scenes tours of leading statewide companies highlighting the work of professionals in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Educators may choose up to two facilities to visit from among more than 23 host companies. The experience is designed to support teachers in learning real-world STEM applications and career options they can bring back to their classrooms from businesses in students’ back yards. Participants will gain insights into current industry trends and experience networking with industry professionals.

“We focus on STEM educators who do the hard lifting,” said Randolph Guschl, DFSME executive director. “We are helping STEM teachers create excitement in their classrooms in pursuit of preparing every student in Delaware for participation in a STEM-based workforce that will produce tomorrow’s leaders.”

Companies that educators can select to visit include Agilent, Ashland, Bloom Energy, Center for Plastics Innovation at University of Delaware, ChristianaCare Gene Editing Institute, Chesapeake Utilities, Croda, Delaware Aviation Museum, Delaware Sea Grant at UD Lewes, Delaware Solid Waste Authority, DuPont, FMC, Incyte, LaMotte, Moonprint Solutions, Mountaire Farms, Walmart and W.L. Gore & Associates.

“Our business community is making concerted efforts toward the growth of our Delaware STEM workforce, embracing greater hands-on collaboration with our educators,” said Daniel Harris, Walmart senior leadership. “We are dedicated to recruiting an engineering and tech-powered career base in today’s world.”

Educators who wish to learn more may go to dfsme.org/stem-connected-day-2025.