We’re Hiring! Learn more about our STEAM Program Manager position! (posted 4/19/23)
Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, in partnership with the California Department of Education, and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls, invite all STEAM enthusiasts to join us for our 11th annual convening on February 9-10, 2024 in Long Beach, CA. Together we will share knowledge, research, and stories to support each other in navigating our personal and professional journeys. The Symposium will provide a brave space for exploring equity in STEAM learning, particularly for underrepresented populations we seek to grow in STEAM: educators and students of color, girls, multilingual learners, foster youth, unsheltered students, LGBTQIA+, low socio-economic students, and those with special learning needs. Participants will be able to embark upon this journey immediately with access to resources, collaborators, and a network that seeks to leverage STEAM education as a tool for developing STEAM Identity, civic engagement, social responsibility, student agency, and other shared goals to benefit future generations.
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ciWant to stay up to date on the latest STEAM happenings?
ICo-hosts for the CA STEAM Symposium:
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Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities
Already registered for a Summer of CS workshop? The Summer of CS planning team is excited to announce the Summer of CS Kick-off event is being held virtually Monday, June 5th from 4-5:30 PM. Come join other California teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators, and counselors as we celebrate equity-minded computer science (CS) education and help you get prepared for your upcoming Summer of CS workshop. Register for the Kick-off event today!

Want to stay up to date on the latest STEAM happenings?
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We enjoyed co-hosting the 2022 California STEAM Symposium in Anaheim on October 1-2, 2022. Stay tuned for more information about our 2023 events!
Our next California STEAM Symposium will be held at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA on February 9-10, 2024. Want to stay up to date on the latest STEAM happenings? Join our e-newsletter!
Interested in partnering with us for the 2024 California STEAM Symposium? Contact [email protected] to learn more about our Sponsorship & Marketing Opportunities and the variety of ways your organization can engage with the Symposium!
Our four 2022 Keynotes joined us Oct. 1-2!
Danielle Wood is the Director of MIT’s cutting-edge Space Enabled Research Lab. Wood takes the tools that typically orbit us, and applies them to projects advancing social good on our home planet—whether that’s improving water sources or preventing the next famine. She brings space technology back down to Earth.
As a scientist, Jason Latimer is the creator of Impossible Science, the academic platform uniting magic & science to inspire wonder in education. We joined Jason as we learned the science behind the magic!
Kai Kight is a classical violinist turned innovative composer, who used music as a metaphor to inspire us to compose paths of imagination and fulfillment. Kai’s unique background is one of both art and science.
Johann Hari shared how our focus has been stolen by a system that doesn’t want us to concentrate. We risk losing our ability to finish long-term projects and connect with people around us. Johann’s impactful, profound, vitally human book Stolen Focus—an instant New York Times bestseller and top Amazon Science book of 2022 —is a deep dive into what we can do to recover our minds.
2022 CA STEAM Symposium Mission Statement: Advance Justice, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion in STEAM
The California STEAM Symposium’s 10th anniversary is grounded in the principles for advancing equity of traditionally marginalized students and communities, with a focus on Access, Awareness, Opportunities, and Outcomes.
Throughout the event, we will come together to explore high-quality strategies to cultivate systems that promote life-long learning for everyone through inclusive and targeted practices, high-impact techniques, and policies, whether from a classroom or organizational point of view. These approaches promote a sense of belonging and ignite student passion for learning as well as support the social-emotional development of our education community.
The Strands and Pathways serve to provide direction for our breakout sessions, allowing each participant to successfully chart their own path through our gathering. Strands are the overarching topics. Pathways serve as points of emphasis for participants to choose their own learning journey.
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STRANDS
Cultivate The Joy of Learning: STEAM Content Integration & Student Engagement
Ignite student passion, curiosity, and innovation by creating conditions to nurture student agency, identity, and belonging. Learn how to readily integrate STEAM practices into your learning environment, along with strategies and resources to address students’ and educators’ social & emotional well-being to support academic progress.
Presenters will highlight student STEAM experiences in a variety of learning environments. Participants will learn how to integrate lessons across content areas, heighten student engagement through authentic and interdisciplinary learning experiences, and provide students with relevant critical-thinking opportunities. Participants receive immediately-applicable resources, ultimately allowing students to benefit from personalized and authentic STEAM experiences grounded in content standards and relevant, contextualized learning opportunities.
Empower STEAM Communities: Collaborative Partners, Educators, Families & Students
Optimize learning environments in PreK-12 by building partnerships with families, students and community organizations to enhance learning experiences within the school day and beyond. Explore how intentional collaborations between schools and expanded-learning partners can unlock new opportunities for students. The focus is on extending lessons from the classroom, including helping students feel safe, known, supported, and fully engaged in learning. Partners can include nonprofits, museums, community organizations, businesses, and before- and after-school programs.
Presenters will provide strategies that demonstrate the positive impact of STEAM collaborations for students. They will show how inclusive team efforts help STEAM education thrive, and share the importance of acting as a STEAM catalyst. Partnerships with families, non-profits, and local organizations elevate diverse voices toward a common goal of preparing all students to thrive in future enrollment and employment. Workforce partnerships provide important connections to real-world experiences including mentorships and internships. Participants will leave with best practices, proof-of-concept examples, community-impact models, and blueprints ready for implementation.
Strengthen The Educator Workforce: Developing and Sustaining Diverse & Inclusive STEAM Leaders
Bolstering the STEAM educator workforce is critical, including developing and retaining educators of color. Educators need a system of support to help them experience the joy of their profession, as well as feel a sense of belonging.
Presenters will share various strategies to impact the future of STEAM education, including interdisciplinary curricula, pedagogy, technology, communities of practice, labor-management collaboration, and other key elements which support:
- Preparation
- Professional learning
- Recruitment
- Retention
Participants will receive tools and implementation strategies to positively impact their STEAM educator workforce using effective adult-learning theory. Also, they will learn how to contribute to this work through scenarios from the perspective of their existing roles: new teacher, master teacher, teacher leader, coach, administrator, higher-ed educator, collaborative partner, and/or community member.
PATHWAYS
- Arts Integration, Creativity, & Design Thinking
- Bridging Distance, Hybrid, Outdoor, & In-Person Learning
- College & Career Pathways
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Early Education & STEAM For Young Learners
- Environmental Literacy, Civics, & Human Impact
- Expanded Learning Opportunities
- Family Engagement
- Language Literacy & STEAM
- Learners with Special Needs
- Libraries, Makerspaces, & STEAM Labs
- Media & Information Literacy
- Multilingual Learners
- Pandemic Recovery
- Social Justice & Social Impact
- Social-Emotional & Academic Development
Is the STEAM Symposium the same thing as the STEM Symposium?
Yes. We began incorporating Art into what was previously called the STEM Symposium with the 2017 California STEAM Symposium. Like many of our partners in the field, we are embracing curiosity, self-expression, teamwork, and design thinking which help young innovators thrive. We also continue to spotlight access and inclusion for all while elevating girls and students of color as future leaders – principles core to our shared success.
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Remember when we created art together? Phil Hansen reveals the final product for our amazing #CASTEAM20 community! The final artistic image is available here so you can check out all of the pieces!
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Our team is incredibly thankful to our corporate sponsors, philanthropic partners, and public sector allies across the state! With your support, the California STEAM Symposium is able to reach, educate, and engage thousands of participants each year. We appreciate you!
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OUR PRESENTING PARTNER
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Our Co-Hosts
The STEAM Symposium is co-hosted by the Californians Dedicated to Education Foundation, the California Department of Education and the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. CDEF works to create programs to increase educational opportunities and success for California’s students. CDEF’s vision is that every public school in California has engaged students, effective teachers and leaders, enriching environments where every student can reach his or her full potential, and supportive communities that believe in the value and quality of public education.
California Department of Education – California will provide a world-class education for all students, from early childhood to adulthood. The Department of Education serves our state by innovating and collaborating with educators, schools, parents, and community partners. Together, as a team, we prepare students to live, work, and thrive in a multicultural, multilingual, and highly connected world.
California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls – For more than 50 years, the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls has identified and worked to eliminate inequities in state laws, practices, and conditions that affect California’s women and girls. Established as a state agency with 17 appointed commissioners in 1965, the Commission regularly assesses gender equity in health, safety, employment, education, and equal representation in the military, and the media. The Commission provides leadership through research, policy and program development, education, outreach and collaboration, advocacy, and strategic partnerships.
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Q: When and where will the next California STEAM Symposium be held?
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
California Educators, from PK-12, who have, currently are or plan to align their curriculum and instruction with STEAM learning and opportunities, the Environmental Principles and Concepts (EP&Cs), and the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Particularly, those seeking curricular integration and Maker-driven learning environments.
California’s District and County Curriculum Administrators working to challenge today’s students and better prepare them for college and 21st-century careers, scale STEAM professional learning and discover ways to broaden quality STEAM education on a systemic level.
Higher Education Professionals leading pre-service teaching programs and other pathways to increase and improve the STEAM educator pipeline, as well as those working on inclusive recruitment and persistence initiatives for STEAM majors.
National and California Associations and Non-Profit Organizations that promote STEAM awareness and solutions in California schools.
Community Programs and Foundations that are looking to support and partner with California educators and school districts on successful, scalable programs.
Educational Technology Companies promoting new ways of learning—in and out of the classroom.
STEAM Industry Business Partners who understand the importance of strong STEAM learning and skills needed to succeed in our 21st-century world.
Policymakers who work on innovative partnerships with STEAM industry partners, local schools and districts, and government to support accessible and equitable student learning and STEAM-career experience.
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Lunch Bites is a free professional learning series produced by the California STEAM Symposium team.
Even as the news is changing daily, what remains is the need within our community to feel connected to each other, grow professionally, and share resources. Take a stretch break, grab your lunch, and learn with us as we examine the realities and opportunities of delivering lessons in any learning environment. Subscribe to the podcast on the Apple, Spotify, and Google podcast platforms. View all webinars on the CDEF YouTube page. Lunch Bites is made possible through our partnership with Chevron, the human energy company. To learn more about their generous support of STEM Education visit STEM Education Partnerships & Investments — Chevron.com.
Podcast Episode 17: Karen Vang – STEAM and Early Learning
In this episode, Karen Vang shares how STEAM intersects with Early Education, various Early Learning practices which are transferable at all grade levels, and how hands-on, project-based learning includes a lot of intangibles that are hard to measure, but you can determine impact on student learning.
Karen Vang is the Program Manager at the Center for District Innovation And Leadership in Early Education (DIAL EE). Before joining DIAL EE, Karen was responsible for managing early literacy assessments in Oakland, CA, for over 1000 children, conducting data analysis for continuous program improvement, and coordinating professional development across multiple agencies at the Kenneth Rainin Foundation. She initially began her career in early childcare as a student assistant with infants and toddlers, and has also worked as a literacy tutor in a Transitional Kindergarten classroom. Karen holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley.
Make sure to visit: DIALEE
Podcast Episode 16: Building Powerful Partnerships To Support Student Learning
Anita Miller, Advisor for Chevron Education and Corporate Programs, and Jesse Lovejoy, Director of 49ers EDU and 49ers Museum, provide an honest look behind the scenes at how successful partnerships begin, what the growing pains are, and ideas for how everyone, from classroom teachers to district leadership, can develop partnerships to positively impact their students’ lives.
Make sure to visit the Chevron STEM Zone and 49ers EDU.
This episode features the California Science Center, the Lawrence Hall of Science, and the Exploratorium. We discuss creative opportunities for partnering with community educators as the Expanded Learning Division at the California Department of Education administers a significant amount of grant funding to address learning loss and recovery.
Resources Mentioned:
Podcast Episode 15: Seize the Moment with Expanded Learning Opportunities Grants
Michael Funk, Director of the Expanded Learning Division at the California Department of Education, encourages every educator to seize the moment with the Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Grants. He encourages looking for community solutions to support student growth this summer and beyond while also providing tangible examples for Local Education Agencies and Expanded Learning Partners.
Resources Mentioned:
- Free Event: 5/5/21, 9am-3pm PT – A Whole Child Approach to the AB86 Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELO) Grant Convening
- California Collaborative for Educational Excellence
- California AfterSchool Network
- Expanded Learning Opportunities Grants Frequently Asked Questions
- AB-86 COVID-19 relief and school reopening, reporting, and public health requirements
- COVID-19 Relief Funding Summary Sheet from CDE
Podcast Episode 14: Science Advocacy & Inclusive Practices
Jessica Sawko, Associate Director of the California STEM Network, and Juanita Chan, STEM and College and Careers Pathway Coordinator for Rialto Unified School District, join us. We discuss rethinking inclusive practices for a post-distance learning world, and they give tips for advocating for science no matter your role in education.
Our guests also talk about the challenge with measuring potential learning loss and the need for assessments to provide data points to inform the LCAP process occurring now in districts. Both guests also share tools to assist educators in advocating for Science.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
CA4NGSS: Science Advocacy CommunicationsToolkit – Curated core messages, slide presentations, and other communication toolkits
Opportunity for Successful Science Implementation in a Post-Pandemic Climate – Guidance for using the LCAP to Mitigate Science Learning Loss
Note: This was recorded while the state was still in negotiations with the U.S. Department of Education regarding the State Board approved plan for assessment for the 2020/2021. For the latest information on science and other state testing requirements for 2020/2021, please visit CDE’s website.
“I am optimistic. We went through a really hard time this last year and I am optimistic that we are going to rebuild better and that this is an opportunity for us to really think about what is best for kids, families, and teachers. People are really understanding the benefits are starting early and I’m really hopeful that this will turn into action.”
We welcome Patricia Lozano, Executive Director of Early Edge California, to explore the recently released report, Building A Coherent P-12 Education System In California, and reflect on the report’s kick-off webinar. She shares about her journey from Colombia to California. She also lends her expertise to highlight family engagement strategies and the benefits of supporting our multilingual students and families.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Executive Summary – Building A Coherent P-12 Education System In California
Full Report – Building A Coherent P-12 Education System In California
Webinar Recording – Improving A Child’s Education Journey: A Conversation About K-12 Policy & Early Learning in California
We explore the recently released Guide To Arts Education In Public Education that was developed by the California State PTA and Create/CA. The guide was created in response to the updated California Arts Standards developed by the California Department of Education. While designed for parents, this guide has many useful resources for educators at every grade level and is also available in both English and Spanish. Learn more about the power of the arts, how to become an Arts Equity District, and the various ways this arts guide can be utilized in your education community by listening today.
Resources Mentioned in this Episode:
Parents’ Guide To Arts Education In Public Education
Creative Industries Career Map
The Declaration of the Rights of All Students to Equity in Arts Learning
How to become an Arts Equity District
California Arts Standards
Webinar Episode 15: Empowering Students with Website Creation Tools with Wix Education
11:30-Noon P.T., Thursday, February 25, 2021
Episode 15: Slide Deck & Resources
Podcast Episode 11: 49ers EDU: The Intersection of Sports and STEAM with Sofy Navarro & Sara Jin
We are excited to share our conversation with 49ers EDU team members Sofy Navarro, Senior Manager, and Sara Jin, Lead Educator. In this episode, we discuss their pivot from in-person learning experiences to inspiring digital learning, how to be more inclusive of females in STEAM, and some great engaging resources for your learning environment.
Resources Mentioned:
49ers EDU Interactive Digital Playbook
49ers EDU PDF Digital Playbook
49ers EDU Website
49ers EDU #LunchBites Webinar Video
Podcast Episode 10: A Pathway to Equitable Math Instruction with Dani Wadlington & Kyndall Brown
We discuss equitable math and dismantling racism in mathematics instruction with Dani Wadlington, Director of Mathematics Education at Quetzal Education Consulting and Kyndall Brown, Executive Director at the California Mathematics Project. We take a close look at both individual and school-wide approaches to anti-racist practices in education. Dani and Kyndall also share about their contributions to the “A Pathway To Equitable Math Instruction” project which includes a newly available workbook that models how to be an anti-racist math educator.
Resources mentioned: equitablemath.org
Webinar Episode 14: Sports and STEAM with 49ers EDU
11:30-Noon P.T., Thursday, October 29
Episode 14: Slide Deck & Resources
Podcast Episode 9: Compassion Centered Education
“The other thing you can do is to practice self-compassion. Love yourself. Be kind to yourself. Extend the grace you would afford to anyone else going through tremendous turmoil to yourself. You’re worth it!”
Dr. Jacquelyn Ollison is the Program Director of the California Teacher Residency Lab at CDE Foundation. She is a committed educator with extensive education experience as a teacher and school site, district, and state administrator. Dr. Jacquelyn Ollison addresses the issue of compassion fatigue, and how teachers suffer from the emotional labor of serving their students.
Resources Mentioned:
Read her blog: Compassion Centered Education
Watch her TEDx Talk: Compassion Fatigue
Podcast Episode 8: Early Education & STEAM
“Every last one of us is responsible for the world we live in. When we are asking our children to be better than that, we should be asking ourselves the same thing. Despite everything that is going on…a pandemic, a fiscal depression, serious climate change, and civil unrest, we have to see another way… We have created this. If we want to create a different reality, THIS is the day we do it. And I’m thinking ahead about STEAM and the Symposium. This is the time to think about how we do this better.”
Carla Bryant is the Executive Director and creator of the District Innovation and Leadership for Early Education (DIAL EE) supporting school districts as they create and implement effective early learning structures that assist children from communities with less social, political, and monetary capital build a strong educational foundation.
Resources Mentioned:
White Paper: Recommendations for Home Learning Materials
Webinar Episode 13: Creating Conditions To Thrive: A Pathway To Equitable Math Instruction
11:30-Noon P.T., Thursday, October 8
Episode 13: Slide Deck and Resources
Podcast Episode 7: Culturally Relevant Phenomena In Science
This week’s episode features Dr. Leena Bakshi, founder and executive director of the nonprofit, STEM 4 Real. She introduces the concept of culturally relevant phenomena and provides tangible examples of how educators can use them in their classrooms. She also addresses anti-racism in STEM classrooms and shares her reflections on our Building Community With STEAM Pre-Conference in August.
Resources Mentioned:
www.teachingtolerance.org
www.stem4real.org
Podcast Episode 6: A Student’s Perspective: Welcoming BIPOC Students To STEAM
This week’s episode features Ashley Alvarez, a 2020 high school graduate who is starting her freshman year at Harvard this fall. You may recognize Ashley from the Social Justice Learning Institute student panel at our Building Community With STEAM Pre-Conference in August. She reflects on her recent experience as a summer intern on the STEAM Team at the CDE Foundation during a global pandemic and a national reckoning on racial justice.
Podcast Episode 5: Creating a Trusting School Environment with Hayin Kimner and Gustavo Morales
This week’s episode focuses on utilizing strategic frameworks from Community Schools, a relationship-based way to approach student growth. Our guests are Hayin Kimner, an education policy advisor, and Gustavo Morales, the Program Manager of The CA Labor Management Initiative at CDE Foundation reflect on the PACE Report, Community Schools: A COVID-19 Recovery Strategy, and share their experiences helping students, families, educators, and community partners come together to create a trusting school environment.
Webinar Episode 12: Spark A Family’s Excitement For Science with the California State PTA
11:30-Noon P.T., Thursday, August 20
Episode 12: Slide Deck & Resources
Podcast Episode 4: Edwin Kang – Staying Connected With Students When You Are At A Distance
This week’s podcast features Edwin Kang, the STEM Specialist at the Mendocino County Office of Education. He speaks about how he has been supporting students and teachers not only here in California, but also in Indonesia and Borneo. He shares his biggest take-away from the Lunch Bites “Creativity and Engineering with Household Robotics” webinar episode with the Robotics Education & Competition Foundation.
Podcast Episode 3: Jean Ryoo – Equity & Creativity in Computer Science
This week’s podcast features Jean Ryoo, a researcher at the UCLA Computer Science Equity Project. She shares her interview with a recent high school graduate, Natalia, from the #SummerofCS. They discuss how to attract more youth to Computer Science, STEAM-related classes, and careers. Jean also reflects on her experience working at the Exploratorium, and how her current work with educators shapes effective pedagogical practices to promote academic engagement for students who have historically been denied access to quality education in Computer Science. Visit www.summerofcs.org for more information about the Summer of Computer Science.
Jean Ryoo’s Recommended Reading List:
“Race After Technology” by Ruha Benjamin
“Weapons of Mass Destruction” by Margaret Vandenburg
“Stuck in the Shallow End” by Jane Morgolis and her team
“Algorithms of Oppression” by Safiya Umoja Noble
“Automating Inequality” by Virginia Eubanks
Podcast Episode 2: Yamileth Shimojyo – Hands-On Distance Learning & the Power of Thinking Routines
This week’s podcast features Yamileth Shimojyo, STEM/Science Administrator at the Riverside County Office of Education. She reacts to a presentation about the power of thinking routines that was led by Justin Boner of Maker Ed and shares about how she has used these tools in her role. The referenced webinar recording, slide deck, and resources are below.
Podcast Episode 1: Albert David Valderrama – Mathematics Through the Lens of Social Justice
This podcast features Albert David Valderrama, an educator, as he shares reflections on his international career and his teacher credentialing program at Cal State University Long Beach. He reacts to the California Mathematics Project’s Executive Director, Dr. Kyndall Brown’s presentation on Math Through the Lens of Social Justice (scroll down for the webinar recording and slide deck with resources). He also revisits Dr. Chris Emdin’s 2019 California STEAM Symposium keynote presentation focused on the use of Hip Hop in education.
Thank you for an amazing Spring 2020 season of #LunchBites Webinars! Be sure to check out our yearbook that includes links to all of the resources!
#LunchBites Spring 2020 Yearbook
Episode 11: The SUPERpower of Celebration!
11:30-Noon, Thursday, May 28, 2020
Episode 11: Slide Deck and Resources
Episode 10: Let’s Make! Supporting Families With Innovative At-Home Activities
11:30-Noon, Thursday, May 21, 2020
Episode 10: Slide Deck and Resources
Episode 9: Bookmaking: Connecting With Students Through Art
11:30-Noon, Thursday, May 14, 2020
Episode 9: Slide Deck and Resources
Episode 8: Mathematics Through the Lens of Social Justice
11:30-Noon, Thursday, May 7, 2020
Episode 8: Slide Deck and Resources
Episode 7: Making Thinking Visible with MakerEd
11:30-Noon, Thursday, April 30, 2020
Episode 7: Slide Deck and Resources
Episode 6: Creativity and Engineering with Household Robotics
11:30-Noon, Thursday, April 23, 2020
Episode 6: Slide Deck and Resources
Episode 5: Supporting Language Learners at Home
11:30-Noon, Thursday, April 16, 2020
Episode 5: Slide Deck and Resources
Episode 4: Birds, Bugs & Clouds: Guiding Scientific Observation at Home
11:30-Noon, Thursday, April 9, 2020
Episode 4: Slide Deck and Resources
Episode 3: Hands-On Learning in a Virtual Environment
11:30-Noon, Thursday, April 2, 2020
Episode 3: Slide Deck and Resources
View Episode 3 below. Please like, share and sign up for the next one!
Episode 2: Student Discourse in a Virtual Classroom
11:30-Noon, Thursday, March 26, 2020
Episode 2: Slide Deck and Resources
View Episode 2 below. Please like, share and sign up for the next one!
Episode 1: Digital Lesson Planning
11:30-Noon, Friday, March 20, 2020
Episode 1: Slide Deck & Resources
View Episode 1 below. Please like, share and sign up for the next one!
The California STEAM Symposium is led by CDE Foundation staff and is supported by a dynamic team assisting with marketing, registration, and event coordination. Glennon and Karyn, from the Foundation team, are passionate educators, both committed to sharing the impact STEAM lessons and education have had on their lives with the world! They have led a variety of initiatives across the State and locally in Southern and Northern California. To reach them please visit our Contact us page.
- General STEAM Symposium questions: email [email protected]
- Presentations, programming, and student showcase questions: email Karyn Warner
- Sponsorship & Exhibitor questions: email Glennon Stratton
- Educator Workforce Investment Grant (EWIG) questions: email Yadira Guerrero
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