Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) is proud to announce its newest STEM Fellowship cohort. The 17 selected educators in Cohort 9 will begin their fellowship year in July 2026, bringing the total number to 166 Fellows working to grow high-quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning throughout the Indiana Uplands region. STEM Fellow alumni will also be invited again to participate in ROI’s mentorship program, guiding the newest Fellows in classroom integration, navigating fellowship experiences, and engaging with regional industry sectors. Those mentors will be announced in May.
“The Indiana Uplands is experiencing strong growth across STEM‑driven industries, and employers are increasingly looking for talent prepared to innovate and lead in advanced manufacturing, engineering, life sciences, and technology,” said Michi McClaine, Vice President of Talent Development at the Regional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI). “Building a competitive regional economy depends on engaging students early and sustaining their interest in STEM throughout their education.”
Looking ahead, McClaine pointed to the role educators play in shaping the Indiana Uplands’ long‑term STEM talent pipeline development.
“The ROI STEM Fellowship is a critical part of a long‑term talent strategy, equipping educators to translate real‑world industry needs into classroom experiences that spark curiosity, creativity, and problem‑solving,” McClaine added. “As we welcome our ninth cohort and expand upon the mentor program launched last year, we’re continuing to grow a collaborative network of educators and alumni. Together, this expanding community of practice is strengthening today’s classrooms while helping cultivate the innovative workforce that will drive the region’s future growth.”
ROI STEM Fellowship – Cohort 9
| First Name | Last Name | Organization | County |
| Liana | Baker | Paoli Community Schools Corporation | Orange |
| Camille | Berg | Northeast Dubois County School Corporation | Dubois |
| Jeri | Betar | Monroe County Community School Corporation | Monroe |
| Rick | Bray | Monroe County Community School Corporation | Monroe |
| Jeremy | Brown | Monroe County Community School Corporation | Monroe |
| Kalli | Burgess | North Lawrence Community Schools | Lawrence |
| Emily | Condon | Linton Stockton School Corporation | Greene |
| Janelle | Crews | Springs Valley Community Schools | Orange |
| Amanda | Hicks | Monroe County Community School Corporation | Monroe |
| Jamie | Hooten | North Lawrence Community Schools | Lawrence |
| Shannon | Lehr | Monroe County Community School Corporation | Monroe |
| Drusilla | Lindsey | Mitchell Community Schools | Lawrence |
| Ginger | Rasche | Southwest Dubois County School Corporation | Dubois |
| Christina | Rayhill | Barr-Reeve Community Schools | Daviess |
| Brittany | Scherer | Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools | Dubois |
| Darla | Werne | Southwest Dubois County School Corporation | Dubois |
| TBA | TBA | MSD of Shakamak | Greene |
Indiana Uplands educators apply to be a STEM Fellowship participant and are selected by ROI. Applications also include a letter of recommendation from a school administrator. Selected educators participate in the yearlong STEM Fellowship that begins with a required two‑day, in‑person kickoff in July, followed by monthly in‑person sessions from July through December 2026 focused on experiential learning, collaboration, reflection, and STEM integration. From January through April, Fellows implement STEM‑integrated, career‑connected learning in their classrooms with individualized coaching support, culminating in a celebratory event in April 2027 where educators share artifacts and reflections from their fellowship experience. Fellows receive a $1,500 stipend at the conclusion of the fellowship year, along with relevant supporting STEM resources and materials.
The STEM Fellowship is designed to enhance educators’ confidence as educational leaders and STEM experts. In addition to honing their skills, Fellows provide STEM support to colleagues and contribute to the Uplands regional STEM teacher network. Working with ROI’s education and workforce team, educators participate in professional development in STEM-relevant topics, including computer science, engineering design process, microelectronics, and AI. Each professional development event offers new instructional ideas, a deeper understanding of how to integrate STEM throughout the instructional day, and valuable career connections with industry sector partners.
The STEM Fellowship program was developed in response to the findings of ROI’s periodic Occupational Needs Assessments, which emphasize the importance of having STEM-literate students to meet current and future workforce needs and provide a basis for continued economic growth and prosperity in the Uplands region. Throughout their fellowship, educators are encouraged to think more deeply about STEM teaching and find ways to make meaningful connections between academic content and future opportunities for students. Fellows also explore STEM content and topics related to the Uplands’ key industry sectors: national security and defense, life sciences, and advanced manufacturing. Each fellowship session includes participation from industry and community partners, as well as guidance on how to effectively integrate career exposure in ways that are age-appropriate for their students.
Since the fellowship program launched in 2017, 166 educators have been selected to advance STEM learning in their schools. This new cohort joins a vibrant community of practice that extends across all 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands region.
“At its core, the STEM Fellowship is about investing in educators as the catalysts for long‑term economic vitality in the Indiana Uplands,” McClaine said.
“By equipping teachers with deeper STEM knowledge, industry connections, and a supportive professional network, we’re helping them open doors for students—connecting what they’re learning in the classroom to the opportunities that exist right here in our region. That kind of sustained, educator‑led impact is what strengthens our workforce today and builds strong communities for generations to come.”
Read more about ROI’s STEM Fellows Program:
https://regionalopportunityinc.org/stem-fellows/
About Regional Opportunity InitiativesRegional Opportunity Initiatives (ROI) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to advance economic and community prosperity in the 11 counties of the Indiana Uplands (Brown, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Greene, Lawrence, Martin, Monroe, Orange, Owen, and Washington counties). ROI is growing potential and possibility through a focus on advanced industry sectors, regionalism, transformative school and workforce redesign, and placemaking strategies. To learn more about ROI’s programs, visit https://regionalopportunityinc.org/.inc.org/.