Navigating the STEM Nexus: Ensuring A Safer and Engaging Elementary STEM Program

As the science supervisor for a progressive school district, my primary responsibility is to ensure the well-being of students and staff while fostering an environment that encourages exploration and learning for all from kindergarten to grade 12. In the landscape of elementary STEM education, this delicate balance requires continual collaboration between colleagues, administrators, and with trusted organizations such as the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA), the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and others. Together, we strive to create an atmosphere where the seeds of scientific curiosity can sprout, all while maintaining the highest safety standards and prioritizing science and STEM in the daily routine and timetable schedule.

The NSTA promotes excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning across the K-12 grade levels. In elementary STEM education, their guidelines emphasize the importance of hands-on experiences, sparking innate curiosity from a young age and helping them along their trajectory towards innovation and critical thinking using STEM as the foundational subject. As a safety officer, aligning our daily teaching practices with NSTA’s vision and accepted better professional safety practices involves considerable purposeful planning and implementation powerful instructional experiences combined with access to high quality instructional materials and of course the use of appropriate safer procedures and measures.  One key aspect highlighted by NSTA is the creation of dedicated STEM instructional spaces within elementary schools to foster growth and understanding about the world around us. These spaces should be designed with safety in mind, incorporating features such as proper ventilation, emergency exits, and easily accessible safety equipment, proper safety signage, ample PPE that fits the students properly, access to equipment and apparatus including tools that are age and stage appropriate and dedicated storage for these materials.

These are not recommendations or suggestions!  These criteria for our STEM instructional spaces are based on legal safety standards and better professional practices. As our district embraces this shared vision, we collaborate with architects and educators to construct state-of-the-art STEM laboratories that meet or exceed NSTA standards, providing a safer and secure environment for young learners to delve into the wonders of science and exploration of phenomena that surround us.  NSTA also emphasizes the integration of safety protocols into STEM curriculum development. This involves incorporating age-appropriate lessons on lab safety, personal protective equipment (PPE) usage, and emergency procedures. In our district, we collaborate with our risk management team and the curriculum and instruction department to create engaging safer STEM lessons that capture the attention of elementary students, and use safer procedures and materials to meet these curricular objectives as part of their STEM journey.  This starts in kindergarten and continues to their graduation from high school.

I am also a member of the National Science Education Leadership Association which adds another dimension to our school district’s journey of emphasis on STEM and on safety.  Collaboration with NSELA reinforces our commitment to cultivating effective leadership in science education and modeling the change that we would like to see in these science instructional spaces or laboratories in our schools. NSELA’s leadership principles guide us in creating a culture where safety is not just a set of rules but an integral part of the educational ethos.  NSELA promotes professional learning communities (PLCs) among science educators for multiple reasons, all based on research and evidence. Through these communities, teachers can share best practices, including successful safety strategies implemented in their classrooms. As a science supervisor, I actively participate in these communities to glean insights into emerging subject area (and safety) trends as well as innovative and creative teacher-based solutions, ensuring our district remains at the forefront of safer STEM education.

While NSTA and NSELA provide invaluable guidance, OSHA’s regulatory framework (OSHA CFR 29 1910.1450) forms the regulatory compliance aspect that is designed to provide a safer learning environment for students in our schools. Adhering to OSHA standards is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative to protect the well-being of our students and staff despite the regulations being written for ‘workplace’ situations with employers and employees.  Our district views students and extensions of this legislation and we ensure that they follow the same safer standards and follow the established safer standard operational procedures found in our safety documents, even at the elementary level.  We insist that students wear the certified Z87.1 D3 ANSI/ISEA indirectly vented chemical splash goggles when conducting experiments with liquids, chemicals or heat at a minimum. Regular safety audits, conducted by trained personnel, ensure that our facilities and practices comply with the highest safety standards, even at the elementary level. Through continuous training and professional development, teachers stay abreast of safety regulations, fostering a culture of safety consciousness among all stakeholders.

How do we achieve this? It involves constant communication, collaboration, and a shared commitment to fostering a culture where safety and learning go hand in hand. In our district, this intersection is evident in our comprehensive STEM lessons and activities sequenced and integrated with accepted safety protocols. For instance, when designing STEM experiments, teachers follow NSTA guidelines to ensure age-appropriate activities by completing the hazard analysis and risk assessment prior to each activity. Simultaneously we assist in fostering a safety-conscious elementary STEM classroom culture, where students actively participate in maintaining a secure environment and follow their curiosities.

As we celebrate two years of dedicated efforts toward safer elementary STEM education, the collaboration between our school district, using valuable lessons from the NSTA, NSELA, and OSHA stands as a testament to the power of collective commitment. Moving forward, our journey involves a commitment to continuous improvement, staying attuned to the evolving landscape of STEM education and participating in PLC’s not only to ensure a safer environment for our students but also sowing the seeds for a future generation of innovators, armed with both knowledge and a profound respect for safety in the realm of science and discovery. 

Stay curious and safer my friends,    

NSTA & NSELA Member from Michigan