MiSTEM Overview
Michigan, together with business, education, and community partners, has embarked on a journey to create a MiSTEM Network throughout the state. This opportunity grew out of Governor Snyder’s MiSTEM Advisory Council recommendation to make Michigan a world leader in STEM education. There are 16 MiSTEM Regions across Michigan.
MiSTEM Region 10 is designated as the East Central Region and is asset rich in business, manufacturing, healthcare, and numerous higher education institutions. As we continue to expand on our laser focus on 3P (project, problem, and placed based) learning in K-12 school districts throughout the region, efforts are dedicated toward Career and Technical Education (CTE), after school programming, investing in training of teachers in the 3P learning, and celebrating successes along the way.
There are 4 MiSTEM pillars that guide my work and serve as necessary components to establish a system that will continually produce STEM-equipped students and educators.
Create a STEM Culture: by using a systemic approach to enable community engagement, experiential learning, place-based education and by building capacity in our leaders, teachers and learners to create solutions to real-world situations.
Empower STEM Teachers: by creating opportunities for professional development, capacity building and support, and by connecting teachers with community partnerships that enable a diverse array of STEM-related engagement.
Integrate Business and Education: by bringing leaders together, establishing a common language, co-designing multidisciplinary real-world projects, and by providing authentic learning opportunities to help train a robust and diverse STEM literate workforce.
Ensure High-Quality STEM Experiences: that focus on real-world situations, immerses students in place-based, hands-on, experiential open-ended exploration, engages students in productive teamwork and integrates rigorous math and science content where failure is seen as a necessary part of the learning process.
The MiSTEM East Central Michigan Region
The MiSTEM East Central Region is comprised of the following counties and districts:
Region 10 East Central Career Exploration StoryMap
The interactive, regional map includes STEM careers in the following categories: Agriculture, Construction, Education (College, K-12, RESD), Energy, Finance, Healthcare, Information Technology, Manufacturing, Transportation.
Fun Facts
- There are over 5,000 Healthcare related businesses within the East Central MiSTEM Region
- Construction brings just over 1,200 businesses to the region as well.
- There are 13 Higher Education Institutions in the region that you will find throughout the StoryMap.
- The East Central MiSTEM Region has 34 active airports ranging from small helipads to international airports.
- There is a large range of rural to urban areas that span the region. Arenac County is the most rural with a population of about 15,000 while Saginaw County, just a bit south, is the most populated in the region with a population of just over 190,000 people.
- Influenced by Central Michigan University, Isabella County has a much lower than average Median Age sitting at 29.8 years old. Michigan’s Median Age is 40.5 years old.
MiSTEM Collaboratives
Increasing access and equity in STEM throughout Michigan is a priority of the 3 collaboratives present in the work of MiSTEM. Please check out the professional development opportunities at the link below in computer science, math, and science & engineering for teacher leaders and educators.
MiSTEM East Central Michigan Region Strategic Plan
MiSTEM Region 10’s 2024–2025 Strategic Plan outlines regional priorities to expand equitable, high-quality STEM learning through teacher development, business and community partnerships, and career-connected experiences. The plan focuses on strengthening math literacy, scaling 3P learning, and increasing access to STEM pathways for students across the region.
East Central Michigan Region Career Outlook
The East Central Career Outlook highlights high-demand and high-wage occupations projected through 2028, including expected annual openings, growth rates, and wage ranges. Careers are organized by education and training level, with additional emphasis on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations.
Key Education & Industry Partners who are Committed to Advancing STEM and Increasing the Employer Talent Pipeline in the Region: Central Michigan Region Career Outlook
- Bay Arenac ISD
- SK Siltron css
- Saginaw ISD
- Hemlock Semiconductor
- Case Systems
- MSU Extension
- Saginaw STEM
- Clare Gladwin RESD
- Michigan College Access Network (MCAN)
- Michigan Works! Great Lakes Bay Region
- Mid-Michigan Manufacturers Association (M3A)
- Gratiot Isabella RESD
- MSU St. Andrews
- Midland ESA Career & Technical Education (Midland ESA)
Contact Us
Dr. Betsy L. Diegel
MiSTEM Network Director East Central Michigan Prosperity Region
MSU St. Andrews
diegelb1@msu.edu
Cell: (989) 295-1353
1910 W. St. Andrews Road
Midland, MI 48640
State of Michigan MiStem Network
Michigan, together with business, education, and community partners, is embarking on a journey to create a MiSTEM Network throughout the state. The work of the MiSTEM Network is to build on existing STEM networks to create a STEM ecosystem that supports and implements the components outlined in the four pillars.
Executive Director, State of Michigan MiSTEM Network
- Megan Schrauben
