We are looking for individuals with a heart for youth and teachers in our community, for learning & for STEAM programs. New board members serve beginning July 1, 2024 (terms are 2 years).
Growing the STEM was started in 2017 by Lilian Smith and Adeline Smith who wanted to share their love of math with more students in their community.
Lilian Smith graduated from Coeur d’Alene High School in 2021 and is currently pursuing degrees in government and chemistry, en route to a career in public education teaching, policy, and advocacy. She serves in a program to teach civics to 5th graders in Boston Public Schools and is involved with Women in Business. Lilian started and led the Math is Cool team at Fernan STEM Academy and the STEM Club at Borah Elementary. Lilian also served as president on the board of Growing the STEM, where her focus was on fundraising, community outreach, website building, and planting new programs.
Adeline Smith is currently a student at Lake City High School and attended Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities when she helped to start Growing the STEM in 4th grade. Her interests are art, singing, writing, math competitions, crew, student council, and tennis. She works at Fire Artisan Pizza and serves in the HOPE Club at LCHS. Adeline had the idea for the Mathletes Mentor program and has served as a Mathletes Mentor and a valuable advisor in the development of the program. She also served as a coach of the Bryan Elementary Math is Cool team for several years starting in sixth grade and has recently piloted a STEAM program at Borah Elementary.
Youth Development. We value kids helping kids, therefore placing students in leadership roles to develop the next generation of leaders and teach young people that they can make a difference.
Equality. Given the importance of STEM education and known barriers and inequalities in the STEM fields, we seek gender, socioeconomic, and cultural parity among participants in STEM activities.
Fun. We believe that to be successful in expanding student engagement in math and science education, activities must be fun, entertaining, and hands-on.
Hard Work. To make sustainable and impactful change in our community, we need to work diligently and push students to become their best.
Confidence. We believe confidence is a critical component in nurturing students’ interest in and pursuit of math and science fields and work to foster this in our programs.
Lilian at MathCounts in middle school
Adeline at her first Math is Cool competition in third grade
Welcome to our new ED! Bio coming soon!
We look forward to the growth your passion brings to GTS.
Rebecca Smith has taught English literature for many years, most recently at Gonzaga University from 2012-2021, and has extensive experience in nonprofit development. She is spending the next two years pursuing personal writing projects, which she finds both exciting and intimidating. She is the co-founder and former Executive Director of CDAIDE, a nonprofit that serves restaurant and hospitality workers in CDA with emergency financial assistance and positive relationships. She has also founded
Adeline Smith is the Co-Founder and Vice President of Growing the STEM.
Hi! I’m Adeline and I will be a senior at Coeur d’Alene High School. I have been with Growing the STEM since its founding in 2017. I have loved coaching Math is Cool, STEAM Club, STEM Club, STEM Book Club, and being a Mathletes mentor. I enjoy tennis, math competitions, and hanging out with friends. I am excited to see what a new year holds for Growing the STEM!
Bio coming soon! Thanks for joining us Deirdre! We are lucky to have your expertise.
or co-founded a number of nonprofit organizations: Downtown Baltimore Family Alliance, the Patterson Park Public Charter School, and the Baltimore Education Coalition. In CDA where she has lived since 2011 with her husband and three children, Rebecca co-founded the Coeur d’Alene Education Partnership and serves as the Board Chair of Growing the STEM. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Brown University and a PhD in English language and literature from the University of Michigan.
ALP Teacher and Coach Extraordinaire, Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities
My name is Charlene Babb and I am the Advanced Learning Program teacher at Sorensen Magnet School for the Arts and Humanities. My passion for helping kids see the beauty in math and the connection between math and music is thrilling for me! I have long been an advocate for Growing the STEM and I’m so happy to be a part of this great program in our community!
Coordinator Idaho Master Gardener Program University of Idaho
Kara found Growing the STEM compelling and knew she wanted to be a part of this essential team. Her professional life began in Green Design and Interior Architecture. Since moving to CDA in '08 she pursues a second career in education, Horticulture and Entomology. Kara keeps native bees thriving in working and natural landscapes by raising 15 naive bee hives across our county. She is excited to bridge connections through our programs.
Teacher Extraordinaire, Sorensen Magnet School of the Arts and Humanities. Mrs. Marshall is a founding board member of GTS, and was lucky enough to be Lilian and Adeleine's teacher. She has taught at Sorensen for 15 years, and has a passion for helping struggling mathematicians, hands-on science, and arts integration. She loves her GTS role and is proud of developing and piloting the first STEM Club at Borah Elementary. She looks forward to all that GTS will do in the 2023-2024 school year!
I'm excited to be joining Growing the STEM in an events role! I've been actively involved in the Coeur d'Alene public school system for 14 years wearing various hats; including PTO chair, school volunteer, substitute teacher and community education activist. Our daughters have inspired me to engage with GTS. Our oldest is a college sophomore, studying aerospace engineering. Our youngest, a senior at Coeur d'Alene High School, is planning to study a STEM field in college. I'm proud to say they ar
Representing: Lake City High School
Hi I’m Addy and I’m the student board member for Lake City High School! I’m going into my third year as a student coach for Growing the STEM and have loved every minute of it. I love leadership as well so being a Growing the STEM leader seemed like the perfect fit for me. I’m in debate as well as choir at Lake City and hope to use my strengths from that to help the program in any way I can.
Representing: Coeur d'Alene Charter Academy
Hi! My name is Caitlin Zent and I am currently a student at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy. Some of my favorite hobbies include playing soccer with my team and skiing in the winter. Going to school and learning new things has always been something I enjoy and am very passionate about. My goal is to encourage others to have the same positive relationship with education that I have. I am so excited to see the difference Growing the STEM can make in our c
Representing: Coeur d'Alene High School
Hello! I’m Maddox Le, a soon-to-be senior at CHS. I’m on the soccer team and I also am a part of the National Honor Society. I also love skiing and spending time in the mountains. I have been a Math is Cool coach as well as a proctor, and I hope to keep bringing new experiences to younger students. I can’t wait to see how Growing the STEM continues to flourish.
Hi, I'm Tessa, a student passionate about volunteering and helping the community grow to the best it can be! I am excited to step into the role of School Representative for Growing the STEM. I'm dedicated to helping it thrive and be the best it can be. I am beyond grateful for the opportunities this program offers and I can’t wait to grow together!
Hello, my name is Ava Dircksen! I am going to be a senior at Coeur d'Alene High School this year. I have worked with Growing the STEM for two years. I am currently a Student Advisory Group Representative for CHS. I am beyond thrilled to be a Growing the STEM Representative this year. I love skiing, hiking, mountain biking and traveling. I look forward to working with such an amazing group of leaders and to be part of all these young students' lives.
CHS Social Co-chair & Coach Development
Hi! My name is Gianna Gonzalez and I will be a junior during the 2024-25 school year. I am also one of the vice presidents of Key Club at Coeur d’Alene High School and I am a part of the school’s varsity swim team. My favorite hobby is playing water polo. In the future, I hope to go through the offered dual credit program at my school and become a doctor. I am excited to be a part of Growing the STEM and to give back to my community!
CHS Social Co-chair & Coach Development
Hi!! My name is Shayla Tyler and I am an upcoming junior at Coeur d'Alene High School. My favorite hobbies are skiing and swimming, and I hope to go into a STEM major in college. I'm so excited to be a part of Growing the STEM and helping all of the little kids kindle their passion for STEM.
LCHS Social Co-chair & Coach Development
Hi! I’m Will Sharon. I am a freshman at LCHS and I am so excited to make a difference in our community. By helping with growing the stem!
LCHS Social Co-chair & Coach Development
I am Payton. I will be a sophomore in the 2024-2025 school year at Lake City High School. I have been swimming for three years with the Coeur d’Alene Area Swim Team and for Lake City. It is my favorite thing to do in my free time. I am really excited to be a part of Growing the STEM because it has a great mission and great goals. I can’t wait for what is to come this year.
CDA Charter School Representative
Hi! My name is Kourtni Johnson and I am a junior at Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy. One of my favorite hobbies is gardening, and I am hoping to major in ecology and environmental engineering in college. The natural world fascinates me and I hope to help integrate the beauty of nature into education with Growing the STEM. I also love to dance! I find that music is a magnificent way to soothe the soul. I am so excited to encourage the STEM community in our area and
Rebecca Smith onboarding new bemebrs in June
Rebecca Smith Deirdre Lawrence
All board members are currently drafting the one year and five year strategic plan for GTS.
Thank you to all our board members for their dedication and the energy they bring to our projects and mission
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