Ames High School science teacher Mike Todd has been awarded a 2026 STEM BEST® Explore award from the Governor's STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education, recognizing his continued commitment to connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences for students.
Todd's STEM BEST Program model, the Community Food Production Leadership Internship (CFPLI), is designed as a selective summer internship for Ames High juniors and seniors. The program focuses on sustainable food production, community service, work-based learning, and youth leadership, while also addressing food insecurity in the Ames community.
"The Community Food Production Leadership Internship (CFPLI) is a selective summer internship program for upcoming Ames High School Juniors and Seniors, focused on sustainable food production, community service, work-based learning, and youth leadership," Todd explained.
© AMES Community School District
Through the internship, students will take on meaningful responsibility by managing the Ames High School garden and indoor farm, growing fresh produce that will be donated to local food pantries. Along the way, they will also mentor younger students and collaborate with community partners.
"Students selected for the program will help manage the Ames High School Garden and the Indoor Farm at the Ames High Greenhouse to grow fresh produce for donation to local food pantries," Todd said.
Todd emphasized that the work will be challenging but rewarding, offering students a realistic view of the demands of agricultural production.
"Growing food on a large scale during the summer months is hard work – it requires consistency in the face of brutal weather conditions and constant problem solving," he said.
At the core of the program is Todd's philosophy about education and what meaningful learning should look like for students.
"As a teacher, I am not interested in covering information that students will remember for a few days. I am interested in engaging students in meaningful learning – learning that changes the way they 'see' the world and learning that empowers them to think independently," Todd said.
He added, "Learning doesn't take place in a single class period, but develops over the course of a lifetime."
The internship will provide students with hands-on, real-world experiences that mirror careers in agriculture, sustainability, and nonprofit food systems. Students will be responsible for planting, harvesting, packaging, and distributing more than 2,000 pounds of fresh produce, while also gaining experience in leadership, logistics, and collaboration.
"This authentic internship structure allows students to experience the full food production and distribution system while developing professional workplace habits and STEM-related technical skills," Todd said.
Students will also engage with community organizations, visit food pantries and food banks, and learn more about local food insecurity and hunger relief systems, making clear connections between their work and its impact.
Todd's 2026 STEM BEST Explore award builds on a previous STEM BEST Program grant he received, allowing him to expand opportunities for students and maximize the use of resources already in place.
"This award seeks to expand work-based learning opportunities that utilize the equipment that was purchased with the first grant," Todd explained.
Together, the two awards have brought significant resources to Ames High, strengthening its ability to provide innovative, hands-on learning opportunities.
"It would be amazing if we could find the resources to maintain and manage these mission-critical spaces for years to come," Todd said.
Ultimately, Todd hopes the program will have a lasting impact not only on participating students but also on the broader Ames community.
"For students, I hope this internship is an opportunity to explore an interest, gain skills, learn to work with others, mentor youth, and make a difference," he said.
He added, "For the Ames Community, I hope this internship supports food-insecure residents and local food pantries with over 2,000 lbs of produce this summer."
By blending STEM learning with service and real-world application, Todd's work continues to demonstrate how education can extend far beyond the classroom, preparing students to make a meaningful difference in their communities.
Source: AMES Community School District
