I hope this message finds you well. On behalf of the EmpowerED Minds: The School Mental Health Summit (formerly known as the Iowa BEST Summit), I am reaching out to invite your institution to support an exciting sponsorship opportunity at our 2025 conference, September 30 – October 1 in Des Moines, Iowa.

We are seeking higher education institutions to sponsor the Poster Session and Reception, a premier event that highlights innovative research and practice in school mental health and well-being. This session, held at the close of our first day, will feature emerging voices in the field, providing an engaging platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and professional connection.
 
Poster Session & Reception Sponsorship – $2,500 (multiple available)
As a sponsor, your institution will receive:
✅ Brand visibility – Your logo will be featured in the Summit mobile app, on general session looping slides, and on event banners.
✅ Exclusive benefits – One full-access conference registration for an exhibit booth rep, one full-access conference registration for a grad student, and two additional drink tickets for the reception.
✅ Complimentary exhibit booth – A complimentary exhibit booth ($600 value) if your institution would like to have additional conference presence.

This is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate your institution’s commitment to advancing school mental health research and practice while connecting with professionals from PK-12 education, mental health, policy, and higher education. Up to 1,500 attendees could be reached.  

Please visit our conference webpage to learn more about the Summit: https://scsmh.education.uiowa.edu/2025-empowerED-minds. More information about registration, speakers, a call for proposals, and sponsorships/exhibitors will be posted soon.

If you are interested in this sponsorship opportunity, or if you have any questions, please contact Kat Krtnick Wilson at [email protected]. We truly appreciate your support in fostering dialogue, innovation, and collaboration in school mental health. We hope you will join us in making this event a success!

The State of Iowa Science Standards underwent a revision this Fall with the help of science teachers from around Iowa.  Their work should be commended.  They were, however, in for a surprise. The Iowa Department of Education released a final draft that deleted references to evolution, climate change and human impacts to the environment. These deletions were not proposed by the teachers involved and represented an evolution of thought once the teachers had left the revision process.

If you agree, you have the ability to voice your concerns and opinions. The instructions below will help to navigate the “Science Standards Revision Survey.” If you would like suggested verbiage to accompany your responses, please feel free to reach out to Robb Beane. 

A sincere thank you to anyone that can complete the survey.

If you are interested in attending any of the remaining public comment meetings in person or via zoom follow this link: https://tinyurl.com/bdhh5bs2

• Thursday, Jan. 23 at 4-6 p.m.
  Iowa Department of Education Grimes Building
  Room B100
  400 E 14th St
  Des Moines, IA 50319
  Zoom Link

Start Here - Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GHS2RYC?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery