North Louisiana STEAM Alliance [Louisiana]
Northwest Louisiana, Southern Arkansas, and Northeast Texas. We also serve other parts of Louisiana when appropriate.
![North Louisiana STEAM Alliance [Louisiana] logo](https://stemecosystems.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/NLSA-2022-Logo-Color.png "North Louisiana STEAM Alliance [Louisiana] logo"){kind=logo}
About
The North Louisiana STEAM Alliance (NLSA) was founded in 2016 by community stakeholders committed to breaking down silos and connecting pockets of excellence to maximize impact. Today, under the leadership of Dr. Heather Kleiner, Ph.D., NLSA has grown to 250 members representing 80 diverse organizations—including PreK–12 schools, higher education, business and industry, workforce development, out-of-school programs, libraries, non-profits, community centers, correctional facilities, CTE organizations, faith-based groups, and dedicated volunteers.
Between 2016 and 2020, NLSA collectively served more than 72,000 individuals through 166,000 contact hours across 106 programs, with 76% of participants from underrepresented groups. Our members collaborate to share resources and deliver signature initiatives such as the Shreveport-Bossier Maker Faire, the Barksdale Airshow STEM Zone, and hands-on learning in coding, cybersecurity, and 3D printing. Partnerships also connect learners with scientists, women in STEM mentors, NASA resources, and grant-writing and digital literacy training.
Family engagement is a central focus, including a unique weekly program in correctional facilities that uses hands-on STEAM activities to reunite returning citizens with their children. In 2020, NLSA formally embraced the Arts, adding the “A” to STEM after the Bakowski Light-Up Bridge project, which trained student interns to become certified LED light designers.
Now a part of the statewide STEM Ecosystem (Region 7), NLSA serves ten parishes in Northwest Louisiana, advancing computer science, robotics, and re-entry outreach initiatives. As of June 2025, our impact includes 2,226 partnerships, 504 programs, 363,135 individuals served, and more than 1,081,600 cumulative contact hours.
VISION
“Connecting education, industry, and community to build resilient STEM identities and future-ready opportunities.” – The North Louisiana STEAM Alliance envisions a thriving ecosystem where education, business, industry, and community partners work together to advance equitable access to STEM. Strong partnerships—with the Louisiana Department of Education, LA Works, Louisiana Economic Development, CTE committees, higher education, and workforce development leaders—are essential to ensuring alignment between early learning, K–12, higher education, and career pathways. We believe that STEM identity and resilience must be cultivated throughout the learning journey, from early childhood to college and beyond.
Our vision includes raising awareness of the ecosystem through frequent, hands-on family engagement; providing robust support for educators; and addressing barriers by mapping areas of excellence and access. We will strengthen outreach by building a network of trained volunteers and contractors, conducting parish listening tours to understand community needs, and engaging culturally relevant ambassadors. Community members and stakeholders will be involved in shaping programs, events, and services to ensure relevance and impact.
Celebrating success is vital—through badges, certificates, public recognition, and media coverage—to make participants feel valued and highlight STEM as a driver of achievement. We will expand opportunities for training, competitions, and special events, elevating visibility across Northwest Louisiana.
Finally, we see mentoring as a cornerstone of advancement. By cultivating mentors, peer mentors, and near-peer mentors, we create pathways where students are inspired by those closest to their experiences. Sharing best practices and using proven evaluation tools will ensure measurable progress as we work to build a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready STEM ecosystem.
GOALS
Goal 1) Increase mathematics proficiency in middle school students and ACT scores in high school students.
Goal 2) Strengthen the connections between business/industry and education providers, students, parents, and community-based organizations
Goal 3) Unite the Ecosystem even better through networking events, such as the Shreveport-Bossier Maker Faire, Red River Revel, ArtBreak, STARBASE STEMzone, and other opportunities to bring all stakeholders together.
Goal 4) Increase family engagement in STEM for their children/students will perform better in school.
Goal 5) Make STEM and STEAM fun and cool to do at critical ages in childhood development. Think of cool ways to incorporate the needs of businesses while valuing student agency such as: “From Athlete to Techlete”: Utilizing cross-curricular skills that maximize skillsets that generate income.
Key Programs
Community Served: Northwest Louisiana, Southern Arkansas, and Northeast Texas. We also serve other parts of Louisiana when appropriate.
Learners Served: 156500 learners; elementary, middle school, high school, post-secondary, and adult learners.
Types of Learner Programs: Curriculum, In-school programs, Afterschool programs, Summer school programs, Internships, Work-based learning programs, Career & Technical Education (CTE), Pre-College STEM programs, Technical training & certification, Workforce skills & development, Degree programs, Coaching and mentoring programs.
Types of Educator Programs: 17,400 educators; Professional Development, Training, Online courses, Resources (equipment, kits, etc.), Virtual learning communities, Curriculum Support and Resources, Coaching or Mentoring Programs, Industry-education partnerships, Conference/networking opportunities.
KEY INITIATIVES
“Bars without Barriers: Teaching Incarcerated Parents how to Engage Their Children in STEM” – An outreach program to correctional centers that have re-entry programs, piloted at Caddo Correctional Center Re-Entry facility, fathers receive hand-on training every other week (2 h/session, 6 sessions) to learn STEM basics such as the scientific method, engineering design process, and STEM career programs. The alternating weeks the dads teach their children (age 2-14) and have meaningful interactions (2 h/session, 6 sessions). This model program will be expanded throughout the state.
Collaboration with the statewide Regional STEM Center Initiative: The Northwest LASTEM Innovation Center, Region 7, is currently housed at Bossier Parish Community College. The North Louisiana STEAM Alliance interacts with this initiative by providing community partners, volunteers, and events.
A conduit of STEM and STEAM information and opportunities through multiple communication channels
Teacher professional development workshops
- LASTEM Region 7 host Energize (Praxis exam for computer science)
- The Franklin Institute – Science in the Summer training, a fun, hands-on summer camp enrichment program for youth entering 2nd-6th grade with a STEM career-based theme.
- LASTEM: access to Learning Blade and Ready for Industry
Access to shared resources & competitions through LASTEM
- Cefinstem.org “You Be the Solution Challenge™” (formerly the You Be The Chemist Challenge®), a national STEM competition for teams of 5th-8th graders who answer a series of timed STEM-based questions and create a video.
- DSEC/Robonation SeaPerch underwater robotics
- FIRST Inspires including FIRST Lego Leagues; FIRST Tech Challenge; FIRST Robotics Competition Team
- Know Before You Fly” Discovery Drones
- Outreach Programs and Camps including NASA Astro Camps; The Franklin Institute/GSK Science in the Summer camp enrichment programs; NASA Aeronautics Museum in a Box and Outreach to community partners
Community Events
- Barksdale AFB Airshow with STARBASE STEMzone
- Shreveport-Bossier Maker Faire™
- Red River Revel
- Artbreak
- Workforce development
- Manufacturing week
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOCUS
The NLSA is working on a needs assessment with the community, business and industry. From these data our committee will develop a Strategic Plan that involves increasing the visibility of business/industry to students, parents, and the community. Starting with a strong communication plan, we will create the asset map and gap analysis. Our goals that align with developing future-ready skills and supporting workforce development are to:
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- Support STEM programs in the region
- Expand teacher professional development
- Work with community partners to maximize impact
- Utilize evaluation tools
- Foster business involvement
- Include North Louisiana Economic Partnership, Louisiana Economic Development, LA Works, and CTE Committees
- Host camps that have workforce experience in real world situations
Taken together, these strategies are designed to produce a robust education to employment pipeline for high-demand, high-wage SSTEM careers.
Partners
Early Childhood
STEP Forward, NSU College of Nursing
K-12 Education
Bossier Parish Schools, Barksdale AFB Homeschool, Caddo Parish Schools, DeSoto Parish Schools, LA Key Academy, McKinney-Byrd Academy, Natchitoches Schools, Riverdale Academy, Webster Parish Schools
Higher Education
Bossier Parish Community College, Centenary College, Jarvis College, LATECH, LSU Health – Shreveport, LSUS, NSULA, SUSLA, ULM
Out-of-School Time (OST) & Informal STEM Providers
Afterschool Alliance, Bossier Arts Council, Boys & Girls Club of the Big Pines, Bricks4Kids, Caddo Lake Institute, Civil Air Patrol, Club KEMET, Cyber.org, FDDOC, Funzone LLC, Girls Empowered for More Society, Gismo Scholars, 4H, Parish of Caddo,
PLTW, Renzi Center, Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club, Sci-Port Discovery Center, Space Camp, Shreveport Regional Arts Council, STARBASE LA, VOA Lighthouse, YEP, YWCA
Business & Industry
Ascend Math, Axom Development, Bally’s, Best Industries, Bossier Federal Credit Union, BRF, Century Link, Chemistry Hair Salon, CMIT, Cohab, Comcast, Cox Carriers, GDIT, Heirloom Carbon Capture, Invent.org, Learning Rx,
Make:Co, Marvkevea’s Learning Center, MTSI, NWLA Makerspace, Nation of Makers, Oasis of Hope, Pelican Defense, SHPE;s Equipando Padres Program, Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, Shreveport-Bossier Maker Faire™, SLB, Sysenqo, WINUP
Community Partners
Bossier Parish Libraries, Community Foundation of North Louisiana, DeSoto Parish Libraries, FIRST Inspires, Friends of the Red River National Wildlife Refuge, Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation, Hope for Youth, Invent.org, LACAL, Shreve Memorial Library, STEP Forward, MLK Community Development Corp., Red River Revel, Xentient
Government Agencies
City of Shreveport, Louisiana Department of Education, LASTEM Advisory Council, North Louisiana Economic Partnership, NOAA, Parish of Caddo, Army Corps of Engineers, LA Works
Contact
Heather Kleiner
Ph.D., Director, Northwest LASTEM Innovation Center – Region 7
info@nlasteam.org
Jennifer Johnson
Assistant Manager, Northwest LASTEM Innovation Center – Region 7,
Ida Smith
Educator, Bossier Parish Schools
