Jersey Shore STEM Ecosystem [New Jersey]
Monmouth County, NJ
![Jersey Shore STEM Ecosystem [New Jersey] logo Jersey Shore STEM Ecosystem [New Jersey] logo](https://stemecosystems.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/JSSE_Secondary_Color-1.png)
About
Jersey Shore STEM Ecosystem is a collaborative effort led by Christine Girtain from Toms River Regional Schools in Ocean County and Jelena Komitas from Manalapan High School, Freehold Regional High School District in Monmouth County. This initiative brings together educators, businesses, and community organizations to enhance STEM education across the Jersey Shore ensuring equitable access for all students.
MISSION
Building an inclusive STEM network that offers high-quality professional development, supports innovation, and creates a strong K-Industry STEM pipeline for students to explore and prepare for diverse careers.
VISION
By establishing and growing a dynamic STEM network of educational institutions, businesses, community organizations and government agencies we envision to create opportunities in our communities for high-quality STEM professional development for educators and to grow student STEM engagement.
GOALS
- Build Collaborative Partnerships: Establish and expand a diverse network of educational institutions, businesses, community organizations, and government agencies to foster collaboration in STEM education.
- Enhance STEM Learning Opportunities: Increase equitable access to innovative STEM learning experiences for educators and students across all grade levels.
- Promote STEM Career Awareness and Preparation: Raise awareness of diverse STEM career paths and provide resources for students to prepare for these careers.
Partners
- Monmouth County Library
- Collemi Consulting & Advisory Services
- NJ Department of Labor
- IEEE SIGHT Group
- IEEE Computer Society Region 1 & 2
- The Wolbachia Project (Penn State)
- National Corn Growers Association
- Lakehurst Naval Base (NAVAIR NAWCAD)
Additional Info
Jersey Shore STEM Ecosystem is part of New Jersey STEM Ecosystems statewide initiative. Replicating the National STEM Learning Ecosystems model, the NJSPN has fostered the creation of eight STEM Learning Ecosystems to advance collaboration across educators, business, government and community-based organizations in order to form more integrated cradle-to-career pipelines.
Representing all 21 New Jersey counties, the Ecosystems are opportunities to address unique regional challenges, while also providing a space to pilot, scale and replicate work that expands a statewide vision of STEM.
Contact
Christine Girtain
Director of Authentic Science Research
Toms River High School South & Toms River High School North
NJSTOY2023@gmail.com
Jelena Komitas
Supervisor of Math, Science and Science & Engineering Program
Freehold Regional High School District
Komitas@frhsd.com