- Hundreds of DeKalb students—from fourth graders to high schoolers—are gaining hands-on college and career exposure through a growing STEAM partnership between NIU and DeKalb School District 428. The partnership began in 2021 with a middle school afterschool program on NIU’s campus and now includes high school and elementary afterschool programs and the summer school program for D428 middle schools.
“When my child came to the program, she was very quiet and shy,” said a parent of a Barb City STEAM Team middle school student. “She had very low confidence in herself, her schoolwork, in speaking up and making friends.
“Now, as soon as she comes home, she gets off the bus, and she tells me everything about her day,” the parent continued. “She’s excited. I can see the pride in her. I see that she has goals.
“She talks about going to college and how excited she’s been to be on campus and have interactions with college students.”