Effective school and district leaders embed STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), computer science, and workforce connections throughout instruction to develop students who take thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem solving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative process. Through intentional connections between standards, assessments, and lesson design across science, technology, engineering, and math, STEM instructional models afford students access to an integrated curriculum with multiple opportunities to engage in authentic, challenge-based learning and design thinking to solve real-world problems. STEM competencies are essential for learners to be able to function in the twenty-first century workplace.