Press release from the Fort Wayne Community Schools:
FWCS Programs of Study recognized for program successes
(June 17, 2010) – Two of the Programs of Study offered by Fort Wayne Community Schools’ high schools have been recognized for implementing strong programs.
New Tech High at Wayne High School and Project Lead the Way-Engineering at Northrop High School have been honored by the organizations that established each program.
New Tech has been named a New Tech Network demonstration site after just its first year in operation. Being named a demonstration site means others interested in starting a New Tech school can model their program after FWCS’ New Tech.
The school’s six teachers were also recognized by the New Tech Network by being named NTN Exemplary Teachers. Teachers Kathleen Cagle, Melissa Cox, David Flesch, Ginger Giessler, Riley Johnson and Marci Oberlin will have the opportunity to become New Tech trainers, if interested, for learning this status.
“This is a well-deserved honor for our teachers and shows their dedication to the students and to a new way of approaching education,” New Tech at Wayne Director Liz Bryan said. “I am proud of the work they have accomplished in just one year and believe the program will only continue
to grow stronger.”New Tech at Wayne will grow in the fall with the addition of 100 more students in a new freshman class. Members of the first New Tech class will be sophomores in the fall.
Also, in the fall, New Tech at Wayne will begin offering Project Lead the Way-Engineering classes with the help of a grant from the American Electric Power Foundation.
PLTW is a hands-on, project-based program designed to show students how what they learn in math and science class applies to real-world problems. The courses emphasize critical thinking, creativity and innovation, skills that are critical to today’s workforce.
Project Lead the Way-Engineering is already offered at Northrop, and PLTW’s biomedical component is offered at Snider High School.
Northrop’s program, which began in 2008, recently received national certification, which means the program has successfully demonstrated a commitment to the quality national standards of the Pathway To Engineering program. More importantly, it means students taking PLTW class can qualify for college credit.
“The Project Lead the Way classes are rigorous and provide students with a taste of what engineering and higher level math and science courses are like in college,” Northrop Principal Barbara Ahlersmeyer said. “Being able to earn college credit while in high school gives these students a great head-start in their college careers.”
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