Project Lead the Way- STEM
Loudonville High School announced today that it is the recipient of a $35,000 grant from Project Lead The Way (PLTW), the nation’s leading provider of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) curriculum. This grant was made possible by a generous donation from the Bemis Company, Inc. Funds from the grant will support the implementation of the PLTW engineering curriculum, including the purchase of materials and equipment that will be used in the hands-on, project-based classes that are a distinguishing characteristic of PLTW’s curriculum.
Principal John Lance said, “I am extremely excited at the opportunity to bring the Project Lead the Way national program to our school and community. Currently we are the only school in Ashland County that will be able to provide this opportunity to students. The nearest program that I am aware of is at Northwestern High/Junior High School. Teachers that will be heavily involved in the planning and implementation of the program had a chance to visit Northwestern and were extremely impressed with the curriculum and rigor of the STEM program.”
Beginning with the 2012-13 school year Loudonville High School will offer PLTW’s Pathway To Engineering (PTE) curriculum, where students immerse themselves in the concepts of engineering, learn and apply the design process, and build strong teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. Through the hands-on, project-based classroom learning, students learn how to apply the skills they’ve learned in math and science to real-world applications, setting them up for postsecondary and career success. In many cases, students have the opportunity to earn college credit through their PLTW courses.
"This PLTW STEM grant will help us develop a strong workforce, spark student interest in the sciences and mathematics, and enable the district to offer cutting edge courses," said Superintendent John Miller.
The PLTW grant application process is highly competitive for schools. To receive a grant, schools went through a rigorous application process, which included demonstrating that the school met specific requirements and eligibility criteria to be awarded grant funds. The requirements included district and community support, contractual agreements, teacher professional development, technology acquisitions, and many others.
“Project Lead The Way is committed to providing the highest quality STEM education to prepare today’s students for the global economy,” said PLTW President and CEO Vince Bertram. “We were pleased to receive so many quality grant applications, and we look forward to partnering with Loudonville High School to prepare our nation’s next generation of innovators. Finally, we’d like to thank our generous industry partners who made this grant possible.”
PLTW provides students with a proven path to college and career success in STEM fields through three comprehensive programs: Gateway To Technology for middle school students and Pathway To Engineering and Biomedical Sciences for high school students. The hands-on, project-based curricula show students how what they are learning in math and science class applies to real-world challenges. Each course emphasizes problem-solving, critical thinking and teamwork – the top in-demand skills identified by business and industry leaders for success in the global economy.
During the first year of the three year grant, Loudonville High School will offer two PTE courses, Introduction to Engineering Design and Principles of Engineering. In years two and three, additional courses will be offered. If additional funds are available, Principals Lance said that he would like to also offer Gateway to Technology for middle school students. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit www.pltw.org or contact Jennifer Cahill, PLTW director of communications, at jcahill [at] pltw [dot] org (jcahill [at] pltw [dot] org). or Chris Bower, L-P Schools Curriculum Coordinator at 419-994-3912.
