Peggy Bridges, coordinator of Hays CISD career and technology education, addresses the audience at a recent school board meeting, following recognition of the district’s Project Lead The Way program. District trustee Willie Tenorio (far left) prepares to present Bridges with board recognition, as (left to right) Hays High School teacher Sue King and PLTW advisory board members Harish Malkani, CEO of RSI, Inc., parent Richard Brown and student Silas Brown stand for recognition along with other advisory members. (Photo by Jim Cullen)
by JULIE JEROME
Special to the Hays Free Press
Hays High School and Lehman High School have earned certification in career and technical education pre-engineering programs from the state Project Lead The Way (PTLW).
“Both high schools join a growing number of schools that have earned this prestigious certification, which can translate into college credit for pre-engineering high school students,” said Peggy Bridges, Hays CISD coordinator of career and technical education.
At both high schools, PTLW is part of the science/technology/engineering/math (STEM) cluster.
To earn certification, the schools offer courses such as Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, Digital Electronics and Civil Engineering and Architecture. While a few of these courses have been offered at the high school level, more will be added in the fall of 2010.
“In the future, Biotechnical Engineering and Engineering Design and Development will complete our implementation for a full scope of PLTW courses,” Bridges said. “Both Texas State University and Austin Community College recognize the program as a strong foundation for students entering the engineering field. College credit in the School of Engineering will be given to students who have successfully completed end of course exams and have developed a professional portfolio of their work.”
Students who take PLTW courses receive an enriched program of study. Math and science skills are integrated into the PLTW curriculum and are enhanced by real world applications, she said.
“Students who take PLTW courses nationally tend to achieve higher scores in reading, math and science and earn higher grade point averages as college freshmen,” Ms. Bridges said.
