The King’s Academy recently announced that the school has adopted “Project Lead The Way” programs and will begin offering a rigorous science, technology, engineering and math curriculum at the beginning of the 2015-16 school year. PLTW is the nation’s leading provider of STEM programs.
With current projections indicating that more than 1.2 million U.S. jobs in science, technology, engineering and math will go unfilled by 2018, the time is right to expand the engineering talent pool. Research indicates the earlier students develop an interest in STEM, the better. The teachers learned a great deal during their training in the PLTW program. “We were challenged to think critically and creatively to solve problems with our teammates. I can’t wait to see our students thrive in this environment,” said Melissa Allen, elementary assistant principal.
PLTW programs provide students with a track for success. Students learn to think critically, work collaboratively, and explore how math and science work. Students engage in open-ended problem solving, learn and apply the engineering design process, and use the same industry-leading technology and software as the world’s top companies. They investigate topics such as aerodynamics and astronautics, biological engineering and sustainability, and digital electronics and circuit design, giving them an opportunity to learn about various engineering disciplines before beginning post-secondary education or careers. Students will have the opportunity to prepare for the 21st century workplace, as well as gain college admission preferences and potentially earn scholarships for completed PLTW courses.
“In today’s global economy, Americans are competing not just against each other, but against their peers in countries like China and India,” PLTW CEO Vince Bertram said. “It is more critical now than ever for our education system to help students develop the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills to prepare them for the global economy.”
TKA Headmaster Douglas Raines is thrilled with the new program.“We are confident that TKA’s new STEM programs will provide fun learning experiences while maintaining the rigors of our core curriculum,” he said. “Partnering with PLTW will provide a wealth of opportunities for our students, engaging them through application and innovation.”
The King’s Academy is a nationally recognized private Christian school serving approximately 1,300 students from preschool through 12th grade.
