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The program, "DRSS's Engineering Career Tech Pathway Powered by Vectren," kicked off at the start of the 2016-17 school year. The school used Project Lead the Way curriculum and Ohio Department of Education guidelines to create the engineering program while ensuring the program utilizes a Project Based Learning approach as well as career exploration opportunities.
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| The partnership with Vectren provides DRSS students the opportunity to meet and collaborate with engineers who work in a variety of positions within Vectren. |
"This new pathway is a crucial component of our
ever-expanding Career Exploration model at DRSS and will provide
students with a head start in their post-secondary education," DRSS Superintendent Robin Fisher explained. "We are extremely grateful to Vectren for investing in the program."
"Vectren is proud to partner with the Dayton Regional STEM School to provide our region's students with the building blocks to an engineering career and opportunities for career exploration in high-demand STEM fields," said Colleen Ryan, president of Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio. "A solid educational foundation is key to ensuring our students have access to and can succeed in local high-demand jobs."
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| Orlando Ching demonstrates what he has been learning in his Digital Electronics course to representatives from Vectren. |
The program provides students with the foundation necessary to successfully enter engineering careers. Two
of the courses, Principles of Engineering and Introduction to
Engineering Design, are already offered to DRSS high school students.
Two courses, Digital Electronics and Environmental Sustainability, are
new this year and are being taught by Kathryn Reilly, the new
Coordinator for the Engineering Career Pathway.
"New content development is what excites me," Ms. Reilly said, "so I'm thrilled that Vectren is a part of this program, particularly because there are so many opportunities for their employees to work with our students throughout the year on specific projects and industry-specific problems."
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| Becuase of the partnership, students have the opportunity to engage with real-world engineers through their curriculum and through projects. |
At DRSS, exposure to engineering concepts begins in sixth
grade, where students spend nine weeks exploring the building blocks of
engineering. These concepts continue through seventh and eighth grade in
their STEM Foundations curriculum. By introducing engineering concepts
in middle school, the goal is to help students feel more comfortable and
prepared to enter advanced study in high school when they can enroll in
the Engineering Career Tech Pathway.
DRSS Principal Hope Strickland was also enthusiastic about what this program will mean for the students." One aspect of Vectren's support of this program includes the opportunity to host a 'Vectren Day' during the school year where engineering program students can learn from and engage with a panel of Vectren engineers about their careers," explained Mrs. Strickland. "We are really grateful that Vectren not only wanted to help fund the program, but truly partner with the school in helping us to educate our students."
