Strategies That Work Ways to Grow Your PLTW

Strategies That Work: Ways to Grow Your PLTW Program Ashley Gregory Jennifer Strathman

Ritenour High School • Located in St. Louis, Missouri • Approximately 2000 Students • 63% Free and Reduced Lunch • 46. 2% White • 41. 2% Black • 9. 6% Hispanic

PLTW Gateway to Technology Foundation Courses • Automation and Robotics* • Design and Modeling* Specialization Courses • Energy and the Environment* • Flight and Space* • Green Architecture* • Magic of Electrons* • Science of Technology* * Currently Offered + Offered Beginning 12 -13 ^ Offered via STLCC

PLTW Pathway to Engineering Foundation Courses * Currently Offered • Introduction to Engineering Design* + Offered Beginning 12 -13 • Principles of Engineering* Specialization Courses • Digital Electronics* • Aerospace Engineering* • Civil Engineering and Architecture* • Biotechnical Engineering*+ • Computer Integrated Manufacturing^ Capstone Course • Engineering Design and Development* ^ Offered via STLCC

Implementation: Challenges • Administrative Turnover • Began with Principles of Engineering Course • 1 st Group of PLTW Students were mostly Seniors • Communication Barriers between Administrators, Counselors, Teachers, Students and Parents • Involvement of Partnership Team

Overcoming the Challenges • Administrators focused on buildingwide support for PLTW • Motivated PLTW instructors • Well-informed counselors • Opening lines of communication amongst ALL stakeholders

Overcoming the Challenges: Recruiting the Right Instructors for PLTW • Background in math, science or technology or has shown interest in becoming involved with the PLTW program • Proven the ability to develop a strong rapport with his or her students • Willing to commit to organizing and facilitating Partnership Team meetings • Willing to work closely with or sponsor the TSA • Willing to work to promote the program to the community, middle school students and current high school students

Overcoming the Challenges: Informing RHS Counselors • Invited 2 counselors to serve on PLTW Partnership Team • All counselors have been to PLTW Counselor and Administrator Workshops • Open lines of communication – inform counselors of program and content requirements • Concurrent enrollment in upperlevel mathematics class(es) • Scheduling to meet PLTW student needs

Overcoming the Challenges: PLTW Partnership Team • Involves all stakeholders of PLTW Program (teachers, students, administrators, counselors, industry representatives) • Meets via email every other month, once a semester in-person • Rotating morning/afternoon meeting times • Guest speaking opportunities • Field trips • Teacher externship options • Work collaboratively to develop strategies to improve PLTW program at RHS

Recruitment • Middle School Gateway to Technology Program • To start, Geometry 9 Students are automatically enrolled in IED • Word of mouth • Competition – weighted credit • Engineering Week each March • PLTW Instructor/Student relationships • Promotional information/materials for counselors to disseminate to students and parents • Well-defined criteria for enrollment • Career Pathways • Recommendations from teachers within the building

Retention • Curriculum and Engineering Week • Teachers • STEM Presentations • Moodle • Field Trips – Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, MS&T, Mizzou, SLU, Wash U, SLCC, UMSL • Guest Speakers • Core Subject Connections • Robotics • Articulation/Honors Credit • Extra Help Opportunities

Success at RHS • Nationally Certified – May 2008 • Growth in enrollment • 51 students in 2006 -2007 • 328 students in 2012 -2013 • 44% Female enrollment • 42% Minority enrollment • 21 Students in EDD Capstone its first year; only St. Louis school to offer on-campus • This year we have 16 students • Graduates pursuing engineering in post-secondary institutions

Success at RHS • Strong partnerships with Advisory Team (local engineering firms, state colleges and universities) • Parent communication and involvement • Teachers want to teach in the PLTW program • All staff buy-in • Success despite no Industrial Technology program

Future Plans at Ritenour High School • Engineering Academy – All PLTW Students sharing same core academic teachers for four years • Separate Engineering Wing for the High School • Continued partnerships with engineers and engineering firms • Core academic credits for PLTW courses (Example: Elective Math Credit granted for POE) • Annual fieldtrips to engineering schools for all PLTW enrollees • Internships for PLTW students • Summer camps and academies

Contact Information Ashley Gregory gregorya@ritenour. k 12. mo. us Jennifer Strathman strathmanj@ritenour. k 12. mo. us