The De Soto Board of Education took a step to strengthen its science and technology program for secondary students.
The board voted 6-0 on March 16 to enter into an agreement with the Project Lead the Way nonprofit organization to supply curriculum beginning this fall.
Ron Farrow, the district’s assistant superintendent of curriculum, said he was excited about the opportunities the partnership will present.
“This will be a really good thing for our students and a rejuvenation of our STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) offerings, a way to bring it more to the forefront,” he said.
The district will contract with Project Lead the Way, which is based in Indianapolis, to provide curriculum and teacher training for classes in engineering and biomedical science.
The idea of the classes, Farrow said, is to give students a chance early on to learn about those professions, what jobs may be available in them and the skills they may need.
“What makes this program different is that it’s a hands-on, problem solving, collaborative class, not just a teacher’s face on a stage,” he said. “In engineering, for instance, students will design and build something together while learning about what skills engineers need. That’s probably the most powerful learning tool we can give them.”
Students in seventh grade will be required to take a course in engineering or biomedical science at the beginning of school. Classes will change quarterly.
“Taking those classes in seventh grade will give them a chance to explore,” Farrow said. “In eighth grade, where it’s an elective, they can choose to continue. If they find a track they like, they can continue on in high school and take Project Lead the Way classes through graduation.”
Farrow said a survey of current junior high students indicates a high interest in the new classes.
“Project Lead the Way says based on their data, we should be shooting for 10 percent in the opening year. That would mean about 85 students.
“Right now, we have 93 students at the high school attending the Area Technical School (ATS) at Jefferson College, and some of their programs are Project Lead the Way classes as well.”
Farrow said the new courses are not meant to discourage high schoolers from choosing the ATS route.
“We want to give our students more flexibility,” he said. “A student might want to explore engineering or biomedical science without having to spend three hours of their day at the ATS. They’d only have to take a one-hour course on campus. But ATS has offerings we don’t have on campus, such as metal fabricating and welding.”
The board approved spending up to $50,000 for the first two years of the program at the high school and $25,000 for the junior high.
“However, we’re hoping to get a grant from the Ardagh Group (which has a plant in Pevely) that will cover all those costs,” Farrow said.
After the two-year phase-in period, the district will pay Project Lead the Way a maximum of $9,300 a year.
“And if a teacher who receives training in those first two years leaves, Project Lead the Way pays to train a replacement. They understand the investment and commitment that we’ve made. Plus, ongoing training of teachers is done for free virtually.”
Farrow said because the program varies from traditional teaching methods, “it’s very important to find the right teachers.”
He said one teacher likely will be chosen at the junior high and two at the high school.
“We just hired a junior high teacher who already has some training in Project Lead the Way, but might need more in what we’re specifically going to offer. At the high school, we have several teachers on staff who are interested. And while a science background may be a plus, not everyone will be a right fit for this type of course. They have to be a facilitator and let the students work through problems on their own. But we’re confident we have people currently on our staff at the high school for this unique program.”
Other districts in the area that offer Project Lead the Way classes include Fox C-6, Windsor C-1, Meramec Valley R-3, Northwest R-1, Rockwood, Hillsboro R-3, Festus R-6 and Dunklin R-5.