Governor’s STEM Academy for Engineering, Marketing & Information Technology Studies

Project Title: Governor’s STEM Academy for Engineering, Marketing, and Information Technology Studies

Project Lead: Landstown High School and Technology Academy

Program Focus: The program at the Landstown Governor’s STEM Academy will focus on engineering and technology, professional sales, and web and digital communications.

Partners: Landstown high School and Technology Academy; Virginia Commonwealth University

Board of Education Approved Governor’s Academy Application (PDF)

Executive Summary

University School of Engineering; Norfolk State University College of Science, Engineering and Technology; Tidewater Community College Division of Information Technology & Business; Old Dominion University STEM Marketing Education Program; ECPI University; Bryant & Stratton College; ITT Technical Institute; Johnson & Wales University; Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association Hampton Roads Chapter; Ten80 Education, Inc.; Newfangled Solutions, LLC; Whitebox Learning; Virginia FIRST; STIHL Inc.; InMotion Hosting; Virginia Beach Schools Federal Credit Union; City of Virginia Beach Parks and Recreation; Junior Achievement of Greater Hampton Roads; Goodwill Industries; Norfolk Admirals Hockey; Beach Windows & Siding; Total Sportswear Solution, LLC; Food Lion; Chick-fil-A; Rite Aid; Cinema Café; and College House/Oarsmen; Jake’s Smokehouse BBQ.

Lead Entity: Landstown High School and Technology Academy

Fiscal Agent: Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Contact Person:
Mrs. R. Lisette Diehl
Technology Academy Coordinator
Phone: 757-648-5505
E-mail: ldiehl@vbschools.com

Academy Location:
The Governor’s STEM Academy for Engineering, Marketing, and Information Technology Studies
Landstown High School and Technology Academy
2001 Concert Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456

Number of Students Served: The Governor’s STEM Academy will have the capacity to enroll 180 students, grades 9-12. During the initial school year (2012-2013) applications will be accepted for 40 students. Future plans to expand all three pathways are in development.

Career Pathways: Engineering and Technology, Professional Sales, and Web and Digital Communications

Academy Goals and Description: The overall goals of the Governor’s STEM Academy are to provide students with the 21st-century, STEM-enriched technological skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in postsecondary education and in the world of work through authentic, rigorous, project-based work while building partnerships with parents, community, and business leaders to meet these goals.
Specific Governor’s STEM Academy objectives include:

Provide students with guidance in designing their sequential four-year high school program and postsecondary plan to ensure they make informed decisions;
Equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in a STEM-related field of technology in a highly competitive 21st-century world;
Develop critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills required for the state-of-the-art 21st-century workplace;
Prepare students for postsecondary education and/or the skills for a successful school-to-work transition;
Establish partnerships with educational institutions, the business community, and the technology industry to establish internship and mentorship opportunities, as well as programs for expanded learning to extend, enrich, and refine student learning and link the resources of community, business, and industry to education;
Deliver a series of sequential courses for students with multiple entry and exit points depending on their individual goals, abilities, and interests in order to ensure excellence and equity;
Offer students opportunities to attend classes which reflect industry standards and allow them to earn industry certifications; and
Encourage students to participate in competitions to enhance their skills and acknowledge their accomplishments.

Highlights of the Academy: As a result of participating in the Governor’s STEM Academy in the pathways of Engineering and Technology, Professional Sales, and Web and Digital Communications, students will:

Gain a deeper understanding of the skills and knowledge incorporated in their fields of study;
Benefit from specialized, project-based courses which develop critical-thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, preparing them for the 21st-century world;
Acquire greater communication and collaborative skills;
Develop workplace readiness skills;
Receive opportunities to earn industry certifications preparing them to be more competitive in the work force and when applying to advanced training schools or postsecondary institutions;
Obtain meaningful, real-life, hands-on experiences in their career pathway; and
Profit from opportunities for internships, mentorships, and cooperative education, providing the student with an advantage when entering postsecondary education and/or the workplace.

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