Lynchburg Regional Governor's STEM Academy

Project Title: Lynchburg Regional Governor’s STEM Academy

Program Lead: Region 2000 Technology Council

Program Focus: The program at the Lynchburg Regional Governor’s STEM Academy focuses on pathways in two Career Clusters: Health Science and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and will provide students academic and technical training in career preparation for Engineering and Technology and Diagnostic Services pathways.

Partners: Amherst County Public Schools, Appomattox County Public Schools, Bedford County Public Schools, Campbell County Public Schools, Lynchburg City Public Schools, and Central Virginia Community College, Region 2000 Technology Council

Board Of Education Approved Governor’s Academy Application

Executive Summary

Partnership Members: Amherst County Public Schools, Appomattox County Public Schools, Bedford County Public Schools, Campbell County Public Schools, Lynchburg City Public Schools, Central Virginia Community College, Region 2000 Technology Council, Region 2000 Workforce Investment Board, Areva, Inc., Babcock & Wilcox, Centra Health, Delta Star, Inc., Harris Corporation, Advanced Manufacturing Technology, Inc., and the Future Focus Foundation.

Lead Entity: Region 2000 Technology Council

Contact Person:
Jonathan Whitt, CEcD
Executive Director, Virginia's Region 2000 Technology Council
828 Main Street, 12th Floor
Lynchburg, VA 24504
Phone:  434-847-1447 ext. 313
Fax:  434-847-1455
E-mail:  jwhitt@techcouncil.us

Fiscal Agent: Lynchburg City Public Schools

Contact Person:
Dr. Scott S. Brabrand
Superintendent
Lynchburg City Schools
915 Court Street
Lynchburg, VA 24504
Phone:  434-552-3700
Fax:  434-846-1500
E-mail:  brabrandss@lcsedu.net

Academy Location: Central Virginia Community College

Number of Students Served: The Lynchburg Regional Governor’s STEM Academy will have the capacity to enroll 100 students, grades 11-12. During the initial school year (2013-2014) 50 students will be admitted.

Career Pathways: Diagnostic Services and Engineering and Technology

Academy Goals and Description: The overall goals of the Lynchburg Regional 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:

Improve academic achievement of Academy students by increasing academic rigor and relevance within selected pathways.
Increase completion of dual enrollment courses.
Provide workplace readiness experiences through strong partnerships with businesses.
Increase high school graduation rates.
Reduce dropout rates.
Increase enrollment and retention in postsecondary education.
Increase the number of students completing a college and workplace ready curriculum in high school.
Reduce the number of students requiring remediation in college.
Increase the number of industry certifications awarded to high school students.
Increase the number of graduates employed in high-wage, high-skilled careers.

Highlights of the Academy: As a result of participating in the Lynchburg Regional Governor’s STEM Academy in the pathways of Diagnostic Services and Engineering and Technology 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 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, job shadowing, and cooperative education, which provide students with advantages when entering postsecondary education and/or the workplace.

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