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Virginia Department of Education

Information on this page is provided by the Office of Career & Technical Education
and the
Division of Special Education and Student Services.

Staff Contacts - Office of Career & Technical Education

Staff Contacts - Division of Special Education and Student Services

Established STEM Academies

FIRST: Fostering Innovation & Relevance Through STEM and Trades

Project Lead: The Pruden Center for Industry and Technology

Program Focus: The program at the Pruden Center for Industry will focus on engineering and industrial trades, health sciences, automotive technology, information technology and human services.

Partners: The Pruden Center for Industry and Technology; Suffolk Economic Development; Tidewater Community College; Hampton Roads Research Partnership; Isle of Wight County Public Schools; Suffolk City Public Schools; Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce; Isle of Wight Economic Development; Isle of Wight County Government; The Pruden Foundation; Sentara Obici Hospital; Starr Motor Company.

Board Of Education Approved Governor’s Academy Application

Executive Summary

Partnership Members: The Pruden Center for Industry and Technology; Suffolk Economic Development; Tidewater Community College; Hampton Roads Research Partnership; Isle of Wight County Public Schools; Suffolk City Public Schools; Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce; Isle of Wight Economic Development; Isle of Wight County Government; The Pruden Foundation; Sentara Obici Hospital; Starr Motor Company

Lead Entity: The Pruden Center for Industry and Technology

Fiscal Agent: City of Suffolk Public Schools

Contact Person:
Mr. Corey McCray, Director
The Pruden Center for Industry and Technology
Phone: 757-925-5651
E-mail: cormccray@prudencenter.net

Academy Location:
The Pruden Center for Industry and Technology
4169 Pruden Boulevard
Suffolk, VA 23434

Number of Students Served: Thirty high school students.

Career Pathways: Engineering and Technology (Modeling and Simulation Support Specialist), Interactive Media (Geographic Information Systems - GIS)

Academy Goals and Description: The program of study for the FIRST Academy includes two career pathways: Interactive Media with a specialization in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Engineering and Technology with a specialization in Modeling and Simulation. The Pruden Center will focus efforts for the 2008-2009 school year on implementing the Modeling and Simulation Support Specialist instructional program, as part of the Engineering and Technology career pathway. Implementation efforts for the 2009-2010 school year will focus on GIS, as part of the Interactive Media career pathway. Long-range plans include developing additional programs of study.

The FIRST Academy instructional programs will focus on the integration of academics and Career and Technical Education (CTE), enhanced career development/guidance services, work-based learning offerings, industry credential opportunities and transition agreements, thus creating a seamless transition to postsecondary education and/or high-demand, high-wage, high-skill employment.

The goals of the FIRST partnership are to:

1. Increase opportunities for students to receive rigorous academic instruction contextually as part of career and technical education program offerings.
2. Increase the emphasis on STEM career pathways through the proposed implementation of Modeling and Simulation Program Specialist and GIS instructional programs.
3. Develop individualized high school plans to ensure course selections that are aligned with student postsecondary education and career aspirations.
4. Ensure that graduates complete a college and work readiness curriculum, minimally at the level of the Commonwealth Scholars Course of Study.
5. Incorporate Virginia's Workplace Readiness Skills.

Highlights of the Academy:

• Dual enrollment opportunities will be available through Tidewater Community College.
• Students completing the Engineering and Technology pathway will have the option of pursuing an Associate of Science degree in Modeling and Simulation Technology at Tidewater Community College. This degree prepares students to enter the work force, and/or transition to a baccalaureate program at Old Dominion University.
• Students completing the Interactive Media pathway will have the option of pursuing a Career Studies Certificate in Surveying and/or an Associate of Liberal Arts degree at Tidewater Community College, enabling them to transition to a baccalaureate program at Old Dominion University.
• FIRST Academy students will receive enhanced science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) instruction through: contextual application/course integration, monthly STEM focus sessions, summer enrichment opportunities, career and technical student organizations (CTSO) activities and enhanced career planning/development.
• The FIRST Academy students will complete a project including a portfolio, presentation, research paper and project components. As part of completing program requirements, graduates of the FIRST Academy will achieve one or more of the following benchmarks: industry credential/certification, student portfolio, and/or transferable college credit.
• The design of the Modeling and Simulation Support Specialist I and II and GIS courses will support a variety of learning experiences such as project-based learning, simulations, and guest speaker presentations.
• The design of the Modeling and Simulation Support Specialist I and II and GIS courses will also support a variety of external workplace learning experiences such as Student Technical Internships (STIs), job-shadowing, and mentorships.

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