Red Oak ISD lands $35,000 engineering grant

RED OAK — The Red Oak Independent School District has been awarded a $35,000 engineering grant through Project Lead the Way (PLTW) which is the nation's leading provider of K-12 STEM programs (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

This PLTW grant allows Red Oak High School to formalize a top-notch engineering program for students starting in the 2015-2016 school year. The funds will provide a world-class curriculum, new professional development opportunities for select ROHS teachers and help students hone skills needed in a competitive global economy after graduation.

The grant was prepared by Red Oak ISD Education Foundation Executive Director Karen Anderson, who collaborated with ROHS Principal Dr. Doug Funk, ROHS Counselor Kathleen Brady, CTE Coordinator Gerald Tacket and the district's Curriculum Team. The process of researching and preparing the grant took several months and dedication of many staff members.

"Project Lead the Way is a grant program that is nationally awarded to a select number of schools and is made possible by the generosity of the DART Foundation," said Karen Anderson. "As the foundation director, seeing grants positively impact the students of Red Oak ISD is our entire mission. We are excited for the students and the staff at ROHS who will pave a new pathway for students interested in engineering and STEM."

The $35,000 grant will be awarded to Red Oak High School over a three-year period. Select Red Oak High School teachers will receive professional development opportunities as the district develops a formal engineering program for implementation in the 2015-2016 school year. STEM opportunities will be attractive to students who see a future in engineering and STEM fields.

"Whether a student is curious to understand more about engineering, has decided to pursue it as a career, or simply wants to learn to think critically, this program provides a track for success," said Superintendent Dr. Scott Niven. "This new engineering program adds to an already long list of opportunities available at ROHS for our students as they prepare for success after high school."

According to PLTW, the grant allows students to engage in open-ended problem solving, learn and apply the engineering design process, and develop vital skills such as teamwork, communication, and critical thinking. While investigating topics such as aerodynamics and astronautics, biological engineering and sustainability, and digital electronics and circuit design, students use the same industry-leading technology and software as the world's top companies.