Southeast Raleigh High Pre-Engineering Program Earns Certification from Project Lead the Way and Duke University
April 30, 2009 - Representatives from Project Lead the Way and Duke University have recognized Southeast Raleigh High for its exemplary pre-engineering program that has met and exceeded the program’s quality standards during a certification visit April 30.The High School certification program recognizes schools which have successfully implemented the Project Lead the Way curriculum and provides an opportunity for students to receive college credit.
The certification process included a self-assessment of the Project Lead the Way program and a one-day site visit by Nancy Shaw of Duke University, Liz Parry of NC State University and Brian Moye, a State Consultant in Technology Education. The site visit committee met with teachers, administrators, counselors, students and community members to assess the school’s pre-engineering courses and to review student course portfolios.
Certification of the Southeast Raleigh High program means students may now apply for college credit or other forms of recognition at a variety of national affiliate colleges and universities, if they demonstrate exemplary work in their pre-engineering courses and pass the appropriate Project Lead the Way End-of-Course examination.
Project Lead the Way has created a special series of courses that are incorporated into the middle school and high school years. These courses complement math and science college preparatory programs to establish a solid background in engineering and technology.
The structured yet flexible high school program offers students in-depth, hands-on knowledge of engineering and technology-based careers. The three-tiered approach to learning flows from foundation courses to specialization courses to a capstone course.
College credit is available for seven of the eight high school courses, the exception being Engineering Design and Development. Students and schools must meet certain qualifications to be awarded college credit.
The Southeast Raleigh High pre-engineering program started in the fall of 2005. John Geraghty teaches Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering and Engineering Design and Development. Steve Pratt teaches Digital Electronics and Aerospace Engineering. Hollis Watkins teaches Civil Engineering & Architecture. For each course, the teachers must complete a rigorous two-week summer training institute.
More than 130 or 14% of Southeast Raleigh High students have taken one or more of the pre-engineering classes.
A requirement of becoming a certified Project Lead the Way school is that the school must create a partnership team. Southeast Raleigh High has developed a very diverse partnership including students, administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, community professionals, engineers and University professors. The partnership team is in place to make sure the program continues to meet the needs of its students.
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