As we celebrate American Education Week, it’s fitting to remember how much is required to achieve great schools. Motivated students and teachers, strong curricula, excellent resources, state-of-the-art technology, and modern facilities are just a few of the many ingredients that lead to exceptional education programs in both public and private schools around our country.
One of the most important contributions is community support. Here in Peoria, a successful program called Project Lead the Way (PLTW) has been making a difference for our students over the past three years. Students in Peoria’s Richwoods High School have benefited from an active partnership with Dewberry, and from community ties with nearby Bradley University and industry giant Caterpillar as well. Many Dewberry employees have visited Richwoods to introduce the engineering profession and describe their roles in designing projects.
PLTW Program Director Anne Fox has said that this partnership has provided students with “valuable critical thinking skills and life knowledge.” She has seen the PLTW program grow from 20 students to close to 90 over the first three years. Dick Greene of Bradley University, who is a statewide advocate for PLTW, has called Dewberry’s partnership with Richwoods a model for schools in Illinois because of our high level of interaction and engagement with the students and teachers and the diverse experiences we offer them.
Our office here in Peoria is also involved in an Adopt-a-School partnership with the Washington Gifted School. Working with approximately 120 seventh and eighth graders, we provide architectural tours, assist with science fairs, and offer professional roundtables that review community-based research projects. We’ve also supported special projects such as working with the students on the design and construction of a mini-golf course, and a bridge design program involving students, architects, and structural engineers.
Tracy Prescott, a teacher at the Washington Gifted School, offered this comment about the value of the Adopt-a-School program, “When adults are willing to educate students about real-world experiences, they plant seeds that will bear fruit in the future. In years to come, our students may be inspired to volunteer in a similar way when it is their turn to be the local professional with something important to share.”
Whether tutoring, giving demonstrations or lectures, providing tours, serving on juries, helping with projects, or seeking other ways to mentor and encourage students, we all have something to give. For more information on Project Lead the Way, visit www.pltw.org.