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Betsy DeVos praises District STEM program
CMSD NEWS BUREAU
3/13/2017
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos held up one of the District's STEM programs as an example of successful innovation in public education during a speech on Monday.
Devos, in an address at the Council of the Great City Schools legislative conference in Washington, D.C., said CMSD's use of the Project Lead the Way program opens doors for students to have successful careers.
"Children learn relevant subjects such as coding, robotics, and in some cases, 3D printing," Devos said. "This type of hands-on experience encourages students to engage in ways the traditional classroom often does not, and it introduces them to skills and subject areas with high-potential futures."
.@CLEMetroSchools “Project Lead the Way” connects students with engineering businesses and organizations in the community.
— Betsy DeVos (@BetsyDeVosED) March 13, 2017
The nod to the District was part of a speech that also touched on the goals of the Every Student Succeeds Act and the need for quality school options in urban areas.
Project Lead the Way is the nation’s leading provider of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education programs. PLTW forms partnerships with public schools, higher-education institutions and the private sector to increase opportunities for students in engineering and technical fields.
PLTW is offered at eight District schools: East Tech, John Marshall School of Engineering and Garrett Morgan, James Ford Rhodes, Cleveland School of Architecture & Design, Cleveland School of Science & Medicine, MC²STEM and New Tech East.
East Tech's engineering program through PLTW recently received national certification due to the success of its rigorous curriculum and its strong ties with partners like General Motors, Junior National Society of Black Engineers and the Regional Information Technology Engagement Board.
DeVos also recognized CEO Eric Gordon, who was attending the conference and in the audience during her speech.
"I'd like to give him a special thank you for his work in helping encourage this program," DeVos said. "He's also the reigning CGCS urban educator of the year. Thank you, Eric, for leading in this area."
Thank you @BetsyDeVosED for acknowledging the work of @CLEMetroSchools during your address at the @GreatCitySchls Legislative Conference.
— Eric S. Gordon, CEO (@EricGordon_CEO) March 13, 2017