Page 14 - Paduan Fall Mobile

Academic
News
MyTrack on the Right Track, Building S.T.E.A.M.
One of the most implemented new academic initiatives in our country, and certainly in Northeast Ohio, is the introduction of STEM programs. ese are programs that have been created to focus on strengthening the core educational areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. e impetus for the STEM program was to strengthen our country’s global academic competitiveness and increase our students’ college and
career readiness. Additionally, STEAM and STREAM initiatives have emerged, which are the STEM program mentioned above that also
include the Arts and Religion, respectively. In the current educational landscape of schools embracing the STEM core o erings, Padua has gone one step further. Padua not only o ers the classes to build a strong academic foundation for college majors in these areas, we also develop a real-world understanding and explore the opportunities that exist in those careers. at is the value-added di erence of the new Padua MyTrack program.
Along with the compelling drive of the STEM initiative, Padua started the MyTrack program to provide a comprehensive experience, both academically and practically. “We wanted to tap into the talents and passions of our students,” said Principal David Stec ’86. Based on student career interests, the inaugural areas of focus included MyTrack Business, MyTrack Computer Science,
and MyTrack Studio Art. Next year, we will expand and o er the MyTrack Engineering program. “ is is an exciting new o ering that will continue to strengthen our curriculum, as well as embrace the passions of so many of our students,” said Andy Shuman ’95, Director of Counseling.
In addition to added Advanced Placement and high-level courses, each MyTrack program includes speci ed course selection guidance, a speaker series of experts
in the speci ed track, a co-curricular club, and a shadowing experience to provide some professional dialogue and an enhanced sense of workplace and career expectations. “Because MyTrack was based on career interests identi ed by our students,
I was con dent that we would have a strong response to this inaugural year of the program,” said Stec. A er just the rst year, the number of participants has proven that this is the right program at the right time.
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