Late last year, a new program was introduced at Logansport High School, Pathways in Technology Early College High Schools. PTECH has brought new opportunities to students coming into high school who plan to go straight into the workforce after graduation.
“PTECH is a unique four-year program that offers experiences, practical skills, qualifications and certifications to strive in the technology community,” PTECH Workplace Learning Coordinator Amy Werner said. “PTECH is a partnership between Logansport High School, Ivy Tech Community College and several different businesses and industries.”
Students involved with PTECH apply during their eighth-grade year. They are then interviewed and students are selected for the program. Once the students reach high school, their freshman and sophomore years are aimed at receiving their core education. The curriculum is not always taught through traditional classwork. More project-centered activities are used as well.
“I signed up for PTECH because I struggled with normal school,” freshman Johonna Bell said. “While other students often saw me as confident and knowledgeable, I felt overwhelmed and unsure of myself. I would be asked for help, but I didn’t feel I knew much myself. When a friend recommended PTECH to me, it instantly drew me in.”
Businesses come into contact with PTECH when they reach an issue, and that issue is brought to the students in the program. Students work as a group and find a way to solve the problem and get into contact with the business. Each group proposes its solution.
“PTECH is different from normal learning and is not just assignments,” freshman Christian Humana said. “I’m learning life lessons. We do really fun projects each time in class with different groups of people. We speak to different companies like Dilling Group and Cole’s Hardwood. It’s so helpful to know this information at such a young age.”
The brains behind PTECH are a mix of figures from all around the school. The lead learners, PTECH’s name for teachers, are English teacher Chris Pearcy, math teacher Haleigh Toumine, history teacher Angela Harmon and art teacher Nicole Ingalls.
PTECH also works with Dr. Christy Diehl, lead principal of PTECH, Century Career Center Director Bob Illes, Werner and PTECH counselor Allison Chambers.
Currently, there are 22 students enrolled in PTECH, who are provided a hands-on learning experience. This group of students will have the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree in welding, construction or machining once they graduate.
“PTECH is here to stay,” Werner said. “Hopefully, PTECH will substantially grow in the future. Superintendent Starkey, as well as the school board, are very supportive of PTECH and hope to see it grow.”
