The Healey-Driscoll Administration has awarded the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District a generous $15,000 Innovation Career Pathway Grant as part of the Executive Office of Education’s initiative to enhance student educational opportunities.
The grant is part of the “Reimagining High School” initiative, which aims to empower public schools to collaborate with local employers and develop programs that provide students with coursework and experiences in high-demand industries such as health care, technology, and renewable energy.
The Amherst-Pelham Regional School District offers multiple Innovation Career Pathway programs for students. These programs aim to equip students with in-demand workforce skills and career knowledge, paving the way for employment and further education. The programs raise awareness about clean energy through foundational courses like Environmental Science for all 9th graders and advanced classes such as AP Environmental Science and Engineering for Social Good.
The curriculum for these programs is data-driven, enabling students to address local challenges in partnership with community stakeholders, focusing on areas like research and development, installation and maintenance, and carbon reduction.
The secondary Engineering and Technology programs, led by Nat Woodruff, are critical to these efforts. Amherst Regional High School was designated an Innovation Pathways (IP) school specializing in Advanced Manufacturing in 2022.
In the first year, 22 ninth graders and 9 tenth graders participated, with a total capacity of 48 students anticipated.
“This generous contribution will significantly enhance our ability to provide valuable career pathways for our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Xi.
The formal announcement of the grant came during the state’s official STEM Week.