STEMS grant to benefit pupils, teachers, future

OTTAWA - A technology camp and special training for teachers are just a few ways a new grant is going to benefit Putnam County schools and get pupils ready for the future.

The county's educational service center, through Miller City-New Cleveland schools, has been awarded a $210,000 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Grant from the state. The county was one of nine awarded in Ohio. Twenty-six applied.

These science and math-related subjects are important for pupils' futures, said Scott Hoff, high school coordinator at the county's educational service center.

"All of these things are incredibly important in business. We've been hearing it from our business partners for quite awhile," he said, adding that skills to be learned through the grant are ones employers say are sometimes lacking.

The grant, locally called "Your Future Is Now," is geared toward sixth- through eighth-grade pupils. The service center is coordinating activities and educational experiences that will be open to all schools in the county.

First up is a five-day summer technology camp next month taught by Columbus Grove graduate Andy Hughes, who owns a technology business in Cincinnati. Twenty-five pupils have signed up, with 17 on a waiting list. Topics will include graphic design, video editing and Web design.

A three-day institute is planned for teachers in August so they can build a robot and other apparatus to use in their classrooms.

"Each school has the opportunity to send a team of teachers," said Kathy Hartman, gifted education coordinator. "And working together, they will build this robot, develop lesson plans and take the robot back to their school to work with their students. It's a team effort."

Educators, pupils and business people are invited to hear from Willard Daggett, president of the International Center for Leadership in Education, on Sept. 18. Hoff said it's important for teachers to get training through the grant.

"In order for the students to excel, we have to bring the teachers into that mix," he said.

The service center is also partnering with area universities for various programs. Many of the partnerships were already in existence, the grant just further enhancing those relationships.

Putnam County Schools Superintendent Jan Osborn said he hoped the programming will ultimately help train a workforce that will remain in Putnam County. Having that workforce will hopefully attract business to the area, he added.

"We want to be able to attract businesses and industries back into Putnam County and keep the people here," he said.

For information on the programs, call 419-523-5951.