Al Roesch (Submitted photo)
"NPSD and NMTCC are committed to educating students in a wide range of skills, preparing them for the workforce, higher education, and more"
(The following is part of a series of monthly submissions from the North Penn School District Board of School Directors. This submission was authored by North Penn School Board Director Al Roesch. The views expressed within are his own.)
Dear North Penn Community,
At North Penn High School and the North Montco Technical Career Center (NMTCC), we believe that access to high-quality STEM education is essential to prepare students for success in a rapidly advancing world. From the classrooms and labs of NPHS to the industry-aligned programs at NMTCC, we are equipping students with the skills, knowledge, and real-world experiences they need to thrive in college, careers, and life. Together, NPSD and NMTCC are not only responding to the demands of the future—we are shaping it.
One of my first memories as a member of the School Board was touring NPHS and seeing robots that students built and programmed racing through an obstacle course. Being an engineer myself, I knew then that NPSD was and is committed to technical excellence.
Another example of technical excellence is our NPHS Engineering Academy which offers hands-on, project-based learning. A few years ago, we added a Spatial Computing lab to our Engineering Academy, thanks to a partnership with the NPSD Educational Foundation. Spatial Computing is a technology that allows students to create digital content that can understand and interact with the real-world environment. It uses technologies like augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality. NPHS is the first high school in North America to offer this program, and many universities don’t offer this course yet.
Additionally, in another partnership with the Foundation, the district is funding a scanning electron microscope for NPHS so students can research and develop solutions to global challenges in the energy, materials, environment, and healthcare sectors. Again, NPHS is the only high school in North America to have a scanning electron microscope on hand for students to engage in collegiate-level research. This sets our graduates apart when applying for colleges or entering the workforce and makes NPHS a destination for quality STEM education.
NMTCC is also dedicated to delivering quality technical education and training programs that meet the needs of our students and local employers. In addition to North Penn, NMTCC serves Souderton, Wissahickon, Perkiomen Valley and Methacton school districts. What many of us may have known as “tech school” or “trade school," North Montco is much more than that. NMTCC currently offers 24 state-of-the art programs for high school students, with four of these programs beginning last year including Social Media Marketing, Property Maintenance and Renovation, Service Occupations, and Sports Rehabilitation and Physical Therapy.
One of my favorite programs from an engineering perspective is the Mechatronics program, which provides a hands-on approach to understanding engineering principles. The students design, troubleshoot, maintain, and repair sophisticated automated equipment.
NPSD and NMTCC are committed to educating students in a wide range of skills, preparing them for the workforce, higher education, and more. Whether students pursue traditional academics, hands-on technical training, or a blend of both, each school’s commitment to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is clear. Thank you for your support of these programs.
Sincerely,
Al Roesch
NPSD Board of School Directors
