Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Career Pathways topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Greendale students, teachers showcase Project Lead The Way biomedical program
Summary
Greendale High School staff and three seniors described the Project Lead The Way biomedical sciences pathway to the school board, saying 181 students are enrolled, many earn CNA or dual‑enrollment credits, and hands‑on labs and field trips (including a cadaver lab visit) help students shape postsecondary plans.
Greendale High School teachers and students told the school board on Nov. 11 that the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) biomedical sciences pathway is expanding and helping students choose college and career paths.
Mr. Lotus introduced the presentation and asked teachers Ms. Welsh and Ms. Holzbach to outline the program. They described a four‑course sequence that many students take in high school and said 181 students are currently enrolled in the PLTW biomedical sciences program. The teachers said the sequence includes heavy lab work, collaboration, and end‑of‑course assessments that are nationally benchmarked.
Students gave firsthand accounts of the program’s impact. “This program has really helped me decide what I wanna do in the future,” senior April Schrader said, adding that PLTW helped her prepare for CNA dual‑enrollment and guided her toward nursing and nursing‑related college applications. Calista Cortina, a senior who is dual‑enrolled in fire and EMS classes, said PLTW “brought me into the medical field,” and Olivia Kaltenbach said the curriculum helped her succeed in MATC practical‑nursing classes and pass state CNA exams.
Teachers highlighted experiential learning components: dissections (cow eye, sheep brain, organ work), a field trip to the Marquette cadaver lab, frequent guest speakers including an athletic trainer and a pulmonary nurse practitioner, and a youth‑apprenticeship option that requires roughly 450 hours of clinical experience. Staff reported that last year 11 students participated in the youth apprenticeship and this year eight students are enrolled in apprenticeship roles such as CNA, dietary tech and pharmacy tech.
The presentation also noted dual‑enrollment partnerships (practical nursing, pre‑nursing, nutrition and dietetic technician pathways) and that some students earn CNA credentials before graduation. District staff said the PLTW pathway aligns with the district’s strategic priority of preparing students for college and career pathways, and that teachers plan activities — including lab‑coat capstone ceremonies — to celebrate student progress.
The board did not take action on the program; the presentation was informational. Staff said they will continue efforts to publicize pathway opportunities to middle‑school students and to work with partners to support apprenticeship placements.
