Are You Smarter than a Ninth Grader? Tips for Mentoring a P-Tech Student

1. AreYou SmarterThan a Ninth Grader?
Tips for Mentoring a P-Tech Student
October 2016
Mary Westermann
GLOBALFOUNDRIES Fab 10
Hopewell Junction, NY

2. AreYou SmarterThan a Ninth Grader?
What is a P-TECH School?
Excelsior Academy
Why does STEAM matter?
MentoringTips
Top 10 Characteristics ofTeenagers
Summary
Questions
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3. What is a P-TECH School?
Context
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4. What is a P-TECH School?Pathways inTechnology Early College High School (P-
TECH)
A new grade 9-14 public school model focused on
STE(A)M fields and Career andTechnical Education
Mission
Enable students to master the skills they need to
either graduate with a no-cost Associates in Applied
Science degree which will enable them to secure an
entry-level position in a growing STEM industry or to
continue and complete a four-year degree
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5. What is a P-TECH School?
KeyTenets
Systemic Partnership: K-12, higher education (typically a
community college) and industry
Public School Model: Open to all students at no cost
Early College: Six-year scope and sequence integrating high
school and college course work leading to an AAS degree for
all students
Career Readiness: Integrating course work with industry
experience
Personal Pathways: Focus on mastery not time spent in school
to enable students to graduate in 4, 5 or 6 years
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6. What is a P-TECH School?Key Innovation: Industry Partnership
Industry is a full partner in all aspects of the school
Industry has special responsibility over theWorkplace
Learning umbrella
Skills mapping to ensure graduates are ready to enter the
workplace and/or pursue higher education
Workplace Learning curriculum
Mentors for all students
Workplace experiences: Speakers, worksite visits, job
shadowing
Skills-based, paid internships
“First in line” for jobs
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7. 7
Opened in 2014
Located in Newburgh, NewYork
Student Demographics
150 students (Grades 9, 10 and 11)
54% male and 46% female
54% Hispanic, 32% Black, 13%White and 1% Asian
95% Attendance Rate
Academic Achievements
90% pass rate for NewYork State Regents Exam in U. S. History
76% pass rate for NewYork State Regents Exam in Algebra I
74% of 10th
grade students enrolled in college coursework
(Spring 2016)

8. Why does STEAM matter?Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and
Mathematics (STEAM) model presents a hands-on
approach
Problem solving
Collaboration
Critical thinking
Experimentation
Concrete example taken from Meghan Reilly Michaud
in her article, “STEAM: Adding art to STEM education”
“In mathematics, for example, students learn the geometric
transformation of dilation. In an introductory visual arts course,
students learn perspective. In science, students study the
effect of light on pupil response in the eye. And in a history
class, the way Renaissance artists viewed the world is
examined.”
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9. Why does STEAM matter?
National Science Foundation is funding STEAM
programs and workshops
National Endowment for the Arts is “pushing for
Artscience initiatives – intersecting art, science and
technology.”
John Maeda, President of the Rhode Island School of
Design (school at the forefront of STEAM) said:
“With global competition rising, America is at a critical juncture
in defining its economic future. I believe that art and design are
poised to transform our economy in the 21st
century in the same
way that science and technology did in the last century, and the
STEAM movement is an opportunity for America to sustain its
role as innovator of the world.”
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10. MentoringTipsSpend sufficient time getting to know one another
Develop rapport initially
Realize your mentee may come from a very different
background than you and learn to appreciate those
differences
LISTEN – just listening will develop trust (don’t criticize or judge)
Practice sensitivity and be aware of any inherent bias so as not
to affect your judgment and treatment of your mentee
Meet on a regular basis
Teens rely on consistency
Come prepared and use the time well
Be positive, be encouraging and offer concrete
assistance
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11. MentoringTipsFollow through on your commitments
Respect the trust the teenager places in you
Show them you understand and are committed to the
relationship
Be open to learning new approaches
Periodically reflect on whatYOU are learning from your
mentee
Expect to make changes as you progress in your relationship
Don’t try to be a parent or authority figure
Be aware, though, of any “problem situations” and report them
appropriately
Let your mentee have control over what the two of you
talk about and how you talk about it
Don’t push, be sensitive and aware of different communication
styles 11

12. MentoringTips
Don’t be intimidated if you find your mentee is
“smarter” than you (especially with social media)
ABOVE ALL, REMEMBER YOU are responsible for
building the relationship
Take responsibility for making and maintaining contact
Don’t expect too much feedback from your mentee
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13. Top 10 Characteristics ofTeenagers1. Independent
2. Emotional
3. Rebellious
4. Energetic
5. Adventurous
6. RiskTaking
7. Physically maturing / hormonal
8. Sexually aware
9. Social
10.Growing intellectually
Sound familiar? Remember what you were like as a
teenager?
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14. SUMMARY
P-Tech Schools are transforming students’ lives (
www.ptech.org) by providing them with both a high school
diploma and an AAS degree
Mentoring a P-Tech student is extremely rewarding
(especially if the tips I have outlined are followed)
Keep in mind the “TOP 10” list of teenage characteristics
when working with teenage mentees
Always rememberYOU are the one responsible for building
the relationship with your teenage mentee and you are
“smarter than a 9th
grader…”
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15. Questions
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