In this episode, I sit down with Melissa Kaye who is the P-TECH coordinator for Allegany County Public Schools.

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P-TECH is a public education reform model focused on college attainment and career readiness. P-TECH schools span grades 9-14 and enable students to earn both a high school diploma and a no-cost, two-year postsecondary degree in a STEM field. Students participate in a range of workplace experiences, including mentorship, worksite visits and paid internships. Upon graduation, students have the academic and professional skills required to either continue their education in a four-year postsecondary institution or enter into entry-level careers in IT, healthcare, advanced manufacturing and other competitive fields. While the P-TECH Model encompasses six years, students are able to move at their own pace, enabling some to accelerate through the model in as little as four years. P-TECH serves students from primarily underserved backgrounds, with no testing or grade requirements. 

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00:05 - Journey to being P-TECH coordinator 

01:55 - How to stay up to date with technology 

03:13 - Help Desk as 1st job 

04:25 - Breakdown of the P-TECH program 

07:28 - How graduates are giving back 

09:02 - When did Allegany County implement P-TECH 

10:24 - How many students stay in the program 

11:30 - Focus on Cyber Security 

12:35 - Girls Who Code and other programs 

15:25 - Allegany County tech career trends 

16:40 - Robotics 

17:23 - Who spearheads these initiatives 

19:27 - How can people and businesses help 

21:06 - What tech-focused groups are available locally 

23:10 - Do graduates stay local 

24:26 - Why should technology professionals consider Allegany County

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WATCH EPISODE on YOUTUBE:

https://youtu.be/OEhvXptjUbY