Week of March 27 – April 2, 2015
Education 19
Ballston Spa’s Early College High School Partners with SolarCity
Ambassador Program Offers Support for Students Pursuing Technology Pathway
SARATOGA COUNTY — America’s largest solar power provider, SolarCity, recently became the newest partner of the Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries Early College High School (Clean Tech ECHS), a NYS Pathways in Technology Early College High School (NYS P-TECH). The program was developed by the Ballston Spa Central School District in partnership with Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The Clean Tech ECHS will be a part of the SolarCity Ambassador Program and receive a $250 donation from SolarCity whenever a customer installs a solar system with SolarCity and mentions that they were referred by the Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries ECHS program. As part of this partnership, there is no limit to the number of donations that the Clean Tech ECHS can receive by participating in the Ambassador Program.
“We truly appreciate SolarCity’s commitment and support as we continue to expand our Clean Technologies Early College High School,” said Joseph P. Dragone, Ph.D., Superintendent of the Ballston Spa Central School District. “The resources provided by our business partners are instrumental in sustaining our work as we continue to build the pathway between high school, college and jobs in related technology fields.” In addition to the Ambassador Program, SolarCity participates in providing authentic audience experiences for students. Students present their solar projects to solar industry professionals to receive feedback and guidance on how to better improve their projects and receive insight into the real world feasibility of their projects. “As our region continues to grow in a diversity of industries, it is vital that our schools better prepare students to become the skilled workforce of tomorrow and are educated in a variety of technologies and industries,” said Gary
Ziele, Field Energy Consultant, SolarCity. “This program provides students with vital skills required in any industry sector, including communication, collaboration, critical thinking and problem solving skills. I see the value of this type of program in our region and am happy that our Ambassador Program can help support its growth.” The Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries ECHS continues to leverage its relationship with over 40 leaders in business and industry, the New York State Education Department (NYSED), Hudson Valley Community College, and the Ballston Spa Partnership for Innovation in Education Fund, a component fund of the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, to provide sustained funding for the program. The program was also designated by Governor Cuomo as a New York State P-TECH school, providing additional support as the program continues to grow and serve more students from a regional perspective. SolarCity joins current industry leaders who support the program, including Cisco, GLOBALFOUNDRIES, TRC Solutions, Inc., CSArch, Gilbane Building Company, Stewart’s Shops and SEFCU, to name a few, in addition to the support of economic development leaders from the Capital Region Economic Development Council, the Center for
Economic Growth (CEG), Saratoga County Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) and Regional Chambers of Commerce. The Clean Tech ECHS has grown regionally from originally serving 25 students in two school districts in 2011, to now serving over 200 students from across 21 school districts in eight counties. Juniors and seniors in the program earn up to 24 college credits from Hudson Valley Community College in this ECHS model that was established in 2011. Students are now being enrolled at the 11th grade and 9th grade levels for the fall of 2015 as the program expands into four career pathways including Clean Energy, Computer Science & Information Systems, Nanotechnolog y/
Mechatronics and Entrepreneurship, Leadership & Innovation. The Ballston Spa CSD has become a leader in the development of STEM learning in K-12 education, especially in the creation of partnerships with business and higher education via their Partnership for Innovation in Education program, through which the district has developed a variety of new courses, curricula and enrichment opportunities for students. Hudson Valley Community College’s TEC-SMART in Malta, NY hosts the Clean Tech ECHS and is a LEED-certified HVCC classroom building at NYSERDA’s Saratoga Technology and Energy Park® (STEP®) campus in Malta that uses renewable energy sources.