DRONES

TO SHATTER GLASS CEILING DISTRICT, TWO OTHERS RECEIVE GRANT TO CREATE DRONE ACADEMY

The South Fayette Township School District’s commitment to a future-focused, studentcentered, and innovation-driven education for all students will soon take to the skies above western Pennsylvania with the support of a Moonshot Grant from Remake Learning. South Fayette partnered with the Baldwin-Whitehall School District and the Beaver Area School District to propose the creation of a drone academy aimed at shattering the glass ceiling for women in the aviation industry.

According to 2021 statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration, nearly 264,000 individuals have obtained the Remote Pilot Airman Certificate since the enactment of the small drone rules in 2016. Females account for just under 8% of the total certificates earned. Recognizing a need to enable gender representation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields, Dr. Kristin Deichler, assistant superintendent with the South Fayette Township School District, collaborated with Dr. Janeen Peretin, director of communication, innovation, and advancement with the BaldwinWhitehall School District, and Ms. Emily Sanders, assistant superintendent with the Beaver Area School District, to develop the Fly Like a Girl Drone Academy.