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North Branch Area Public Schools (NBAPS) principals Coleman McDonough (high school), Todd Tetzlaff (middle school) presented information on building a successful Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Partnership Team at the PLTW state conference at St. Cloud University.

The presentation was given at the request of Project Lead the Way, which noted the quality and number of the district's team during a review of the NBAPS PLTW program last spring.

McDonough and Tetzlaff were joined by Lori Tapani, co-president of Wyoming Machine, and member of the district's PLTW Partnership Team.

McDonough described the process by which NBAPS was able to build such a large, engaged group of local business representatives and educational leaders. He stressed the importance of communicating a clear vision for PLTW, demonstrating commitment to PLTW at a district level, identifying the appropriate local business and education leaders, and articulating the difference the Partnership Team makes on students and teachers on a regular basis. McDonough also stressed the need to invite the input and participation of Partnership Team members for the betterment of PLTW at the school level; and creating a clear and concise agenda for PLTW Partnership Team meetings.

The NBAPS PLTW Partnership Team includes  many local business and manufacturing representatives, including: Tim Fairbanks, Branch Manufacturing; Steve Reedy, VP Rosenbauer; Barb Peterson, Andersen Corporation; Steve Merten, Custom Headed Products; Keith Dau Schmidt, CHP, Lori Tapani, co-president, Wyoming Machine; Steve Kemp, Chief Technical Officer, Polaris.

The team also boasts educational leaders, such as Deidra Peaslee, Vice-President of Academic and Student Affairs, ARCC; and Jo Mulford, President, Pine Technical Community College.

"We were honored to be invited to present statewide on this very important component of Project Lead the Way," said McDonough. "We have benefited from an enthusiastic and knowledgeable business and education community, and if that success can be replicated elsewhere, it is to the benefit of all Minnesota students."

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