Technology & Engineering Education

Our Program

What is Technology & Engineering Education?

Technology and Engineering Education is a general education class designed to develop students' technological and engineering literacy, or ability to understand, use, create, and assess the human-designed environment that is the product of technology and engineering activity. The class has evolved over the years from Manual Training in the late 1800s into Industrial Arts in the early 1900s, then into Industrial Technology in the 1960s, later into Technology Education in the mid-1980s, and most recently into Technology and Engineering Education starting in 2010. These transitions do not take place overnight. It will take time to fully convert programs across the country into true technology and engineering education programs. The Standards for Technological and Engineering Education Literacy (STELs) were released in the summer of 2020 by the International Technology and Engineering Education Association (ITEEA). The Technology Education Department at Admiral Byrd has embraced the change and strives to be a leader in this evolution into technology and engineering education.   

Mission Statement

The Technology and Engineering Education Program at Admiral Byrd Middle School is committed to providing a relevant, hands-on learning experience to help our students build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Students in the program will use real-world learning experiences to better understand the technological world in which we live. Through the study of major technological systems, students will see that technology encompasses the entire engineered (human-made) world. The curriculum meets or exceeds state and national standards and provides a strong foundation to build upon in high school and beyond.

Our Teachers

Mr. Hochkammer is a graduate of Virginia Tech for his Bachelor's degree and Liberty University for his Master's. "Mr. H" is local, from Stephens City, and attended Frederick County Public Schools. Mr. Hochkammer joined the team here at Admiral Byrd in 2019 but moved to a position in the Technology & Engineering Education Department in 2022. Mr. Hochkammer can be reached at Hochkamm@fcpsk12.net.

Mr. Curry is a graduate of California University of Pennsylvania, receiving his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Technology Education from the university, and later going on to become certified in computer science. Mr. Curry hails from southwestern Pennsylvania and has been at Admiral Byrd since it opened in 2005. Mr. Curry can be reached at Curryd@fcpsk12.net.

When Admiral Byrd opened in 2005, Marc Anderson was the second technology education teacher, a graduate of SUNY Oswego, hailing from western New York. Mr. Anderson had taught at Frederick County Middle School for one year before Admiral Byrd opened. He left to pursue a career outside of education in 2011. Mr. Anderson was succeeded by Ethan Longenecker, a graduate of Millersville University of Pennsylvania, hailing from eastern Pennsylvania. He left education in 2020 to pursue a new career. Mr. Longenecker was succeeded by Angie Craig, a graduate of Penn State, hailing from central Pennsylvania. She had 15 years of teaching experience at the elementary school level prior to joining us here at Admiral Byrd. She left education in 2022 to pursue a new career. 

Our Laboratories

Admiral Byrd features two technology labs: a design lab and a production lab. The design lab offers a computer for each student, a ViewSonic ViewBoard, dye sublimation printer, and four 3-D printers. The production lab features top-of-the-line woodworking equipment, an injection molder, crucible for casting and molding pewter, a high-power laser engraver/cutter, and a CNC milling machine. Students will complete a number of activities in each lab. For a brief overview of class projects and more information about our program and equipment, see our program brochure.