Engineering Pathway
Project Lead The Way | Santana High School
Mission
Santana’s Engineering Pathway serves students who are interested in exploring the various career fields that relate to science, technology, engineering, and math. The Engineering Pathway provides real world education and opportunities through its community partnerships, industry tours, job shadows, internship opportunities, and after school mentorship programs. The curriculum is problem based which involves learning the 21st century technological skills that are used in today’s industry. The Engineering Pathway provides a cohesive atmosphere where students set and achieve career goals, become self directed learners, and prepare for their professional futures.
Pathway Courses
Introduction to Design
This is the first course in the engineering sequence which introduces the basics of design principles with an introduction to 3D modeling using CAD software. This software is similar to what is being used in today’s industry. At the end of the course, all students submit a CAD modeled project to the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar which is displayed in the Student Showcase. Santana High School works closely with the local industry partners, community colleges, and universities to help develop projects and curriculum as well as provide student opportunities in STEM related fields.
This IED course receives the art (f) credit to meet the UC a-g requirements for college admissions. Students also have an opportunity to receive college credit by passing both semesters with an A or B.
Honors Principles of Engineering
This is the second course in the engineering sequence which is heavy in applied physics and math. POE is a hands-on course that requires students to work in teams and solve practical problems related to engineering. Coding using Python, building robots using VEX and utilizing software such as MD Solids and Vernier are some of the industry skills that the students learn throughout this course.
Students who successfully complete this course receive UC Honors credit as well as the science (d) credit that meets the UC a-g requirement for college admissions.
This is the optional capstone class that is offered to complete the engineering pathway. Using Python as a primary tool, students develop computational-thinking skills and tackle challenges like designing apps to solve real-world problems for clients.
Students who successfully complete this course receive UC Honors credit as well as the science (d) credit that meets the UC a-g requirement for college admissions. Students also have an opportunity to receive college credit by successfully passing the AP exam at the end of the year.
Honors Civil Engineering & Architecture
This is one of the two capstone classes that is offered to complete the engineering pathway. CEA focuses on the 21st design of buildings and structures in today’s society. The students use state of the art CAD software and engineering equipment to learn the same skills that are being utilized in industry. At the end of the course, all students submit a set of plans for a uniquely designed residential home to the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar which is displayed in the Student Showcase.
Students who successfully complete this course receive UC Honors credit as well as the science (d) credit that meets the UC a-g requirement for college admissions.
Teachers
Jason Kay is a high school PLTW engineering teacher at Santana High School. He has been involved in the education field since 2002. Jason has also taught various high school math courses of all levels including Integrated Math, Algebra, Algebra II, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus. Jason has been involved with PLTW since 2008 and is certified to teach IED, POE, and CEA.
He also participates in extracurricular activities, serving as an adviser of the ACE club (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering), head coach of the varsity golf team, and a PLTW Master Teacher who trains other potential high school engineering teachers.
Mr. Kay earned his Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Arizona State University and his Master’s degree in Education from National University in San Diego California. He was named “Teacher of the Year” for the 2011-12 school year and again in 2017-18. Mr. Kay was also awarded PLTW Engineering California Teacher Of The Year in 2018. He has been awarded the Golden Apple award twice during his teaching tenure.
Robert Pyle
Robert Pyle is a high school engineering and computer science teacher at Santana High School. He has been in education since 2008 and has taught courses in physics, biology, and general science. Robert is certified to teach PLTW Introduction to Engineering Design, Principles of Engineering, and Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles.
Mr. Pyle earned his bachelor's of science and master’s of science degrees from California Polytechnic Institute, San Luis Obispo. Prior to teaching, he worked as a programmer with Frazee Industries in San Diego, and software systems test engineer with Microsoft Corporation in Seattle and Cubic Transportation System in San Diego.
Onsite Clubs
ACE
Santana’s Architecture, Construction, and Engineering after school mentorship program, also known as ACE, provides students an opportunity to interact with mentors who currently work in the industry. Students create a mock project that would benefit the local community. Projects in the past have included a revitalization of housing development in El Cajon, an innovation and business center near the coast, revitalization of the Lakeside Rodeo grounds, and revitalization of Lindo Lake Park to name a few. The mentors help the students create and finish their yearlong project. At the end of the year the ACE students present their project to the local community. Scholarships are awarded to eligible ACE students who are college bound. Santana students have received over $50,000 in scholarship monies since the adoption of the ACE program.
For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Robotics Competition is an extra-curricular, student program competing with nearly 4,000 teams at a worldwide level. Students are guided by industry mentors from the local community. The students gain skills in engineering design, fabrication, programming, and testing. Each year teams are challenged with a new competition and participate in an intense "build season" followed by several regional competitions. In 2018, Santana's FRC Team 3965, the Sultans, took first place at the Las Vegas, NV regional competition followed by winning their division at the FRC World's competition in Houston, TX. They also earned a first place victory at the Battleship Blast exhibition at Fleet Week in Long Beach, CA.