Indiana's Prosser Career Education Center was organized in 1968 to provide cooperative workforce training to students living in Southern Indiana. Fifty years later, Prosser Career Education Center proudly serves over one thousand six hundred junior and senior-level students from fifteen southern Indiana school districts. The high school communities served by Prosser are Austin High School, Borden Jr/Sr High School, Charlestown High School, Christian Academy of IN, Clarksville High School/Renaissance Academy, Corydon Central High School, Crawford County High School, Eastern High School, Floyd Central High School, Henryville Jr/Sr High School, Jeffersonville High School, Lanesville High School, New Albany High School, New Washington High School, North Harrison High School, Providence High School, Rock Creek Community Academy, Salem High School, Scottsburg High School, Silver Creek High School and South Central High School. Prosser Career Education Center educators and support staff are dedicated to preparing students for success in careers and higher education. Prosser community and postsecondary partners also help to provide students with real-world, work-based experiences in the fields which interest them most.
Prosser Career Education Center has a strong STEM leadership team with support from the Superintendent, Career Center Director, and STEM chair/career center Principal. The active STEM leadership team includes instructors from varying programs, such as HVAC, computer programming, networking/cybersecurity, fire & rescue/EMT, cosmetology, auto collision repair and auto technology. Members of this group promote STEM education, STEM integration, and STEM opportunities while working to fulfill the five-year Prosser Career Education Center STEM Plan for Growth and Sustainability. The purpose of this work is to ensure high-quality STEM outcomes for students through meaningful engagements with effective curricula, encouragement, instruction, and the application of industry-current technologies. In addition to the Prosser Career Education Center STEM leadership team, local programs are supported by program-specific advisory committees that guide local programming and an Executive Leadership Council that assists with broad-scope planning, networking, and advocacy activities.
Prosser students develop knowledge, technical skills, and work-based experience while on a path toward rewarding STEM careers. Student growth is supported by professionally trained classroom instructors, academic integration specialists, career counseling services, community stakeholders, and other wraparound supports. Program participants have the opportunity to earn a Governor's Work Ethic Certificate, dual credits, and/or certifications from more than twenty two career and technical education programs. Seven Prosser Career Education Center programs offer full associate degrees to Early College Career Center students. Local curriculum is integrated in authentic Project-Based Learning, with many programs providing services to the general public.
As a result of strong industry and post-secondary partnerships, Prosser programs meet or exceed identified college and career readiness standards. Stakeholders representing relevant industry and postsecondary programs serve on program-specific advisory committees that help to guide program activities. Such involvement helps to ensure the horizontal alignment of standards across subject areas as well as the vertical alignment of standards as students progress through advanced learning opportunities.
Prosser Career Education Center students participate in collaborative teams as they work to explore relevant and complex challenges. They do so under the guidance of industry experienced instructors, using current technologies, in simulated and authentic workplace environments. STEM learning extends beyond the school day through work-based learning experiences, and co-curricular Career and Technical Student Organizations. Learning outcomes are evidenced by the number of Prosser students who have earned job placement, college acceptance, co-curricular awards, and individual recognitions such as the Indiana Career and Technical Award for Excellence.
Prosser Career Education Center is truly a place where passions become professions. Staff members are dedicated to providing the highest quality career and technical education training, because they recognize the benefits provided to Indiana’s economy as well as to local families. Staff members continue to seek guidance from industry advisory committees and post-secondary partners so that programs remain current and connected to local needs. In addition to offering insights regarding the value of Prosser Career Education Center programming, these relationships have led to mentorships, guest teaching, work-based learning placements, site visits, and program donations. At Prosser Career Education Center, staff and students are excited to be at the forefront of collaborative and innovative STEM education programming.