The Ohio Department of Education recently spotlighted an innovative partnership between Dayton Public Schools and Sinclair Community College that has established a unique Tech Prep high school in Ohio.This holds special significance here at Fordham, as it is named after David H. Ponitz, a Fordham trustee and the venerated president emeritus of Sinclair Community College.
This fall, 550 teenagers began attending the David H. Ponitz Career Technology Center. It offers students the chance to graduate with training in a technical career field , all while offering an American high school experience that includes such features as music and sports.
A typical program of study lasts six years, allowing students to earn an associate's degree in a technical field of their choice.?? This partnership also allows students to earn free college credit in high school and a $3000 scholarship upon graduation.
The school offers training in nursing, biotechnology, STEM teacher preparation, commercial art, culinary arts, financial services, automotive technology, carpentry, computer-aided design drafting and engineering technology.
Ponitz Class President Jasmine Bean had this to say of her experience: "This is more like a college campus than a high school. It's comfortable. The teachers ???get' us. We have school spirit. We're allowed to create something new if we have a good plan for it."
We're glad to see such a program being pioneered in our hometown of Dayton, and hope to see similar schools here in the Buckeye State.