Topeka Public Schools,
Westar Energy Expand Pact to Promote STEM, Career Awareness for Students
Topeka
Public Schools Deputy Superintendent of Operations Larry Robbins is delighted
with the outcome of the partnership thus far. "Westar Energy has been a
valued business partner to Topeka Public Schools for a number of years. This partnership has afforded our students
educational opportunities and career choice exploration they would not have otherwise
experienced."
The
relationship between Westar Energy and Topeka Public Schools began five years
ago when the district sought new and expanded partnerships in the community.
Westar responded to that call and in 2010 the school district and the electric
utility formed a partnership. Soon after, Westar built a wind turbine and
purchased land for a substation on the district’s Kanza Education and Science
Park site.
Not
only did these projects provide electricity to the community, they also
introduced new and innovative educational opportunities for Topeka Public
Schools’ students. Additionally, the turbine and substation helped ignite
students’ interest in learning about- and eventually working in- STEM fields.
In 2012, Topeka Public Schools and Westar Energy formalized their partnership, outlining
programs to expose students to hands-on learning in technical and professional
fields.
Topeka
Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Julie Ford is thrilled with the partnership.
“The opportunities that Westar has offered our students around science, technology,
engineering and math allow students to see their curriculum come to life and be
relevant!”
Eileen
Caspers, General Director of School and Career Programs for Topeka Public
Schools, stresses the importance of a STEM-focused curriculum. “This is an
opportunity to provide rigorous and relevant curriculum with professional
learning aligned to sustainable careers. The experience and skills learned by
students will assist them in making decisions about their post-secondary
education path, future career, or both. In addition, businesses also benefit by
connecting with high school students for future recruitment into viable
occupations essential to their economic growth.”
Students
of Topeka Public Schools have reaped the benefits of the district’s collaboration
with Westar Energy and now enjoy enhanced educational opportunities that will
prepare them for higher-level learning and ensure career readiness. Westar
Energy and Topeka Public Schools are excited to expand this successful
partnership.