Choices in Education: Person County Schools

January 16, 2017

Person County Schools

Person County Schools (PCS) is committed to providing a relevant and engaging education that prepares all students for success in a changing world. To serve our student community, we have designed a well-rounded education that targets important basic skills while also helping students to think, collaborate, and be creative at higher levels.  Our students are taught to use current technology through our 1:1 laptop program that provides a computer to all students in grades 3-12.  Our highly qualified teachers focus on providing instruction that is engaging to students, aligned to rigorous standards, and built upon positive relationships.

In addition to a core education in reading, math, science, social studies, and electives course offerings, our students are busy with performances, field trips, competitions, and community events.  The following are some of the highlights:

Connections to College and Careers The Person County Schools Career and Technical Education (CTE) program in middle school and high school is to prepare and empower students as 21^st century learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in post-secondary education and a variety of careers.   Our middle school students are engaged in courses that help students understand the relationships between school, career choices, and global awareness.  Our high school students who are CTE concentrators are very successful in their studies, with 98% earning their diplomas and 94% participating in postsecondary education, advance training, military service, or employment. The following are the current offerings at our middle schools for career and technical education: Northern Middle School

• Computer Skills and Applications
• Exploring Business, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship
• Exploring Career Decisions
• Technology Design and Innovation

Southern Middle School

• Computer Skills and Applications
• Exploring Business, Marketing, and Entrepreneurship
• Exploring Career Decisions
• Exploring Family and Consumer Sciences
• Technology Design and Innovation

Person High School offers 44 courses within 8 programs as follows:

• Agricultural Education (5 courses)
• Business, Finance, and Information Technology Education (6 courses)
• Career Development (1 course)
• Family and Consumer Sciences Education (3 courses)
• Health Science Education (4 courses)
• Marketing and Entrepreneurship Education (7 courses)
• Technology Engineering and Design Education (5 courses)
• Trade and Industrial Education (13 courses)

In our ongoing collaboration with Piedmont Community College, PCS utilizes the Career and College Promise program to provide college credit and career certification opportunities to high school students.  A new program for the 2015-16 school year is an additional pathway in Health Science called Project HEAL (Health Education Accelerated Learning). This collaboration with Caswell County Schools and Piedmont Community College through a grant from the NCWorks Career Pathways brings our pathway offerings to 11 as follows:

• Business Administration
• Computer Technology Integration
• Cosmetology
• Early Childhood
• Criminal Justice
• Electrical Systems
• Digital Effects and Animation
• Industrial Systems
• Medical Assisting
• Nursing Assisting – new for 2015-16
• Welding

Strong community partnerships and parental involvement are essential to fulfilling our mission to provide students with a safe, orderly, and caring learning environment.  We are fortunate to have many businesses, organizations, and universities working with us to improve our services.  The following examples highlight just a few of these important partnerships:

• Aramark Scholars Academic Banquet
• Carolina Pride Carwash support for PHS CTE electrical program
• Golden LEAF Foundation and the Friday Institute grant and professional development for 1:1 laptop program and blended learning
• Green Circle NC Biodiesel for Schools program
• Juvenile Crime Prevention Council support and grants for tutoring at PCLA
• Kirby Theater venue and educational performances support
• Kiwanis of Roxboro scholarships and support for K-12 programs and Local Government Day
• Local Church Community volunteers and school adoptions
• NC Central University BRITE STEM education program and partners with early college
• NC State University Project C3M math professional development (PD) & Kenan Fellows grant partner for STEM teacher training
• Parent Volunteers for teacher appreciation, program planning, and learning support
• Person County Education Foundation for scholarships and program support
• Person County Library learning resources and project support
• Piedmont Community College for early college and multiple initiatives and programs
• Pierce Group—Teacher of the Year awards and support
• UNC-Chapel Hill Targeted Reading Intervention, Project SEALS, PEARL peer engagement math PD, and future grant partner for science teacher PD
• Youth for Christ My Life Matters program

This is by no means a complete and exhaustive list of our supporters, and we greatly appreciate all the many people, groups, and businesses that provide support, scholarships, and programs for our students and families. Click here to visit our website.

This post was submitted by Ms. Lily Hayes of Person County Schools and was a collaborative effort by Dr. Wendy Staskiewicz and Ms. Judy Bradsher. To learn more about Person County Schools, please visit the website at http://www.person.k12.nc.us/.