School system to begin offering engineering courses

St. Charles Parish Public Schools is offering engineering courses for senior high school students at the Satellite Center beginning next year.

The Satellite Center offers a unique learning experience where students work on developing life-long skills such as work ethic, collaboration, oral and written communications, and problem-solving skills through real world projects utilizing community resources and technology. 

An Advisory Board consisting of members from St. Charles Parish Public Schools, the University of New Orleans, Nicholls State University, the State Department of Education, Cytec, DOW, Entergy-Waterford III, Monsanto, Motiva, Northrop Grumman, Shell, Valero, and WINK Companies have been working together to develop the engineering courses.

The engineering program consists of two courses, one offered in the fall and the other in the spring.  There will be two classes of 165 minute blocks of time each day; one offered in the morning and the other in the afternoon. 

During the class time, students will work with state-of-the-art technology and industry standard equipment. 

Approximately fifteen students per class will be engaged in hands-on, real world engineering projects.  The curriculum is supported by the Advisory Board and will be enhanced by business and industry through guest speakers, field experiences, mentors, grants and scholarships. 

St. Charles Parish Public Schools is currently seeking an instructor for these courses.

The instructor will also incorporate physics curriculum into the engineering courses.  The Satellite Center is looking for someone who is creative, enthusiastic, flexible and can collaborate with others.  As an ambassador and recruiter for their field of study, this person must be willing to remain current in the engineering profession. 

The engineering instructor will work 183 days from 7:10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., five days a week during the school year (August - May).  Benefits include extensive holidays during the school year, summer holidays for the months of June and July, retirement, insurance options, and low teacher-to-student ratio along with the opportunity to work in a new state-of-the-art facility with students who are interested in engineering as a career. 

Interested retired engineers, recent engineer graduates, engineers seeking a career change, teachers certified in Physics, or teachers willing to seek Physics certification may call Lasca Anderson, Satellite Center Administrator, at 985-785-2080 for more information.