Local high school a model for education reform - NEWS10 ABC: Albany, New York News, Weather, Sports

Local high school a model for education reform

BY TARYN FITSIK

RENSSELAER, N.Y.--President Obama is calling for education reform nationwide, but here in the Capital Region, one local school, is already a model for change.

The same goal, but a different approach.

Monday, local teachers got a chance to see firsthand how education reform is happening right here in the Capital Region.

"To see it actually in action here, and to see the excitement on the students' faces about what they were doing is probably the most thrilling for us," says Ed Collar, a Gloversville middle school teacher.

More than a dozen teachers toured tech Valley High School in Rensselaer, where project-based learning is the fundamental, with an emphasis on teamwork and technology.

"We've been prepared to manage our time, take our assignments and get them done on time, which is going to not only help us in college, but in the business world," says student Garth Geritz.

Students at Tech Valley High School are held to the same standards as any other high school student is in New York State, but the way their lessons are implemented is different.

"We teach deliberately to that set of skills here, in addition to content and I think that's the wave of education and the wave of the economy and it's what students need to increase their own retention of what they learn," says Dan Liebert, Principal at Tech Valley High School.

President Obama has also announced a goal of recruiting 10,000 teachers who work in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math over the next two years, which many acknowledge is important, but also speaks to something bigger.

"The issue becomes one of support, and one of accountability," says Richard Iannuzzi, the NYSUT president. "A willingness from every level to roll up your sleeves and be apart of moving this forward."

Moving forward, keeping students and their education a top priority.