PIE Community Report

The Director's NOTE

Welcome! The Greater Hazleton Partners in Education is pleased to share our “Community Report” with you introducing the many exciting initiatives happening in your community. Driven by strategic planning and dedicated leaders, PIE has focused on specific initiatives that help students realize the importance of career planning and workplace readiness. PIE has enabled area teachers to learn about the area's leading companies and acquaint students with appropriate academic, technical and employability skills needed to be successful in the 21st century workplace. With over 30 members working together, I encourage you to join PIE and help strengthen the Greater Hazleton Area with talented graduates with a vision destined for success.
Edward S. Lyba Ed.D
Executive Director
Download a copy of the "Community Report."

Brings Alcoa KAMA and area gifted students together in:

PROJECT SAGE

PIE receives Alcoa Foundation Grant for 2007-2009 to continue efforts with 7 th and 8 th grade students exploring science and technology and its effects on the environment. 7 th and 8 th grade gifted students from Hazleton Area School District and Weatherly Area School District will work with Alcoa's Research and Development Department on a project entitled "Project SAGE (Securing A Greener Environment)." The proposal funding application will replicate the grant received from Alcoa Foundation in the past 2 years and provide similar technology experiences to a new group of 7 th and 8 th grade students.

Gifted students from Hazleton Area School District and the Weatherly Area School District will be working with Alcoa KAMA's Research and Development Department on a Project entitled “Securing A Greener Environment.” Project SAGE will enable students to study the advantages of new technology, specifically biodegradable plastics and composting. The project will require approximately one year of work from the students. The students, under the direction of Tony Despirito , Antoinette Refowich, Cathy Tombasco (HASD), Katie Leach (WASD), and Joan Falatovich (WASD), will coordinate their efforts with Alcoa KAMA's Keith Yanuzzi and Jeff Pristera provide students with the social, scientific and political aspects of products and their effect on the environment.

In addition, the students will be touring the Alcoa KAMA Hazleton facility at 600 Dietrich Avenue to gain knowledge about the thermoforming industry, to begin studying the various biodegradable products and reporting the findings back to Alcoa KAMA. Students will also research various careers within the Alcoa KAMA's company and learn about the skills needed to improve their success probabilities in the workplace.

Alcoa KAMA is a global leader in the plastics extrusion business and is the world's largest producer of light gauge material for the thermoforming industry. It serves customers in agricultural, food service, graphic arts, industrial and medical markets. The company operates from international locations in the United States and in Europe and has been a member of the Greater Hazleton Partners in Education since its inception in 2001. Project SAGE is a great example on how students and teachers can get involved in workplace learning and learn more about careers and the skills needed to be successful in the 21st Century Workplace.

Going forward from 2007, listed are the Cable TV Shows and Video Streaming Tours that PIE will help coordinate and complete. In order to acquaint students, teachers and the community with career opportunities available

CABLE TV SHOWS
• City of Hazleton
• CAN DO Corp.

VIDEO STREAMING TOURS
• Simmons Company
• Greater Hazleton Health Alliance
• Luzerne County Community College

SUPPORT

Northeast Pennsylvania Industrial
Resource Center (NEPIRC)
Pennsylvania Department of Education
Utilities Business Education Coalition
Team PA CareerLink
Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance
Team PA Foundation