LenelS2 Backs P-TECH Program for High School Students
By SSI Staff, Security Sales & Integration
November 20, 2019
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — LenelS2open_in_new is once again sponsoring an innovative high school program that helps students to develop the academic, technical and professional skills required for 21st century jobs.
The Pathways in Technology (P-TECH) program works with students beginning in the ninth grade. It gives those successfully completing four years of high school an opportunity to earn a two-year technical associate degree from a local community college, at no cost.
LenelS2 employees will serve as mentors for the program, held locally at Edison High School in Rochester, N.Y. Employee mentors work with about 20 students in the P-TECH program, and according to Paul Wisotzke, manager, test and validation, LenelS2, and program mentor, P-TECH is a great solution for technology companies seeking well-prepared job candidates.
“P-TECH is filling a necessary void,” Wisotzke says. “I view my role as a program mentor as a wise investment as it becomes more difficult for the security industry to find necessary employees with IT-related skills.”
Herman Perry, a computer sciences teacher and head mentor for the P-TECH program at Edison, says LenelS2’s participation for the second consecutive year has been nothing but positive.
“Paul and his team have been outstanding,” Perry says. “Having a professional closely work with these kids helps spark their interest in getting the education they’ll need for a good career. It helps them see themselves as engineers.”
P-TECH students learn coding, software development and other IT skills, as well as office basics such as time management, creating and delivering presentations and writing effective emails. The program also incorporates a rigorous science, technology, engineering and mathematics-based curriculum.