LaSalle joins five 853 Schools in STEM research initiative

Five local Chapter 853 Schools, including LaSalle, received a $200,000 grant from the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) to encourage students to participate in activities that will support an interest in STEM careers.

LaSalle teachers Martha Juenger, Kelly Hayes, Ken Getsch, William Murray and John Schoonbeck as well as LaSalle administrator Rich Medved are participating in a series of trainings being conducted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, the Center for Initiatives in Pre-College Education (CIPCE), and the Capital Region BOCES.

In Spring 2015, students from RPI will be working directly with LaSalle’s teachers and students on Clean Energy projects. Additionally, several of our students will be selected to participate in institutes to be conducted by RPI at their campus this year, during the summer, and during the 2015-2016 school year. During the next two years, fifty LaSalle students will be targeted in both the Junior and Senior High School programs to participate in this grant.

Initially, students will conduct an energy audit of LaSalle School using already developed protocols to make recommendations for increased energy efficiency of our own facility. This will be followed by their active participation in experiments, activities and projects to be carried out in various classes conducted by the participating teachers in the grant.