2023-2024

The Piedmont Governor’s School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology – An Overview

Mission

The mission of the Piedmont Governor’s School for Mathematics, Science, and Technology is to provide a challenging, project-driven, research-based curriculum in a technology-infused environment. The school is designed for academically gifted, highly motivated, and high achieving eleventh (11th) and twelfth (12th) grade students from Danville City, Henry County, Martinsville City, and Pittsylvania County school divisions.

Goals
  • To provide qualified participants with educational experiences that promote interest in and develop skills related to mathematics, science, and technology through research-based projects
  • To provide hands-on, project-based interdisciplinary learning challenges in a laboratory setting that will develop students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork and presentation skills
  • To provide an environment that fosters a broad exchange of ideas that promotes social, ethical, and personal growth through interaction among students with diverse educational and cultural backgrounds
  • To offer a well-defined curriculum that facilitates the transition from high school to college
  • To promote the applicability of mathematics, science, and technology to the real world environment
  • To empower staff, students, and parents to be actively involved in a collaborative interdisciplinary process
  • To serve as a resource for schools and communities

School Day
  • 7:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Student on-site day
  • 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. – Teacher day
  • Web-communication systems to provide additional instructional time

Number of Students and Grade Levels
  • IALR Site – 73+ high school students
  • PHCC Site – 74+ high school students
  • Grade Levels – 11th and 12th grade

Site Description
  • Site at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) serves students from Danville City and Pittsylvania County.
  • Site at Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC) in Martinsville serves students from Henry County and Martinsville City.
  • Lecture and presentation rooms, including compressed video distance learning classrooms
  • Lab facilities to support project-based and technology-enhanced learning opportunities

Curriculum Focus
  • Science, Mathematics, Research, English (IALR site only)
  • Focus on real world applications
  • Collaboration among faculty and students
  • Technology integration into all aspects of learning

Course Offerings

This program offers the opportunity to earn approximately 33 hours of college credit the junior year and approximately 29 hours of college credit the senior year. Students also have the opportunity to choose to take Advanced Placement Examinations.

 Science:
– Chemistry
– Biology
– Anatomy/Microbiology
– Physics
Mathematics
– Precalculus
– Introduction to Statistics
– Statistics
– Calculus
– Advanced Calculus I
– Advanced Calculus II
Research
– Research 11
– Research 12
English (IALR site only)
– English 11
– English 12
Technology
– Information Literacy

Instructor Qualifications
  • Content-area expertise
  • Advanced degrees
  • Gifted education training/endorsement opportunity to be provided through staff development

Instructors

 IALR Site

  • Janel Hauser – English 11; English 12
  • Katherine Long – English 11; Research 12
  • Ashley Gravett – Statistical Reasoning; Precalculus with Trigonometry
  • Kendra Hardy – Calculus; Advanced Calculus I; Advanced Calculus II
  • Lisa Fain – Chemistry; Physics

PHCC Site

  • Jenny Whittaker – Calculus; Advanced Calculus I; Advanced Calculus II; Statistics
  • Frank Tatum – Information Literacy
  • Shannon King – Chemistry; Physics
  • Samantha Spencer – Research 11; Research 12
  • Shannon Harrell – Precalculus with Trigonometry; Statistics I & II
  • Jason Gibson – Anatomy

Shared between sites

  • Holly Dillon – Biology; Anatomy/Microbiology

Grading
  • Numerical grades submitted to base schools for reporting
  • Weighted credit offered based on individual school division policy

Diploma/Transcripts
  • School Division Diploma with Virginia Academic-Year Governor’s School Seal
  • School Division Transcript
  • PGSMST Transcript
  • DCC/PHCC transcript for dual enrolled courses

Guidance Services

 Counseling services provided at the base school.

Administration

 Interim Director: Charlene Bowman cbowman@pgsmst.com

Administrative Assistant: Deloris East deast@patrickhenry.edu

Community Support
  • Danville Community College
  • Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
  • Patrick & Henry Community College
  • New College Institute

Fiscal Agent

 Personnel and purchasing through Henry County Schools

Application/Selection

 Online Application using a multi-criteria format evaluated by school divisions’ selection committees.