PRESS RELEASE
Gobles Middle School Receives National Recognition from Project Lead The Way for Commitment to Empowering Students.
Named a distinguished school for STEM curriculum and career readiness.
Gobles, Michigan – Gobles Middle School is proud to announce that it has been recognized as a 2023-24 Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Distinguished School. This honor is given to a select number of middle schools across the U.S. for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW Gateway, a grade 6-8 STEM curriculum. PLTW is a national nonprofit organization that serves millions of PreK-12 students and teachers in schools across the U.S.
Our PLTW program has opened our students’ eyes to many opportunities that are out there for them. The middle school students get excited to design on a real CAD program and then build their products. Being recognized as a PLTW Distinguished School is an honor. We have some great students who work hard through their PLTW classes. Our Gobles students and a quality PLTW program make our school a distinguished place to work and learn.
The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement, and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, Gobles Middle School had to meet a variety of criteria such as the percentage of students participating in PLTW, the percentage of students who participate in more than one PLTW unit, the number of PLTW units offered, and efforts to ensure equitable access to PLTW courses.
Research shows that the middle grades play a pivotal role in influencing high school, college, and career success. During this transitional time, it’s crucial to provide students with access to relevant, engaging, and real-world learning experiences that expose the range of career paths and possibilities available to them. Whether designing an automated robotics system or exploring aerospace by creating designs and prototypes, PLTW Gateway students engage in critical and creative thinking, build teamwork skills, and develop confidence in STEM subjects.
“We are honored to recognize Gobles Middle School for their commitment to providing students with exceptional educational experiences while ensuring equitable access to PLTW programs,” said Dr. David Dimmett, PLTW President and CEO. "We congratulate them on this achievement and celebrate their dedication to empowering students with the knowledge and skills to succeed, not only in STEM subjects, but preparing them for future careers and life beyond the classroom."
Gobles Middle School is part of a community comprised of PreK-12 schools, colleges and universities, and corporate and philanthropic partners across the country united around a commitment to providing students with inspiring, engaging, and empowering learning opportunities. For more information about PLTW’s Distinguished Program Recognition, visit
For more information on Gobles Middle School PLTW Gateway program, contact Tommie Saylor at 269-628-9345.
About PLTW Project Lead The Way (PLTW) equips PreK-12 students for a STEM-driven world with teacher-empowered curriculum in computer science, engineering, biomedical science, and more. For over 25 years, PLTW’s curriculum coupled with its best-in-class professional development has supported teachers in creating an environment to make every student STEM successful. As a national nonprofit organization, PLTW is proud to reach 2.5 million students in elementary, middle and high schools in all 50 states. With over 100,000 trained teachers nationwide, PLTW brings relevant, hands-on learning to classrooms across the country. For more information on Project Lead The Way, visit pltw.org
