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We kick-off Season 2 of InspirED: A PLTW Podcast by talking about our Community Impact Awards!
On this episode, Katie Minihan, EVP & Chief Impact Officer at Project Lead The Way talks with two exceptional PLTW teachers who also helped guide students towards winning the Community Impact Award. High School teachers, Danielle Weber and Jason Huber, discuss the whole experience, from finding inspiration, the journey, the projects/students today, and the projects/students in the future.
Host:
Katie Minihan, EVP & Chief Impact Officer
Guest(s):
Danielle Weber
Danielle is a STEM educator with twenty years of experience teaching and supporting science programs in Stamford, Connecticut. She currently teaches at the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering and also works with educators through Project Lead The Way, Mass Learning Project, and Connecticut's Alternative Route to Certification program.
Her professional roles have focused on curriculum development, instructional support, and helping teachers build effective learning experiences for students.perf Her work has been recognized by organizations including the Connecticut Science Teachers Association, PLTW, and the Petit Family Foundation.
Jason Huber
Jason has been a Technology Education teacher since 1995 and a Project Lead The Way instructor since 2002. He has served as a PLTW Master Teacher for IED and CEA since 2008 and has taught at Woodstock High School in Woodstock, Illinois, since 2011. Beyond his PLTW, his experience includes leadership roles as an Assistant Superintendent of Schools and Assistant Principal. Outside the classroom, Jason and his wife flip homes, and when time allows, he serves as a behind-the-wheel instructor for summer Drivers Education.
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Resources:
Woodstock Community Unit School District #200
Students from the Academy of Information Technology and Engineering share how personal experiences inspired their award-winning project, “Pinch Pals”—a customizable, child-friendly device that reduces pain and anxiety for young patients with Type 1 Diabetes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm5h0Mo6bT8
Students from Woodstock High School discuss how they turned their vision of making the city more walkable into an award-winning project designed for impact and supported by city officials: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4MywtoZC98
Ideas and innovations come to life in the PLTW Capstone course, where students apply what they’ve learned to solve a real-world problem. Learn more:
- PLTW Capstone Course Outline: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_Capstone_CourseOutline.pdf
- PLTW Capstone Course Resume: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_Capstone_CourseResume.pdf
- PLTW Capstone Standards Connections: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/PLTW_Brand/HS_SA_CAPSTONE.pdf
- PLTW High School Evidence Paper: https://www.pltw.org/hubfs/mjtw-assets/pdfs/Evidence_Paper___PLTW_HS_6_30_21_1.pdf
These outstanding projects from PLTW students will inspire you: https://www.pltw.org/blog/from-classroom-to-community-pltw-projects-that-make-a-difference
Educators can use the engineering design process to build and expand partnerships—here's how: https://www.pltw.org/blog/guest-post-funding-and-grants-creating-engineering-partnerships
Submissions for the 2026–27 Community Impact Awards are open—recognize your middle or high school students for their innovative ideas and commitment to making an impact: https://www.pltw.org/experience-pltw/awards-and-recognition/community-impact-awards
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Connect on Social Media:
Woodstock High School on Facebook
Academy of Information Technology and Engineering at Stamford Public Schools on Instagram
Stamford Public Schools on Instagram
Danielle Weber on LinkedIn
