DOS PUEBLOS ENGINEERING ACADEMY FOUNDATION
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Mission Statement
Our mission is to be a world leader in creating and propagating transformative project-based educational experiences in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) in a way that is authentic, engaging, forward-thinking and connected to the community.
About This Cause
Since 2006, the Dos Pueblos Engineering Academy (DPEA) has been a four-year California Career Technical (CTE) Education Program at a comprehensive public high school offering project/design-based Engineering Technology and Manufacturing and Product Development Pathways. It integrates California’s academic content standards with industry-specific knowledge and skills to prepare students for direct entry into California’s vibrant industry sectors and post-secondary education. The DPEA aims to provide students with an authentic, interdisciplinary, project/design-based learning experience in physics, computer science, art, engineering, and manufacturing. DPEA’s four-year STEAM program prepares students to be effective 21st century learners, innovators, and professionals. The DPEA rose from modest beginnings and its existence owes much to the personal effort and dedication of its founder, Mr. Amir Abo-Shaeer, winner of the 2010 MacArthur (Genius) Fellowship. The following are some of our many accomplishments: - 4-year Career Technical Education program at Dos Pueblos High School in Goleta, CA - Enrolls 400 students (100+ per class) with an equal distribution of male and female students - State-of-the-art facility - ALL graduating students go to college - Over 80% of students enter STEAM majors - Nationally recognized leader in project/design-based education - Featured on NOVA PBS special: School of the Future We plan to leverage the experience and successes of the DPEA program to become a catalyst for change within our community and beyond through the opening of the $16 million Virgil Elings Center for Creative Learning in Spring 2023. This will be the first-of-its-kind interactive learning center for the community on a high school campus. In anticipation of its opening, our organization has expanded its mission and vision to focus on broader initiatives beyond the educational and curricular needs of the DPEA and the students it serves within the traditional school day at Dos Pueblos High School: New Mission: To work in partnership with students, teachers, industry professionals, and philanthropic stakeholders to develop authentic products, services, and in/formal learning opportunities in STEAM fields to foster transformative experiences in people of all ages in the local community and beyond. New Vision: The Virgil Elings Center for Creative Learning is a vibrant and interactive community center that cultivates entrepreneurial innovation, collaboration, problem solving, and inspiration in STEAM fields on a high school campus during and after school, on weekends, and in the summer. It is a place where people of all ages and backgrounds are invited to contribute as active participants and change agents through authentic engagement with one another in a spirit of curiosity, exploration, and invention. All surrounding Career Technical Education (CTE) facilities on campus will be leveraged to become exhibition spaces of some sort anchored by one main interactive showcase area. It will draw the public in and become an educational hub for our community. Visitors will have a unique experience in which the environment is dynamic and collaborative. DPEA students will display and demonstrate their professional-quality exhibits and serve as docents and guides. They will demonstrate the process of product development -- sharing their design and manufacturing skills and real-time troubleshooting of their projects -- as they engage guests with their in-process products. They will also share their experiences including triumphs and challenges they have faced while undertaking their projects. User experience is an important part of the product development cycle and guest interactions with student products will be integral to the process of creating compelling, professional-quality exhibits and experiences. As other DPHS project-based programs mature, including visual and performing arts, it is anticipated that high-quality student work from these other programs will be incorporated into this professional exhibition space. This is an ambitious vision, and we are excited to be on the verge of opening the new facility that will become the platform for so many innovative opportunities for people in our community and beyond.