Aaron Hopmayer, Principal of Pine Bush High School, is planning to launch two more summer academies for high school students as soon as next summer.

"The Leadership and Law Academy has become a great success, and that lead me to think we should expand this effort," says Mr. Hopmayer.

The first new academy will be the Literacy and Education Academy. "The focus will be on students who want to become teachers. There will be two sections in this academy: one for those interested in elementary school education and one for those who want to teach at the high school level."

Mr. Hopmayer was able to develop a partnership with SUNY New Paltz in the development of this concept.

"Dean Michael of the School of Education up in New Paltz has been extra supportive of us in this. Right now we're working on the curriculum."

The second academy will be a Pre-Engineering and Technology course. "We haven't finalized yet what that course will look like. But over the next two or three weeks we'll get a good handle on it. Right now I'm looking for a partner, or partners on this academy," explains Hopmayer.

He adds that he is getting strong encouragement from Superintendant Phillip Steinberg.

"He's allowing us to take the ball and run with it, which is really great. Gives me the opportunity to look around and see what we can do. My goal for the summer is to provide an enriching and engaging experience for the students. One important aspect of the Literacy and Education Academy will be a field work component. The students will have to actually deliver a lesson to a class.

"These are difficult times financially, I understand, so it's time for us to be creative," says Hopmayer. "Our children are our greatest resource, and we need to provide them with every opportunity we can for them to develop their skills and confidence to go forward. We're hoping that these academies will do just that."

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