President Obama to visit Brooklyn’s much-praised P-TECH

Pathways in Technology Early College High School, which the city frequently cites as a model for partnerships between industry and education, will have a special visitor on Friday — President Barack Obama, who praised the school in his State of the Union Address this year.

Mayor Bloomberg and Schools Chancellor Dennis Walcott just put out a joint statement announcing the visit. Here’s what they had to say:

Bloomberg:

Over the last decade we have transformed the landscape of public education in New York City by creating hundreds of top-quality schools that offer innovative new ways to prepare students for college and careers.  One of the dynamic new schools we’ve created, P-Tech, offers students a high school diploma, an associate degree, and industry internships – all integrated into the high school experience.  We are continuing to develop more of these schools across the five boroughs, helping to connect students directly to college and careers.  We’re honored that President Obama has hailed P-Tech as a national model, and I look forward to joining him when he visits P-Tech on Friday.

Walcott: 

We’ve started a national trend with our 9-14 schools, and it all started with P-Tech. Our schools and teachers throughout the city do exceptional work in preparing students today for college and careers tomorrow.  P-Tech is a 21st century school that prepares its students for 21st century jobs. With a unique mission, a dedicated industry partner in IBM, and a relationship with CUNY, P-Tech students are developing the skills requisite for long and successful careers. I am excited to have President Obama visit this outstanding school and see the innovation, dedicated teaching, and quality learning that goes on across the New York City school system.

Read more from our reporting about P-TECH since it opened in 2011.