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Transportation
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Propelling Possibility: Johnson High School’s Aerospace & Engineering

Magnet Program Soars Forward

Supporting and expanding the pathway, “Aviation opens up a world of exciting
Jamie Lindfors offers robotics and computer jobs beyond just flying planes. It takes effort
science, while Jeff Opichka teaches courses and heart, but our classes and field trips help
in construction, engineering, and welding— you find that passion within you.”
critical skills that round out a student’s STEM — Romeo Xiong and Touvue Thao,
experience and lead directly to industry certifi- Johnson Aerospace Students
cations and employment opportunities.
Johnson’s Aerospace and Engineering Thanks to a forward-thinking team, pow-
Magnet program is more than just a collec- erful partnerships, and cutting-edge resources,
tion of classes—it’s a launchpad for students Johnson High School is proving that high
to discover passions, build professional skills, school programs can prepare students to thrive
and access career pathways that are in high in tomorrow’s industries—one flight, one
demand. With Minnesota’s aerospace and build, and one innovation at a time.
advanced manufacturing sectors growing
rapidly, the program is helping to fill critical
workforce needs across the Twin Cities and www.spps.org
beyond.

Up, Up and Away: Aeronautics Capstone

Saint Paul Public Schools engineering. Students take Discovery Flights
“When you think you might not be able With critical support from Work-based
to do something, step out of your comfort zone Learning Coordinator Mary Voigt, students
because you’ll be able to do it.” also participate in unique experiential learning
—Johnson Engineering student 2025 opportunities with key industry partners. These
connections give students a real-world under-
At Johnson Senior High School in Saint standing of the many career paths available in
Paul Public Schools, the sky is not the limit— aerospace, transportation, and engineering—
it’s just the beginning. Reinvigorated by a and they begin building a professional network
dynamic team of educators and community before they even graduate high school.
partners, Johnson’s Aerospace and Engineering The program starts early, thanks to Devon
Magnet program is taking off, giving students Vojtech, who teaches PLTW Engineering Essen-
hands-on experience, real-world exposure, and tials to all 9th-grade students. This hands-on
a pathway into high-demand careers across the course introduces students to core engineering
Twin Cities and beyond. concepts and lays the foundation for deeper
Leading the charge is Tom Corcoran, a exploration in upper grades. Vojtech’s passion
physics and math teacher whose enthusiasm for project-based learning helps students
for flight and engineering is matched only by connect immediately with the material—and
his commitment to student success. Nearing gets them excited about what’s ahead.
completion of his private pilot’s license,
Corcoran has brought fresh energy and vision “In the beginning, I struggled, but now
to the program, helping position Johnson as as I see the circuits and work with them, I’m
a standout hub for STEM education in the understanding it more.” Eden Prairie Schools school year, they’d learned most of the Pilot’s
region. —Ti Char Kue, The late morning sun beat down on the Handbook and all about charts, taxiways,
“Imagine the thrill of not just seeing a PLTW Engineering Essentials Student Flying Cloud tarmac as the Cessna 172 pro- airspaces, weather and airport signage. Dr.
plane fly overhead, but understanding the As students progress, they can pursue an peller cut through the hot air. Seatbelts and Michael Nehring, the Aeronautics Capstone
physics that lift it. Imagine knowing all of array of specialized courses, including: headsets were secured. It was time to fly. teacher, had introduced students to a variety of
the different people working in a variety of Inside the small plane were three EPHS stu- career paths in aviation, from engineering to
jobs that work together to put that plane in • Introduction to Industrial Robotics dents and one professional aviation instructor. design to air traffic control to drone piloting.
the air. That’s what we’re trying to do here at • Introduction to Computer Programming This wasn’t the flight simulator the high Students, he said, were so close to the emer-
Johnson, we’re trying to introduce students to • PLTW Civil Engineering & Architecture schoolers had gotten accustomed to in their gence of drone technology that they could
the wide world of aviation and understand the • PLTW Engineering Design & Develop- Aeronautics classroom — this was a real influence the future of what the next careers in
principles behind flight.” —Tom Corcoran, ment plane. The instructor would guide the takeoff this field could look like. This was an exciting
Aerospace Teacher • PLTW Principles of Engineering and then, one at a time, turn over controls to time, and the Capstone he was teaching was an
The revitalized program offers far more the students. It was time to see if being a pilot opportunity for students to explore their inter-
than just traditional coursework. Johnson • PLTW Computer Integrated Manufactur- was what these Eagles wanted to pursue. ests in aeronautics while learning about all the
boasts state-of-the-art flight simulators and ing This “Discovery Flight” celebrated the possibilities for pursuing it as a career.
industry-standard equipment, allowing stu- • PLTW Computer Science and Software end of a three-course learning path in aero- Today was just that: a chance to see if
dents to learn on tools that mirror those used Engineering nautics at Eden Prairie High School that falls being a pilot was the right fit for students. 12th
by professionals. From coding and robot- • Intro to Flight Simulators within the Engineering, Technology & Manu- grader Quang Luong seemed ready. “I could
ics to welding and drone operation, students • Drone Flight Training facturing Pathway. Ten students had come to have fun with anything that moves with four
are developing technical skills that translate • Advanced Flight Simulators Flying Cloud Airport for a chance to feel what
directly to modern careers in aerospace and it was truly like to fly. Over the course of the Continued on Page 16