Backed by $5.8 Million Grant, Highland Park ISD Hires Former SMU Dean to Lead New Innovation Institute

HIGHLAND PARK -- Highland Park ISD has hired the former dean of Southern Methodist University's school of engineering to lead its new Moody Innovation Institute, funded by a $5.8 million grant awarded to the district last year. Dr. Geoffrey Orsak is the executive director for the institute, which will provide professional development for teachers and hand-on, cross-disciplinary learning to students in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, or STEAM. The Galveston-based Moody Foundation awarded the Highland Park Education Foundation a $5.8 million grant in August to overhaul the way students are taught STEAM education. "It was a good fit for Moody to come to a district that was already high performing and try to push it even higher for our kids," Orsak said. "We can use that as a model to replicate in other school districts around the state and nation, which is a real key aspect of this as well."  Continue reading...