About PLTW | Our People, Mission, and Impact

Our Mission

Empower Students to Thrive in an Evolving World

Inspiring PreK-12 Students and Teachers in Thousands of Schools Across the U.S.

School and district leaders need a solution that cultivates confidence and career readiness—and PLTW checks all the boxes. As a nonprofit organization founded by educators and driven by education leaders, we've spent more than 28 years equipping students with the technical knowledge, transferable skills, and career confidence they need to thrive—through programs that integrate real-world industry partnerships, best-in-class teacher training, and our proven activity-, project-, problem-based (APB) instructional model.

Discover the Outcomes and Approach

2.4 million+ students

116,000+ teachers trained

12,600+ schools implemented

$15.6 million grants awarded in 2023–24

District Solutions for STEM and CTE Success

At PLTW, we believe all students—beginning at a young age—need access to real-world, career-connected learning experiences. Our flexible curriculum engages PreK-12 students in hands-on problem-solving to prepare them for whichever post-secondary path they choose: enrollment, enlistment or employment.

Critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and ethical reasoning build adaptability and resilience for today’s jobs and the demands of tomorrow’s economy.

PLTW courses address all transferable skills research shows as essential to college and career readiness¹

Explore the Research

A thriving national network of educators fosters peer support, continuous learning, professional growth, and program continuity, even in high-turnover environments.

2/3 of PLTW teachers improved their satisfaction with teaching overall²

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Pre-bundled classroom kits reduce prep work for teachers, while free shipping and easy purchase orders minimize costs for administrators.

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trainingguarantee

Flexible implementation models adapt to the needs of all types of schools, providing access to grants and teacher training options that build future-read communities and ecosystems.

Ask about the PLTW Training Guarantee, which helps schools protect their investment. Find out more from the PLTW Solution Center, open 24 hours a day 7 days a week at solutioncenter@pltw.org or 877.335.7589.

The Career Advantage^TM Approach

PLTW graduates earn higher wages and pursue STEM degrees at a higher rate than their non-PLTW peers.² Whether you're looking to expand access to career and technical education (CTE), strengthen college and career pipelines, or reignite student engagement, PLTW's Career Advantage delivers the structure, support, and industry partnerships necessary to drive lasting impact. Our unified approach supports students on a journey from early career curiosity to long-term readiness.

Practical, career-connected learning experiences

Opportunities to explore and evaluate career paths

Mentorships, internships, resources, and career opportunities

Vertical alignment across grade bands that strengthens college and career readiness in elementary, middle, and high school

Pathways aligned with national career clusters for health science, IT, manufacturing, and engineering

Opportunities to obtain or prepare for college credit, IRCs, and work-based learning

Built-in focus on problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, communication, computational thinking and collaboration

Skill development that prepares students for any post-secondary path—enrollment, enlistment or employment

Emphasis on the importance of adaptability, resilience, and lifelong learning

Industry-relevant learning experiences are informed and supported by more than 60 partners, unlocking access to cutting-edge curriculum, college credit, job certifications, industry-recognized credentials (IRCs), and careers.

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"The resources are embedded with real-world learning experiences that make it practical for students. They get to start with problems that they do critical thinking and working with others. Those are all experiences that match what industry is expecting for them to do when they join the workforce."

Ericka Mabion, PLTW Gateway Teacher

Kansas City, MO

Our Leadership

Board of Directors

Project Lead The Way’s Board of Directors represent some of the world’s leading companies and organizations in the fields of engineering, education, and research and development to support the direction and success of the organization.

View Our Board of Directors

Executive Leadership Team

Providing transformative educational experiences for students and teachers across the U.S. is no easy effort. We’re led by a talented team of leaders and innovators, all focused on a shared goal—inspiring and empowering students and teachers.

Meet Our Leadership Team

Join Us and Make a Difference

Help us as we serve students and teachers.

At PLTW, we're on a mission to create a transformative learning environment and empower students to develop in-demand knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in an evolving world. Our people are most critical to our mission, and we're dedicated to building a collaborative culture of talented, enthusiastic team members who will continuously improve the extraordinary programs we deliver daily to students and educators nationwide.

Join Our Team