Mrs. Penn,  TDL/Drone Technology Teacher

Greetings.  Welcome to our website.  I am excited about being @ WGHS as a part of the TDL Academy's Drone Pathway!  

I have over 35 years of teaching, public service and industry experience combined with majority of those years in the classroom.  Its an honor and privilege to provide instruction for such dynamic, high skill, high-demand course offerings this year to such a motivated group of students here at Western Guilford High School.

This year I will be teaching three preps:

• Drone Technology Fundamentals:  In this course, students are introduced to the world of drones by exploring the history of drones, drone flight dynamics and  reviewing basic understanding of aeronautical/sectional chart reading and learning how to fly a drone while also  understanding how drone flight can be conducted autonomously for flights.
• Drone Technology I:  In this course, students will learn how to fly drones, receive their Part 107 Remote Pilot  preparation for their license test and participate in advanced drone flight skills which include practicing drone maneuvers and flight management.
• Drone Technology II:  in this course, students will learn the essentials to designing their own drone business plan, how to maintain a drone fleet, how to improve their drone flight skills, how to maintain a drone fleet for both commercial and public use services organizations, and how to use drone mapping software.

Students in the Drone Pathway also need:

Required Additional Course: Taken in 10th Gr- Computer Science Principles to introduce the skill of programming involved with autonomous drones flight and app development.  Either Comp Science 1 or AP Computer Science will satisfy the 1 class of Computer Science requirement.

Suggested Course: To increase aptitude for the Weather section on the FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot/Drone License,  I advise students in the Drone Pathway to take Environmental Science for their 9th or 10th year science course, however it is not required at this time.

Are you enrolled as a TDL Pathway student?  Have you chosen the Drone Pathway in the TDL Academy? 

 The ultimate goals for drone pathway students are

1. to obtain by the time they reach (Junior Yr) 16 years of age their FAA Part 107 Remote UAS/Drone Pilot License and in senior year to obtain their NFPA 2400 certification and ESRI Drone Mapping Certification.

2. to demonstrate successfully the skills of a commercial drone pilot.

and 

3. to successfully be prepared to enter the workforce or do advanced studies utilizing the knowledge attained

 Looking for a great start resulting in an awesome finish.   

Best wishes for a rewarding school year!

Be our best, to do our best, to achieve better than best....

Special Note: Parents and other community partners: If you are in Aviation, Real Estate, Agriculture, Cinematography/Media Production and any other Public Service industry that could bring industry insight and partnerships for our students, then please contact me at pennn@gcsnc.com to schedule a virtual career day along with coordinating future internships opportunities to help our students practice the skills attained.