Community Education
Aviation academy set to take flight next year in Peninsula School District
Gig Harbor-area students interested in exploring a career in the aviation industry will have that option close to home starting in the 2025-26 school year. Peninsula School District recently announced it will launch an Aviation Academy next year in partnership with the Museum of Flight and Tacoma Narrows Airport.
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Filling a skills gap
The academy, based at Henderson Bay High School, will provide high school juniors and seniors throughout the district with hands-on, career-focused learning opportunities in the aeronautical sciences, preparing them to seek Federal Aviation Administration certification and careers in aviation.
The program addresses a growing need for aviation professionals in Washington state, which boasts the highest concentration of aerospace employment in the U.S. according to information on Peninsula’s website. The program provides an accelerated pathway for students to become professional pilots, or to work in air traffic control, airline dispatch, airport management and other aviation jobs.
Dual credit program
The Aviation Academy, offered at no cost to PSD students, involves classroom instruction, simulator training and practical experiences through local flight schools. The academy will offer courses such as Private Pilot Ground School, Drone Operations and Aviation Weather.
Planes in the Great Gallery of the Museum of Flight in Seattle. Photo courtesy Museum of Flight
Students will earn high school credit and college credit, putting them on the fast track for post-secondary training that leads to high-paying careers in aviation. And, after completing the program, they’ll be eligible to seek industry credentials.
“This program is a game-changer for our students,” said Kelsey Parke, director of career and technical education (CTE) for Peninsula School District. “We are equipping students with industry-relevant skills that will open doors to high-demand aviation careers while providing an exceptional, hands-on learning experience. Our students will leave prepared to make an impact in this field.”
A ‘strong’ partnership
The Aviation Academy is offered through a partnership with the Museum of Flight’s Aeronautical Science Pathway and Tacoma Narrows Airport. MOF’s arrangement with Peninsula schools is part of the museum’s strategic plan initiative to expand educational programming over three regions of the state. The Aeronautic Science Pathway is one area of study.
Photo courtesy Museum of Flight
MOF’s goal is to intensify the local impact of its programing by embedding it into communities through schools and industry partners, said Dana Riley Black, MOF’s vice president of education. Peninsula School District lies within the MOF’s target West Region which encompasses the Kitsap and Olympic peninsulas.
“We’re so excited because aerospace is so much of Washington state’s history as well as Washington state’s future,” Riley Black said. “Peninsula of course is a fantastic school district and we know that the partnership will be strong.”
A golden opportunity
“Partnering with the Museum of Flight and Tacoma Narrows Airport allows us to offer a truly unique learning experience,” said PSD Superintendent Krestin Bahr. “We’re excited to see our students take flight—both literally and figuratively—as they prepare for future success in the aviation industry.”
School board President Natalie Wimberley said the Aviation Academy is an example of Peninsula School District’s commitment to innovation in the educational opportunities it offers to students.
“The launch of the Aviation Academy reflects our district’s commitment to providing innovative and career-focused education” Wimberley said. “This program will not only enhance the opportunities available to our students but also strengthen our region’s economy by helping to address the critical need for aviation professionals.”
Program mentors needed
The Aviation Academy is looking for individuals with experience in aviation or aerospace to serve as advisors to the program and mentors to students. To volunteer, contact Communications Coordinator Danielle Chastaine at [email protected].
For more information on the program, visit the district’s Aviation Academy at Henderson Bay webpage.