Pioneer Technology Arts Academy (PTAA) Colorado Springs Engineering and Technology STEAM/ PTECH K-12 THE MISSION OF PIONEER TECHNOLOGY AND ART ACADEMY COLORADO (PTAAC) IS TO EMPOWER AND ENGAGE STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY UNDERSERVED AND UNDERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS, TO REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL AS GLOBAL LEADERS WHO ENHANCE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND THE WORLD (CONT'D ON SCH O) THROUGH AN INQUIRY-BASED STEAM CURRICULUM THAT EMPHASIZES CREATIVITY, COLLABORATION, AND INNOVATION. PTAAC GRADUATES ATTAIN THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE TO EARN ADVANCED DEGREES, SECURE FULFILLING POSITIONS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS, AND MATH (STEAM) PROFESSIONS, AND BECOME INTERNATIONAL LEADERS. PTAAC'S PROGRAMMING ALLOWS CHILDREN TO EXPAND THEIR CRITICAL THINKING AND PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS, CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION, AND COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION SKILLS, WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO SOLVE COMPLEX ENGINEERING, SCIENCE, AND MATH PROBLEMS. "WE PREPARE STUDENTS FOR JOBS AND TECHNOLOGIES THAT DON'T YET EXIST... IN ORDER TO SOLVE PROBLEMS THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW ARE PROBLEMS YET."