Starting on June 15, technology teacher Pat Coleman will begin her training to become a certified animation instructor for the Starr’s Mill Digital Media Program.

“I volunteered to teach this new program,” Coleman said. “It will be available to all students in the Fayette County district at the start of the fall semester.”

The Digital Media Program will be a three-year Pathway program that focuses on the development and texturing of animated objects. Faculty who will be teaching this course must attend an instructional summer class at Sandy Creek High School to prepare themselves for the material. This course is being offered through a media workshop called Toon Boom.  According to Coleman, the school will receive industry-level computer monitors to increase the efficiency of the program.

“I’m so excited,” Coleman said. “This school has needed new tech for a long time.”

Sandy Creek ran a trial of the animation class this school year, and the results gave the Fayette County Board of Education the green light to open the Pathway program to all schools within the district.

“Sandy Creek’s trial run was a success,” Coleman said. “We will see how the rest of the schools do with the program.”

According to media reports, the Digital Media Program will cost $73,000 per school. This price includes the cost of new computers and the Toon Boom certification course for teachers. The level of technology students will learn is the same quality used at Pinewood Studios, located off Highway 54 in Fayetteville. Pinewood Studios helped develop “The Avengers 2: Age of Ultron,” one of the highest grossing films of 2015.

Animation class will be an elective, offered alongside engineering, technology and computer applications, said Coleman.

“Since it is a Pathway course, freshmen and sophomores will have first pick for the class since juniors and seniors won’t be able to complete the three-year path if they get in,” Coleman said.