Imaging Science and Technology Academy
John P. Santos
Founder
John Santos has worked in South Central Los Angeles for over 14 years, teaching Graphic Communications. He is also the founder and Lead Teacher of the Imaging Sciences & Technology Academy (ISTA) at Manual Arts High School. John helped establish the nation's first 2+4+C College Early Entry Program at Cal State University Los Angeles, where he also volunteers as a facilitator to graduate technology students. In 1996 he facilitated the first joint international research study on the JDF electronic document format system with students from Cal State L.A. (some were ISTA alumni) and grad students from Wuhan University in China.
John is the co-founder of the nationally recognized, "Viva Technology" Program, which is designed to help K-12 students in urban and rural communities, consider careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
He is an advisor to several magazines, and academic programs, and is his school's Math, Engineering, Science, Achievement (MESA) coordinator. The MESA Program at Manual Arts has been recognized as the "Most Active Technology Program" in Southern California for two consecutive years. Students who have matriculated from ISTA to a four-year institution over the last seven years have a 72% retention rate.
John is the recipient of the 1998 Printing Industries Association of Southern California "Educator of the Year", the 2006 Electronic Document Systems Foundation, "Secondary/Post Secondary Educator of the Year" and is the University of Southern California, Viterbi School of Engineering, Math, Engineering and Science Achievement "Advisor of the Year", the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Corporation (HENAAC) 2006 Educator of the Year, the City of Los Angeles "2006 Exemplary Educator Award", The 2007 Association of Mexican American Educators, "Distinguished Teacher Award", the 2007 Youth Mentoring Connection, "Los Angeles Community Hero Award" and the 2007 Printing Industries Association / Graphic Arts Technical Foundation (PIA/GATF) "Excellence in Education" recipient.
ISTA Overview
The Imaging Sciences and Technology Academy (ISTA) is designed to assist students to consider careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). It achieves this by establishing a strong foundation in imaging science, science, technology engineering and math. With a fully integrated curriculum and a core of teachers, mentors and partners dedicated to the needs of our students, ISTA is recognized as a model of what can happen when academia, industry and community, marshal their resources to help its young people realize their potential.
ISTA students are provided with experiences and speakers that motivate them to complete their high school education. ISTA students self-select, there is no minimum grade point average to join but the desire and curiosity to learn and the willingness to be challenged. Of its 2006 graduating class, there were 42 graduates, 18 are continuing in engineering and technology, while another 7 are majoring in science. All went on to college.
This year, ISTA students have competed in such scientific and technical competitions as the JPL Invention Challenge, the National Science Bowl, US FIRST Robotics, MESA Mathematics Competition, and were division 7 champions in the Junior Engineering Technical Society/TEAMS National Engineering Exam; champions of the Southern California Regional of the National Engineering Design Competition; finalist in the PIASC Academic/Technical Decathlon and finished third in the State Championship of the National Engineering Design Competition.
In 2006 Manual Arts received more honors in academics than in athletics.