BETH DARRAGH
Purdue Polytechnic High School Englewood
Purdue Polytechnic High Schools
“I love showing students that microelectronics isn’t just an abstract concept, but a practical skill that connects their creative interests to the high-tech careers of tomorrow.”
Beth Darragh is an educator at Purdue Polytechnic High School who specializes in connecting classroom learning to real-world career applications. Beth’s path to education was unconventional; after earning a degree from Indiana University in Anthropology with minors in Dutch and Fine Arts, she spent years working in logistics, marketing, and freelance graphic design positions. It was through teaching community art classes and adult education in Indianapolis that she discovered her true calling, eventually transitioning into K-12 education and earning her teaching license in Business.
At PPHS, Beth leveraged her varied professional history to lead courses in Career Exploration, Paper Creations, Yearbook, and FAA Drone Certification courses and has committed to teaching Computer Science full-time next year. For the past two years, she has been a partner with SCALE, developing and implementing specialized curriculum like the "Chips and Charms" microelectronics lessons. By introducing students to the intricacies of microelectronics, Beth helps them see the tangible link between technical skills and their future professional goals. She is committed to providing her students with the practical tools and strategic mindsets necessary to thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce.