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Message from the Principal

Josh Giebel

Welcome to Columbus Signature Academy New Tech High School! My name is Josh Giebel and I am proud to be the principal here. Whether you’ve been part of the CSA pathway for years, a student or family who is learning about our school for the first time, or a community or business partner, I am thrilled to welcome you to a school that was designed to look, think, and learn differently.

At CSA New Tech, we don’t look or feel like a traditional high school, and that is absolutely by design. Established in 2008 with the support of local business partners and post-secondary institutions, CSA New Tech is part of the first K-12 pathway based on the New Technology Network model, utilizing project-based learning as our primary instructional model. CSA New Tech was designed to be a revolutionary pathway for education. That vision shows up in our hallways every single day. Students are not passive recipients of information; instead, they are given the voice, choice, and agency to own their learning. When students graduate from CSA New Tech, they are socially engaged citizens who are ready to excel in an information- and technology-rich society; fully prepared to step into postsecondary institutions, thrive in modern careers, or serve our country with distinction.

Being revolutionary does not just happen by  accident; we intentionally anchor our school culture and instructional DNA in a framework we call the “R.O.C.” This framework outlines exactly who we are, how we show up, and what we value most:

  •  Revolutionary Teaching that Empowers: PBL demands that our educators step away from traditional teaching roles to show up as facilitators. Facilitators actively guide (rather than dictate) the learning experience, asking students to own their education from project launch to final presentations.
  • Outcomes that Matter: Deep understanding of academic standards is our baseline; however, we know that alone does not prepare students for the real world. We intentionally teach, coach, and reinforce future-ready leadership skills like critical thinking, collaboration, and communication in all of our projects.
  • Culture that Cares: We know that to take responsible risks, students need to feel safe and supported. We are a small school built on lasting relationships, fostering an environment where every member of our community is seen, heard, and fiercely supported.

CSA New Tech comes to life because our students and staff take pride in the school we have built and are continuing to build every day. This pride is visible in the hallways and in how our students show up in the community. Step into our building and feel the energy of a learning community that takes care of each other so we can take care of the mission. See our young people truly use their minds, stand tall in front of a panel of professionals, and realize that their voices have the power to shape the future right now.

We aren’t just asking students to study the future, we are empowering them to build it. I invite you visit our campus, see our collaborative spaces in action, and experience what makes CSA New Tech a revolutionary pathway for education.

We are proud of our school and hope you will be proud to call it your school.

Sincerely,
Josh Giebel
Principal, CSA New Tech High School