With just hours until the deadline for those eighth-graders hoping for acceptance into the Niles New Tech Entrepreneurial Academy, Dean Patrick Malley is keeping his fingers crossed.

As of Tuesday afternoon, the school had received 119 applications, just shy of the 125 cutoff.

If the school stays below or right at the 125 student count, everyone who applied would be accepted, Malley said and the district would have no need for a stratified lottery as had been planned for more applicants than there were spots.

The deadline to apply is today.

Back in February, Malley said the school’s hope was to create a mirrored version of Niles High School’s student population.

As he awaits the final numbers of the first class for the New Tech Academy, Malley did announce his roster of teachers.

After three days of candidate interviews, Niles New Tech selected six secondary teachers who currently work in the district to be classroom “facilitators” when New Tech opens next year. These six individuals will receive training and work on curriculum throughout the summer as they prepare for the start of the 2011-12 school year.

Those teachers are:

• April Payne (U.S. history) is currently in her eighth year teaching at NHS. She earned her bachelor of arts degree in English and history from Calvin College, and also holds a master’s degree in instructional design for online learning. Payne is excited to be a New Tech facilitator for the unique opportunity to challenge students “to learn in a new environment and experience education in a completely different way.”

• Michael Vota (biology) has been teaching biology at NHS for the past 12 years. He has a bachelor of science degree in biology from Towson University in Baltimore, Md. and also holds a master’s degree in teaching. Vota is in his 13th year coaching Niles baseball and he looks forward to working with the team at New Tech “to provide the students of Niles Community Schools with another fantastic option for educational success.”

• Jeff de Varona (math) is in his fifth year teaching math at NHS. He came to the district after one year teaching in another district. De Varona has a bachelor of science degree in computer engineering from Michigan State University and is certified to teach math, computer science and history. He is currently working toward an master of secondary education in curriculum, instruction and assessment with plans to graduate in May 2012. He looks forward to working at New Tech next year to “help students be creative, connect with peers and think critically while simultaneously learning course content.”

• Courtney Dwyer (art) started teaching ceramics at NHS last fall after four years teaching art outside of Niles Community Schools. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in K-12 art education from Siena Heights University and is currently midway through her master of arts education In educational leadership. Dwyer is enthused about “having the opportunity to be part of a team that will develop new and challenging projects-based instruction” that will challenge students “to take responsibility for their learning and be accountable to themselves and others around them.”

• Jerry Holtgren (English) has worked at NHS for the past 15 years as both a teacher and a media specialist. He earned his bachelor of arts degree in English and music from Bethel College; holds a masters of education from Grand Valley State University; and is currently midway through a second master’s degree in English. When not teaching or learning, he can be found coaching soccer or spending time with his family. He believes New Tech “offers a great opportunity for students by giving them not only the knowledge, but the skills to be successful.”

• Kelley Watson (math) is currently in his fifth year teaching at NHS. He earned a bachelor of science degree in park, recreation and tourism from Michigan State University before going to Olivet College for his teacher certification in history and math. He joined the New Tech team because he believes “that education needs to progress and New Tech provides a model and opportunity allowing educators to facilitate that change.”

Niles New Tech Entrepreneurial Academy is considered a progressive school where students use technology to complete group projects as they would in a professional work environment.

Courses are taught in double classrooms by pairs of teachers who integrate subject content to create rigorous projects that are both standards-based and relevant to students’ lives. A goal of structuring a school in this way is to explicitly teach students the skills necessary to succeed in the 21st century – skills like teamwork, work ethic, media literacy, communication and time management.