Panther Education Center is the brainchild of Jane Barnes, John Barnes and good friend, and fellow Decatur Central High School graduate, Don Stinson – Superintendent of the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township. The Barnes’ wanted to give something back to the youth of the community and Stinson -2005 Supt. of the Year in Indiana - was just the educational guru that could give form to the dream.

The dream became reality the day before the 90th Running of the Indianapolis 500, when Panther Racing announced a partnership with Stinson and the MSD of Decatur Township to form the Panther Education Center, which will be located near the team’s race shop in Decatur Township, Marion County, Indiana.

What is the Panther Education Center?
Welcome to the ultimate field trip.

PEC will provide student groups with a three-hour, hands-on, interactive learning experience that will be themed after a race weekend. Middle grade students will visit the PEC facility, which will be modeled after Panther Racing’s shop in Indianapolis, to learn how the different departments of a motorsports team utilize the same skills students are learning in the classroom.

How do the daily operations of a professional caliber racing team translate to a standards- based curriculum?

Students will become Race Engineers, Mechanics, Logistic & Financial Planners and Media & Communication Specialists as they utilize the same classroom principles of science, math, language arts and technology education that will help them understand and enjoy their school work.


Why is the Panther Education Center Needed?
According to statistics reported by the National Center for Education Statistics and the U.S. Department of Education, nearly one million students drop out of school every year. While several common reasons for students’ leaving school have been identified, the one most central to PEC’s mission is the belief that traditional classrooms lack real world relevance; students do not understand how what they are learning today will benefit them tomorrow, and later in life.

The administrative staff of PEC, and the educators with MSD of Decatur Township, believes that if these students could experience the same classroom skills, but in a more exciting race weekend scenario, they would see just how their skills could lead them into an exciting career.

“There is nowhere today that students can experience our sport,” PEC founder John Barnes said. “Sure, they can go to the track and buy a hot dog and Coke, but you can’t touch the racecars, you can’t peak onto the computer screens and you don’t get a complete understanding of what is really happening.

“The Panther Education Center is going to help these kids understand the educational concepts we utilize , and it’s going to show these students – by hands-on activity – the skills that will make them more successful in the classroom.”

The PEC is planning to construct its first facility in Indianapolis, with plans to expand nationwide already in discussion. The center’s administrative staff is exploring ways to host adult groups and to design a curriculum specifically for students with special needs.

Who is Pathway Productions?
The Panther Education Center has partnered with Indianapolis-based Emmy award-winning Pathway Productions, a successful television, video and new media company. Pathway is developing the interactive computer software the students will interact with during their experience at PEC. Using their expertise in video production and story telling, the Pathway staff is using its educational background, combined with real team and race footage, to guide students through each of the PEC’s departments.

“This was a project that Pathway really wanted to be associated with,” company President Michael Husain said. “It ties so perfectly with our commitment to great storytelling and getting a message across in a memorable way. Panther has such an outstanding reputation in the racing community and to be associated with what will be a flagship enterprise for them is a huge compliment to us.”

Pathway Productions has won 13 National Emmy Awards, and has produced video programming for cable networks including ESPN, VH1, Discovery Channel, The History Channel and for education organizations, corporations and not-for-profits including the NCAA, Butler University and the Indiana State Museum.