“It’s All About Kids!”–Engaging Students in Work-Based Learning through Student-Centered...

It’s All About Kids!!!Engaging Students in Work-Based Learning through

Student-Centered Activities

Latarika Young and Heather Zoll EppleyBryan Station High School

Academy of Information Technology

“Like” our Facebook page!Bryan Station High School Academy of Information Technology

“Follow” us on Twitter!@BSHSAOIT

#nafnext

Latarika Young

Development Firmware ManagerLexmark International (10 years)Advisory Board member (6 years)Advisory Board Chair (2 years)

tyoung@lexmark.comLatarika Young on LinkedIn

#nafnext

Heather Zoll Eppley

IT Academy Director (2 years)English Teacher in Academy (6 years)Nationally Board Certified

Heather.Eppley@fayette.kyschools.usHeather Zoll Eppley on LinkedIn

#nafnext

#nafnext

Our Story…•History- Bryan Station has approximately 1,900 students

enrolled. - Our IT Academy started in the Fall of 2007 with

25 students.- Our Academy currently have between 130-150

students each year, crossing all grade levels.

#nafnext

41.00%

0.60%

44.00%

2.00%

13.00%

BSHS Ethnicity Breakdown

Black/African Amer-ican

Asian

White

Other/Multi-Racial

Hispanic/Latino

40%

1%

52%

3% 3%

BSHS AOIT Ethnicity Breakdown

Black/African Amer-ican

Asian

White

Other/Multi-Racial

Hispanic/Latino

#nafnext

49%51%

BSHS Free/Reduced Lunch Eligibility

Non-EligibleEligible

50%50%

BSHS AOIT Free/Reduced Lunch Eligibility

Non-EligibleEligible

#nafnext

Our Story…

•First NAF Academy in KY•100% graduation rate for 4 consecutive years!

#nafnext

Challenges•Student engagement was there, but boardengagement was not!•Limited resources within community.•Retention of board members.•Lack of district support.

As a result, we had to find creative ways to increase involvement and board activity, specifically with work-based learning.

#nafnext

Trash Ball Throw your challenges away!!•Write your biggest Academy challenge on the paper provided.•Trash it!!!!!

At your table, briefly discuss the challenges on the trash ball you picked up and choose one to share with the group.

#nafnext

Business Partner Outreach for Work-Based Learning •Think outside the advisory board “box”•Business Lunch-student internship presentations-student hosts•Job Shadowing-twice yearly •“Professionalism” scholarship •YMCA Film Project-student-led video for “Livestrong” program

#nafnext

Student developed YMCA Livestrong promotional video

#nafnext

Student Perspective on Business Partner Outreach

#nafnext

Public Relations Through Work-Based Learning

• You are “IT” social media campaign-Monday: You are “IT” student highlight-Tuesday: Work-based learning highlight-Wednesday: Call for internships-Thursday: Community Service/Academy Events-Friday: You are “IT” teacher/board member highlight•Girls Recruitment Day-Professional and Student Panel-Interactive Demos•Students working events-Derby and STEM fairs

#nafnext

Picture box

#nafnext

Rotating Circle Discussion

•Share your ideas or success stories for business outreach or Public Relations for your academy using work-based learning as a foundation.

#nafnext

Classroom Engagement•Professionalism Roundtable-Personal branding-Interviewing• Roundtable- “Step Up Station”-Effective with small groups of students• Internship workshop-use community resources• Weekly “Dress for Success”-Ask upperclassmen to be leaders for this• Student led professional development for teachers

(slated to begin this year)

#nafnext

Celebrate Your Students• Ice Cream Social-Grade level awards based on school and academy expectations “Believe and Achieve”-Business partner outreach (Fro-Jo’s)• Academy Graduation and Celebration-Superlatives-Industry certificates • “Board Rewards”-Have a board meeting at the school with classroom visits as the focus.

#nafnext

Share your ideas….•Group Share on Post-its for ideas with classroom engagement and celebrating students (through work-based learning).

#nafnext

FYI…•Postcard for scholarships and donations•Bookmarks-Internship and Scholarship focus•Family Cookout

#nafnext

Donation Postcard

#nafnext

Questions/Discussions• Any other lingering questions or discussion

points?

#nafnext

It’s a marathon, not a sprint!!!•Final Thoughts•Session Evaluation