Losing some students.

My mechanic, John, is one of the hardest working honest people I know. His business is highly productive and I think he makes more money than I do. He also dropped out of High School. He hated school and to hear him talk school hated him. Growing up in the early 70’s he had many other opportunities for “career-path” employment. He made the best of them and has a successful business with healthy and happy children and grandchildren. Mechanics fascinated John, English and Social Studies did not. He realizes how luck he was to be able to run from school and still be a “success”. John is angry that his “bone-headed” grandson, who seems to be following in his footsteps, will be unemployable if he drops out.

We have a couple of students like John in our school. In spite of our great environment, see below, they are making every effort to be kicked out. School does not interest them. We are missing the last best chance to reach these kids. I feel we need to develop experiences for some students (10%of our population) where they engage the career first and then the academics. As our school and its resources grow we should consider developing programming for “at-risk-students” with a focus on the trade first and build in academic standards once the child has become invested in a future.

This is a Great Place

Students at our new school are receiving a wonderful experience. Small classes provide individualized attention that seems to be nurturing students to do their best. We offer tutoring during lunch and after school until 4:30. Our first semester curricula included Freshman Seminar; Strategic Reading; Transition to Advanced Mathematics; Foundations to Technology; and a Regents Science course provided students with a strong foundation to support their high school career. Combined Community Service Days with students from Syracuse University helped to generate a sense of community and appreciation for our area. Staff, parents, and students attend both our boys and girls interscholastic basketball games; which, helps to create a small town atmosphere. We have also hosted dances, bowling trips, and honor role lunches helping to realize how much the community appreciates their efforts. Our clubs and organizations: Ski, Science, Computer, Red Cross, Environmental, Board Games, Student Government, Student to Student, and Year Book, provide students with a wide variety of opportunities to explore their interests. The environment of our school is exciting and engaging. I truly look forward to coming to school every day.

Our students play a huge role in the quality of our school. In choosing to come to IT Central students committed themselves to working hard a taking full advantage of everything we offer. They have done this and more. It is amazing to see students go beyond expectations to push their learning and understanding. I feel we are the best preparatory program in Central New York.

In such a magical place it is easy to loose perspective and focus. It is inspiring to see students actively engaged in learning and truly interested in doing their best. As I strive to develop more challenging lessons, I am tempted to make them more academic. I tend to for get that students are doing well because we offer them the potential to work toward a technical career. Students are doing well in Biology because it is relevant to their desire to become a Cosmetologist or Carpenter. Many times I have made the mistake of adding rigor to my courses for rigor’s sake. I loose my students. I have also been able to perk their curiosity and interest by increasing course rigor through experience that are relevant to students’ career interests. The great thing about this place is that there are many career and technical educators interested in helping me out.