By Jennifer Eisenbart
Editor
As Tony Evers walked into Burlington High School the morning of Feb. 21, he knew he was in for a treat.
“It has a great reputation with career and technical education,” said Evers. “Not only with what happens in the school, but with the business community and Gateway Technical College.
“I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time.”
And after a continental breakfast served by the BHS culinary arts students, the school’s staff sat down to show Evers that the hype is well deserved.
Evers spent about three hours at the school as part of February’s “Technical Education Month” agenda.
Students and staff got a chance to make presentations on the high school’s “Higher Expectation Portfolio” – which requires all students to fulfill writing and testing requirements for graduation – as well as giving Evers a look at technical education and science courses that are special to BHS.
“It’s just extraordinary,” said Evers after the visit. He also thanked the community partners that have helped get the programs off the ground.
Evers also got a chance to visit the school’s radio station, WBSD 89.1 FM, and got a look into the BHS “WINGS” program – its school to work program that prepares students for careers and involves testing students in the ACT Work Keys as well as the American College Testing Program.
The day’s tour also included community guests, including partners in the school-to-work program, BASD Superintendent Peter Smet and BASD School Board members Larry Anderson, Rosanne Hahn and William Campbell.
Evers was accompanied by State Assistant Superintendent Sheila Briggs, who is a 1987 Burlington High School graduate.
Greeting the VIP
In the first part of the presentation, guests were treated to student-made breakfast of fresh fruit, baked oatmeal, mini pancakes, coffee, orange juice, muffins and scones.
While everyone was eating, BHS Principal Eric Burling led things off, pushing forward the overarching vision former Superintendent Ron Jandura had conceived – one that included partners outside of the high school.
“He had a vision of a learning campus,” Burling said.
Burling said the goal now is to have all students taking either the ACT exam or the ACT Work Keys to be prepared for college or a career.
Various teachers presented information on the college and career readiness programs. That includes the HEP, and the freshman connections class. Emma Benzow, a BHS freshman and an extemporaneous speaker certified through the Future Business Leaders of America, spoke about that class, and the time students spend on putting that portfolio together.
“It shows us how to plan for our future,” she said, referring to a career site students are directed to for course and career planning.
Eric Beets also joined DRIVEN Student Leadership Advisor Matt Behringer to speak about the DRIVEN program, which now has more than 100 students involved at the school.
Beets said part of the plan is to focus on goals. One of his was met this past fall.
“I’m happy to say that, in November, I passed my check ride and I am now an FAA-certified pilot,” he said.
BHS teacher Michelle Peets spoke about WINGS – Work Incentives Nurture Great Students – and how the ACT Work Keys fit into that. Students can search for careers and find out what work key scores they need for any given field.
“You’re only as good as your lowest test score,” she said.
What BHS offers
The first part of the tour – after the presentations – took Evers to WBSD. General Manager Tom Gilding gave a brief introduction, and then handed off to On-Air Co-Director Sawyer Gilding.
BHS senior Kellen Caldwell also got a chance to present on the live programs – ones that frequently draw national and international guests – the station provides.
As guests left the station, Gilding made sure that everyone knew the station is available on the web at www.wbsdfm.com.
The group then made its way to the technical education classrooms. Among the students and staff presenting there was Casey Miller – the Tech Ed department chairman – and teacher Mike Prahl.
Programs like the ACE (Architecture Construction Engineering) Academy help students put knowledge into practical settings.
Miller said one thing teenagers always ask is when they will use what they learn in a classroom. The ACE Academy helps show them that.
So does STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) programming such as the Principals of Engineering class taught by Prahl.
“We want to show the relevance of what they’re learning there and why,” Prahl said.
Special programs
Finishing off the day in the science department, Evers and other guests got a look inside the school’s agricultural science classes, as well as the high school EMT program and chemicals class.
Katie Hagemann, a new addition to the staff this year, spoke of the agri-science classes, as well as the school forest and the new community garden that was started last summer.
Meanwhile, Burlington Area Rescue Squad member and BHS teacher Troy Everson got a chance to talk about the EMT program – where students who complete the school’s anatomy and physiology class can go on to become certified EMTs through Gateway Technical College.
Everson said one of the biggest cheerleaders for that program has been GTC’s Gary Leyer – someone who was perhaps a bit skeptical at first that such a partnership could work.
After Everson was finished, students gave a brief presentation on the school’s chemical research and design class. Products from that class – which include everything from hand sanitizer to shampoo, dish soap and lip balm – are sold through the district as well.
At the end of the visit, Evers congratulated the staff and students on finding a way to make education relevant – and exciting.
“We can all chew gum and walk at the same time,” Evers said.
-
-
-
-
-