Mark Morich, who teaches the Career Tech interactive media class at Senior High, discusses the computer software that freshmen in the background are exploring.
Dr. Jose Hernandez’s vision for a freshman academy to “raise the bar” at Mansfield Senior High School has become a reality.
Hernandez, now in his second year as principal, outlined his academy plans to the board of education in April.
“We need a system in place to do things better,” he told the board. “We can create an environment where freshmen are supported and feel like its theirs only. We will no longer have older students mixing with freshmen.”
That environment, he said, featuring a teaching staff dedicated solely to the academy, would improve the transition to high school and increase Senior High’s graduation rate. Freshmen also would have a more challenging academic schedule.
“We need to raise the bar to produce outstanding students,” Hernandez said in his presentation to the board.
Flash forward to Aug. 17. The freshman academy, located in classrooms on the south wing’s lower level, is up and running, led by veteran educator Lori Crum, an assistant principal who was hired over the summer. Crum’s 20 years in public education include running a freshman academy at Warrensville Heights High School.
“We’re ramping up the rigor,” Crum said this week as she joined Hernandez on a first-period tour of Career Tech classes where freshmen are getting an initial look at fields that include digital media, machine shop, culinary arts, computer-assisted drafting, construction, CISCO networking, health technology and cosmetology.
“In their career connections class during the first period freshmen get to see different job fields,” Hernandez said. “This is unique. Not many schools do it this way.”
Of course, not all students will eventually work in one of the Career Tech fields. The idea is to get them thinking about their futures.
Back in their own classrooms all freshmen are taking algebra 1 – “for the first time ever,” Hernandez said – U.S. history, English and honors English, physical science, physics, biology and geometry. Character education, counseling and behavior support are part of the total academy package.
New this year are a math lab for students who need foundation support, an AP prep class for those preparing to go into advanced placement classes and ACT prep to help students prepare for the ACT test.
“Support classes will be taught by the students’ own teachers,” Crum said. “Fifty percent of the battle is building relationships.”
She said students must be prepared for whatever path they take after high school, whether it be postsecondary education, the workforce or the military.
Hernandez amplified that point.
“We have to connect what they do in school to what they want to do, what their interests are,” he said. “We have to make education relevant. If we do, they are more likely to take school and their course work more seriously.”