Warren Tech: A hidden treasure in DeKalb

The Warren Tech Eagle

Happy Friday!  True to my goal of creating a Fun Friday theme, I wanted to share an uplifting experience I had this week that highlights a very good thing happening in our school system.

Warren Tech's Foundation hosted their annual fall fundraising business luncheon at the school. Now, that doesn't sound all that impressive, until you learn that the entire luncheon was prepared and served by the students!  And it was delicious!

Warren Tech is one DeKalb county school we can all be proud of. This school serves the mission of preparing young people with learning challenges for a successful work life. The principal, Ms. Carla Jones exemplifies kind, supportive, knowledgeable leadership, the results of which you can witness in her staff and students. The teachers and leaders at Warren Tech put their hearts and souls into preparing these young people in every way for the world of work and balanced, happy lives. This is the only program of it's kind in the state!

These students hosted a 'career fair' of sorts before lunch, with table top presentations highlighting each of the programs offered at the school.  They were so poised, friendly, engaging and interesting.  They shared their excitement for their school and their individual program as well as any professional presenter I have met.

According to the principal's page on the website, programs include Auto Service, Construction, Health Care Services, Professional Food Service, Landscaping/Grounds Maintenance, Hospitality Services, Horticulture, Business Procedures, Marketing/Retail Services, Production & Distribution, Reading Enrichment and Early Childhood.

"In addition to each program, students acquire skills in: Completing On-line Job Applications, Interviewing Techniques, Job and Career Search Techniques, Developing Appropriate Work Habits and Grooming Standards to meet industry standards. They work closely with our business community to ensure that students have the best possible preparation for the world of work. Most students learn from hands on experience in the work industry. Each vocational program consists of team members (teacher/job coach) who accompany the participating students during the school day to the work site. Students engage in performance learning skill development at the employer's site. Curriculum and instruction are determined by the Individual Educational Plan (IEP). Warren Tech works closely with parents, the home school teachers and the administration team, as well as the business community. Each student is required to have an IEP and a transitional plan. This plan outlines any activities that the student will undertake in preparation for entering the work force and becoming an independent, contributing citizen. Most students will receive assistance from Georgia's Vocational Rehabilitation after graduation."

If you have time, visit the Warren Tech campus in Chamblee near Mercer University. If you know of a student who may benefit from this program, please pass this information on. Once you get a glimpse of the work being done at this wonderful school you will not be able to walk away without deciding to become a supporter.

Click here to check out the Warren Tech Foundation.  Ask your company to consider supporting this school as they have many needs.  Consider making a donation yourself as we move into the holiday season.  It's a gift you can be sure will make a difference in the life of a young person.

A Choice Worth Choosing! Cross Keys offers some very special programs

For all the angst over the poor choices offered to ESEA (also known as NCLB or AYP) transfers, we wanted to promote an alternative for motivated students who really want to grab an opportunity for a terrific educational experience.

Cross Keys High School was just granted permission over the summer to offer a very new, high tech high school program starting this fall (yes - as in 2 weeks!) There are still spaces available, so if you find these interesting choices, call your home school counselor or principal ASAP and ask to apply for a transfer. (BTW, Cross Keys is within a short walking distance of the Brookhaven MARTA station.)

First, as Kim Gokce told us in a previous post, CKHS will be offering an "amazing program to be launched this fall at Cross Keys HS that is available to students from Dunwoody HS, Chamblee Charter HS, Cross Keys HS, Tucker HS, Lakeside HS, Clarkston HS, Stone Mountain HS and Druid Hills HS. The Remote Automation Management Project (RAMP) will be offered via a partnership between DeKalb County Schools and Moultrie Tech."

"Moultrie Tech is only the second site in the United States to become a platform for this type of innovative instructional support for robotics and automation. Cross Keys HS is the second site in Georgia to become part of the Moultrie program (I believe Forsyth may be the first)."

"A nationally recognized instructor, Patrick Gunter, has been hired by DCSS and assigned to Cross Keys to lead the class on site. I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Gunter on the day of his contract signing and can tell you that he is the sort of mentor and thought leader to which you want your kids to have access. Students will also have video conferencing access to Moultrie Tech faculty for support of their hands-on work with a $40,000 piece of SMC Corp robotics."

Read more and watch the video about the program here:

RAMP Comes to Cross Keys to Serve Area High Schoolers

Kim is spot-on with his enthusiasm. Mr. Gunter is an incredibly gifted teacher and scientist. Any student fortunate enough to work under his tutelage will do very well in the future.

But wait - there's more!

Mr. Gunter also serves as an advisor to the GT SolarJackets car team, and he is bringing GT student mentors for the CK teams. Read Kim's post about the solar car competition at this link:

CK Update: Here Comes the Sun

"Interested in joining the Cross Keys' solar car team or one of the two planned robotics teams Mr. Gunter will coach?

Parents and students should attend the 7:00 pm, August 9, 2011 Parent Meeting for the 2011/2012 GATSA at Cross Keys High School. Students participating in the GATSA must commit to working 3-4 days a week after school from 3:30 – 6:30 pm. Joining the GATSA is about a $15 proposition annually and families will need to support some travel expenses for their child for competitions. Private assistance available to support participation."

Like I said, there are spaces available in this program. If you are seeking a transfer - or simply a hands-on high tech high school education and the leadership of a highly regarded scientist/teacher, check out this new program at Cross Keys High School!

===
Contact Kim Gokce, m: 678-361-4200, or Mr. Gunter, m: 864-590-9004, for details and to keep up with engineering and technology options at CK!

CK Update: Here Comes the Sun

A simple, but encouraging post for everyone's weekend ...

CK's newest faculty member, Patrick Gunter, is returning from the Texas Motor Speedway this week after judging the 2011 Solar Car Challenge. Next week, he is finalizing the setup of the CK labs and, as an advisor to the GT SolarJackets car team, he is bringing GT student mentors for the CK teams.

Interested in joining the Cross Keys' solar car team or one of the two planned robotics teams Mr. Gunter will coach? Parents and students should attend the 7:00 pm, August 9, 2011 Parent Meeting for the 2011/2012 GATSA at Cross Keys High School. Students participating in the GATSA must commit to working 3-4 days a week after school from 3:30 – 6:30 pm. Joining the GATSA is about a $15 proposition annually and families will need to support some travel expenses for their child for competitions. Private assistance available to support participation.


Remember, Mr. Gunter's Material Sciences and Automation courses, as well as additional Interactive Media Pathway courses and the teams being formed are available to students from ten area high schools. So whether you hail from Dunwoody or Clarkston or Druid Hills, this is an extraordinary opportunity for your child!

Contact me, Kim Gokce, m: 678-361-4200, or Mr. Gunter, m: 864-590-9004, for details and to keep up with engineering and technology options at CK!

Harvard Study Questions Lack of Vocational Education

According to a new Harvard study, American students lack vocational skills that would help them in obtaining jobs that do not require a college degree. Inspired by the European educational system, the study contends that students should begin planning their future career path as early as their middle-school years. If the students determine that they are no planning to pursue a 4-year college degree, then they should begin vocational training, perhaps even earlier.

For those who may question the proposition of pushing kids into vocational programs for fear of their being held to lesser expectations, the authors offer another perspective. Is it no more inappropriate to push difficult college-preparatory courses on students who have absolutely no intention of pursuing a college career? Regardless, the authors feel that students should have the option of changing their educational and career paths at their own discretion.

Robert Schwartz, one of the study’s co-authors was previously a champion of the “college for all” approach to education.

According to higher education policy analyst Sandy Baum, in a world where plumbers are needed, we shouldn’t “be nervous about directing people in that route.” The idea, in his mind, should be to enhance and create opportunities and options for everyone. Baum added, “What we’d like is a system where people of all backgrounds could choose to be plumbers or philosophers.” Baum’s contention is that the options should be available.

===

The study, "Pathways to Prosperity," states that the current system of education is not adequately preparing students for the real world, said project director William C. Symonds, The Harvard Crimson reported.

"The 'one-size-fits-all' model just doesn't work for everybody," Symonds said. "There's a variety of pathways to success."

Spearheaded by Harvard Graduate School of Education Professor Robert B. Schwartz, the report found that "many young adults lack the skills and work ethic needed for many jobs that pay a middle-class wage" and noted that the teen employment rate is 28.6 percent, the lowest it has been since the Great Depression.

===

Harvard Study Questions Lack of Vocational Education

Pathways to Prosperity Seeks to Redefine American Education System

Harvard report says students need to be better prepared for college