03-04 Tech Prep Exemplary
Site
Columbus High
School
East
Mississippi Community College Consortium
The Tech Prep Exemplary Site Selection Committee made note of the commitment of all stakeholders in working closely with business and industry. While higher expectations were set in both academic and vocational classes, the following are outstanding examples of community and business/industry involvement in providing opportunities for creative integration projects between disciplines:
ü
A strong, highly
involved counseling program to provide career guidance in grades 7-12 and a very
challenging course of study.
ü
Increase in
graduation requirements to 24 units.
ü
Rigor and
relevance through required written and oral presentations by high school, middle
school, and career/technical teachers.
Career and technical classes require completers to present a capstone
project that involves an individual student project, written report, and an oral
presentation.
ü
Strong district
funding to maintain and upgrade all Discovery programs, the Career Center and
the Technology Center. The local
school board provided $40,000 to add the additional full-time occupational
skills teacher slot to re-open the carpentry occupational skills program for the
2003-2004 school year. The district
also expended $32,000 in local funds to provide instructional supplies for
occupational skills programs.
ü
Four
district-required integrated activities each year by all middle and high school
teachers. The district provides
joint planning time once a month.
ü
A heavy emphasis
placed on academic skills within the vocational curriculum. The vocational director advocates,
encourages and actively participates with teachers in planning and implementing
strategies to incorporate higher levels of math, science, and communication
skills. Industry representatives
reviewed the vocational curriculum for each program. Teachers used the contextual academic
standards that were correlated in the state vocational curriculum to plan weekly
lesson plans.
ü
All second-year
occupational skills students participated in job shadowing with local
businesses. Two Allied Health and
Child Care classes job shadow on a weekly basis. Academic and vocational students
participated in the annual Groundhog Day job-shadowing
program.
ü
A
community-based mentoring program includes seniors who are required to document
a minimum of 100 hours of mentoring service. Last year, 35 high school seniors
completed 100 hours or more of mentoring and coaching and subsequently applied
for scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $5,000.
ü
The involvement
of twenty-four teachers in “Educator Workplace Internships” provided by East
Mississippi Community College.
ü
Strong
articulation agreements between Columbus High School and East Ms. Community
College including advanced placement credit and dual
enrollment.
ü
An
across-the-board program of “Extra Help” for all students.
ü
Agriculture
Science students developed and maintained an outdoor classroom at Cook
Elementary School.
At the March
18, 2005 State Board of Education meeting, Dr. Henry John, State Superintendent
of Education looks on as Mr. John Baas, Director of Industrial Relations, MS
Manufacturers Association, presents a plaque and check in the amount of $1,000
to Dr.
Lester Beason, Superintendent of Columbus School District. In addition, present
for the ceremony were Cindy Johnson, Tech Prep Coordinator, East MS Community
College, Mr. Bob Williford, Principal, Columbus High School, Mr. Robert Keenum,
Lee Middle School Principal, Ms. LaNell Kellum, Tech Prep Contact and Vocational
Director and Ms. Vinita Long, Career Center Manager.
Mr. James E. Sardin, Associate
Superintendent, Office of Vocational/Technical Education,
Dr.
Samuel McGee, Bureau Director, Vocational Instructional Development,
Chris
B. Wall, Division Director, Tech Prep Office
and
the Tech Prep Office staff are grateful to Columbus High School for their
commitment to Tech Prep in Mississippi!
Page
last modified
04/10/05