Something New Is Heading Your Way

1. Something New Is Heading Your Way!!! FUSION AcademyRevealed

2. What is FUSION? According to the dictionary, FUSION is the merging of different elements into a union. The FUSION Academy at Blackman High School is a perfect blend of multiple disciplines resulting in �An Enhanced Career Experience� incorporating real-world business partnerships with student-centered learning activities. Service learning projects and opportunities are integrated into every grade level of the Academy experience. What began as an idea for an academy that would integrate the career disciplines of Marketing, Hospitality, and Mass Communications has quickly evolved into the FUSION experience. By incorporating service learning and business partnerships into the core of the Academy curriculum, we are establishing an innovative learning experience for our students and faculty alike.What began as an idea for an academy that would integrate the career disciplines of Marketing, Hospitality, and Mass Communications has quickly evolved into the FUSION experience. By incorporating service learning and business partnerships into the core of the Academy curriculum, we are establishing an innovative learning experience for our students and faculty alike.

3. Current Snapshot Opening in August, 2008 with 450 students Established initial 9th grade Exploration course Capstone Senior Project course CLEP tests to be used to provide college credit opportunities Honors Communication for Life under consideration for Dual Credit The FUSION Academy will begin classes in the August 2008 with 450 students at all four grade levels (9-12) The FUSION Exploration course 150 students that will rotate for the year through six different teachers (each presenting an overview of their discipline) Working in groups of four or five, students will work on one project for the entire year, approaching it from each discipline�s perspective An example is �The Manhattan Project Wedding Event Planners� in the Culinary Arts section will develop sample menus and recipes for a Bridal Show event highlighting their company. In the Graphic Communications section, students will develop a logo, print ads, and t-shirt for their design for the same project. Radio and TV section will allow students to produce a commercial for their company, a web site will be developed during the Web Design Section of the course, and overall branding considerations will be addressed during the Marketing section. In the spring, students will produce a �Showcase� event for friends, family, faculty, and administration in a trade show environment Senior Project Course This course will bring students from each of the different disciplines within the Academy back into a classroom to complete their senior research project Course will be taken concurrently with their 3rd year pathway course Student research will be centered on solving a problem within their community while working with community leaders as mentors and presenting proposals to be implemented Students will implement work together as a team to implement proposal ideas, each acting as the �expert� from their focus area Due to issues working with MTSU to establish Dual Credit opportunities for Business students, the CLEP test opportunities have been initiated in the interim. Tests offered include: Introduction to Marketing, and Introduction to Management Established educators in Communication for Life are working with representatives from MTSU to prepare that course for Dual Credit hopefully during the 2009-2010 school year.The FUSION Academy will begin classes in the August 2008 with 450 students at all four grade levels (9-12) The FUSION Exploration course 150 students that will rotate for the year through six different teachers (each presenting an overview of their discipline) Working in groups of four or five, students will work on one project for the entire year, approaching it from each discipline�s perspective An example is �The Manhattan Project Wedding Event Planners� in the Culinary Arts section will develop sample menus and recipes for a Bridal Show event highlighting their company. In the Graphic Communications section, students will develop a logo, print ads, and t-shirt for their design for the same project. Radio and TV section will allow students to produce a commercial for their company, a web site will be developed during the Web Design Section of the course, and overall branding considerations will be addressed during the Marketing section. In the spring, students will produce a �Showcase� event for friends, family, faculty, and administration in a trade show environment Senior Project Course This course will bring students from each of the different disciplines within the Academy back into a classroom to complete their senior research project Course will be taken concurrently with their 3rd year pathway course Student research will be centered on solving a problem within their community while working with community leaders as mentors and presenting proposals to be implemented Students will implement work together as a team to implement proposal ideas, each acting as the �expert� from their focus area Due to issues working with MTSU to establish Dual Credit opportunities for Business students, the CLEP test opportunities have been initiated in the interim. Tests offered include: Introduction to Marketing, and Introduction to Management Established educators in Communication for Life are working with representatives from MTSU to prepare that course for Dual Credit hopefully during the 2009-2010 school year.

4. Grant Modifications The initial desire to establish true Dual Credit opportunities for Marketing and Entrepreneurship students were modified. MTSU College of Business was unwilling to even participate in a meeting regarding the possibility. Temporary work-around was established by using CLEP testing opportunities for students. Tests available for Introduction to Management Introduction to Marketing

5. Show me the money Budget funds were expended as specified in the budget narrative One wireless lab of 26 laptops was purchased to be shared by the Fusion Academy teachers (funds were not available for two labs) Word and Adobe Creative Suites 3.0 were purchase for the wireless lab Supplemental reading and reference materials were purchased as proposed Professional development was provided for attendance at conferences Printers, projectors, and screens were purchased for Academy teachers who did not have the current technology Local funds were used to provide substitutes for Academy planning

6. Project Timeline We had one year to prepare this Academy for opening and feel that was ample time for planning The only change made to the Grant timeline centered around the Dual Credit offerings MTSU roadblocks dictated the change in that part of the timeline There is still a tremendous amount of work and planning to be done to develop Leadership Seminars and enhance cross-curricular projects for students Academy faculty is continuing planning and implementation strategies for the upcoming year

7. Success and Challenge Review Successes Students and parents are extremely excited about the innovative opportunities presented by FUSION Two new courses have been approved by the State (FUSION Exploration and Senior Project) Challenges Finding time within the school year to work on developing the project Learning how to navigate the State office to establish the new courses Convincing the College of Business at MTSU to open communication about Dual Credit courses

8. How to make it better My own naivet� about how difficult it would be to manage a project involving this many representatives from different disciplines and perspectives was a surprise A stronger understanding of how the State Department of Education works would be useful Open communication with MTSU College of Business would have eliminated most of the challenges we faced

9. Final Thoughts This grant has presented the FUSION faculty with a tremendous opportunity for innovation and change within our school. These forward-thinking strategies will continue to develop over the next few years. Taking the steps toward making this a reality has re-energized students and faculty alike. Best comment overheard (from two students walking down school hall)� �I can�t wait for Senior Project next year, I will really get to USE what I have learned! Can you imagine, USING something you learned in school?�

10. Transitioning from Secondary to Postsecondary Education in CTE Kay Nixon, Project Manager Rutherford County Board of Education 2240 Southpark Blvd. Murfreesboro, TN 37128 615-893-5815 X 22083

11. Transition Progress: Two teachers are registered for the CLEP Prep course for Principles of Management Four teachers are registered for the CLEP Prep course for Principles of Marketing Two brochures are being printed to share with parents and students about this opportunity

12. Marketing II, Entrepreneurship and Virtual Enterprises International� CLEP in Principles of Marketing 3.0 GPA OR 22 ACT Be Admitted to MTSU ($25) Cost of Test $90 Pass Test � 3 Hours Credit Transition Progress: 

13. Transition Progress:  Virtual Enterprises International� via CLEP in Principles of Management 3.0 GPA OR 22 ACT Be Admitted to MTSU ($25) Cost of Test $90 Pass Test � 3 Hours Credit

14. Transition Progress:

15. MTSU Personal Finance On-Line Course 3.0 GPA OR 22 ACT Be Admitted to MTSU ($25) Students Pay Regular Tuition and On-Line Fees Students Can Apply for Lottery Dual Enrollment Scholarship for $300 Students Receive 3 Hours Credit University of Tennessee Martin Personal Finance Dual Enrollment for Finance 160: Financial Planning 3.0 GPA Use $300 Dual Credit Grant Reduced Fees Transition Progress: 

16. Currently Working With Motlow State Community College to Explore Dual Enrollment Opportunities Be Admitted to Motlow Students Pay Regular Tuition Students Can Apply for Lottery Dual Enrollment Scholarship for $300 Students Receive 3 Hours Credit Cost around $50 Transition Progress: 

17. Health Science � Certified Nursing Assistant For Graduating Seniors June 17 � July 22, 2008 6 Hours Per Day for 22 Days Week of July 4 Off Cost is $500 Receive CNA Certificate Upon Completion No students participated due to the cost Transition Progress: 

18. Modifications: Changed focus from Business Technology to any CTE postsecondary transition The postsecondary faculty at Middle Tennessee State University College of Business, after signing off on the grant, refused to provide any secondary transition options.

19. Budget Expenditures: A Budget Amendment was submitted on March 3 in order to expand the focus of the grant A Final Budget Amendment was submitted on May 30 in order to have line items reflect the actual amount spent All grant funds were expended

20. Timeframe: The timeframe by the state was reasonable Our timeline was impossible to meet until we changed the focus due to the lack of participation by the MTSU College of Business

21. Greatest Success: Connecting to the proper people at MTSU to make the transitions possible Executive Vice President & Provost Kaylene Gebert Mike Boyle, Dean, College of Continuing Education and Distance Learning Molly Culbreath, Dual Enrollment Coordinator Convincing MTSU to apply for a Public Chapter 429 Pilot The only thing that would have made the project /process better would have been to connect with the above people earlier in the process