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Reflections of a First Year Academy

Reflections of a First Year Academy. What we learned in one very, very short year. First, the Background Info. Our Academy focus is: Alternative and Renewable Energy Solar, Wind, Biofuels, Biomass, Geothermal, Hydro, Nuclear, Green Construction, Energy Management

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Reflections of a First Year Academy

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  1. Reflections of a First Year Academy What we learned in one very, very short year

  2. First, the Background Info Our Academy focus is: Alternative and Renewable Energy Solar, Wind, Biofuels, Biomass, Geothermal, Hydro, Nuclear, Green Construction, Energy Management Our two CTE instructors have Automotive, Construction, and Electronics teaching experience We wrote several CPA and SSP grants for three years before success We are in middle of our second year Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  3. More Background Porterville is roughly halfway between Fresno and Bakersfield with a 50k population, with four other Comprehensive High Schools within PUSD Our school size is approximately 1750 Our campus also has a Business/Finance Academy and a Health Careers Academy. Our district is involved in the ConnectEd Multiple Pathway Program funded by the Irvine Foundation Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  4. Important things we have learned along the way… Keep a list or file of ideas to put ideas into. Remember you will always be learning new ways to You have to try them to figure out what does and doesn’t work. Here are 13 items we learned…some the hard way. Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  5. 1. Allow enough time to plan Schedule time sessions during the day away from campus for planning Hold regular meetings-get people into the routine of a regular meeting date Incentivize meeting attendance In a perfect world, all academy teachers would have two prep periods but that’s probably not going to happen Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  6. 2. Build student teamwork Academy students need to know right away they are part of a team for the next three years (they will realize this fact their second year, but you don’t want to lose them before that) Have your older students mentor the newer students during field trips, combined class activities, and cross curriculum integrated projects. Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  7. 3. Building teacher teamwork Include academic teachers in your CTE projects Plan and layout proposed projects for the CTE project. Work backwards from finished project and integrate all areas into project Provide materials and equipment for the academic classrooms to help enforce focus of the Academy Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  8. Building teacher teamwork cont’d Show that Energy Curriculum can match their respective State Standards Include all class teachers on field trip/site visits All teachers need to feel equal on decision making processes, yet academy focus needs to evident in these decisions

  9. Parent Involvement As students learn about new technologies and practices, some of these make their way into the student’s home (ex. Recycling, increased use of CFL bulbs, utility bill questions, etc). There might be questions from home. Use this to your advantage Make parents aware of field trips, etc..they might wish to attend (perfect “family” time) Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  10. 4. Incentivize Student Performance Provide rewards! (pizza always works) Try a Monthly field trip with eligibility based on 2.0 GPA. We have had success with kids working harder to bring up their grades to be able go on trips. The off-campus experiences are valuable as they validate what you have been teaching in the classroom Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  11. 5. Serve true “at-risk” kids Resist the natural inclination to hand pick the middle to high kids because…. CPA’s are designed to help the at risk kid succeed For the most part…these students may surprise you (ask us about our API score!) Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  12. 6. Get your academic teachers on board YOU have to ask them how you can help and then do it Provide time and supplies and money Prove to them being an Academy teacher is a good thing (this is not always easy) They may need to be taught your content just like the kids (they may not ask) Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  13. Examples Provide in-service, training on how specific technology works. Example-Solar PV, IC Engine Theory, construction basics, etc Technology/Materials object display in non-CTE classrooms Provide release time for teachers to observe other classrooms in action for team-teaching opportunity Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  14. 7. Develop realistic projects Don’t play school, do it for real! (that takes money…but spend it. That’s what its for) Go after grants until you get what you need.. Don’t quit! After all, all the worst they can say is no Use advisory teams to structure the focus of intended projects Advertise these projects throughout the community and advisory teams Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  15. 8. A good counselor is worth their weight in gold They are vital to the program Get yours to the CPA conference! Involve them in activities, but you might have to ask them! Use them for leverage with students Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  16. 9. Get Academy staff off campus The Energy sector is evolving very fast. Make sure all teachers are aware of new technologies Get out in the real world and make contacts and keep yourself fresh and up to date Remember…your school can survive one day without you. Also, what you learn will make the classroom operate more realistically to the outside world Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  17. 10. Be sure to market your program You cannot run your academy without students…You have to be constantly marketing your program Many CTE teachers are not good at marketing.. we are “too busy teaching”. Make sure projects and student activities are properly advertised. Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  18. Marketing ideas (cont’d) Make sure students have input on how to advertise projects Banners, brochures, activities (local fair, etc) Use service clubs to give students presentation experiences. Also makes your community more aware of your Academy and its focus. Community Service activities Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  19. 11. The internet is your friend Teachertube Youtube Slideshare GREENR EnergyKids Kidwind.org Alternative-energy-news.info Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  20. 12. Get clerical help You will need help with all the details Good help can do scheduling, make contacts, prepare newsletters Clearly communicate what needs to be done Schedule time to where direction can be given Remember, you really don’t have time to do all this by yourself Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  21. 13. Don’t be afraid to ask for help Academy teachers can help each other Academy administrator team at the CPA can help Advisory members really want more input. Even if they say they’re busy, ask anyway Partner with other students groups on select activities Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  22. AERO Focus-10th grade Energy production and usage, types of renewable/alternative energies World geography and types of energy used throughout the world Size and scope of types of Renewable/Alternative Energies Careers within these technologies Post-secondary education Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  23. AERO Focus-11th grade Introduction to Automotive theory and how new technologies are integrated into current automotive trends ICE Engine theory, new and future engine theories, fuels, etc Hands-on projects Careers opportunities Post-secondary education Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  24. AERO Focus 12th grade (2011-2012 school year) Construction Building Trades curriculum “green” construction, residential/commercial building design, LEED certification, energy management AERO’s “BIG” project Career/college prep Post-secondary education Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  25. OK So…What we are doing On-site solar farm done with $25k grant from SCE Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  26. What are we doing Wind Power Wind turbine models in prep for AWEA show in Anaheim in May Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  27. Field trip to Zero Motorcycles Visited “factory” to see new technology Surprised many “riders” Great outreach for interested students Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  28. What are we doing Ethanol Drag Car Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  29. AERO Academy/PHS Motorsports Drag Racing car Converting from gasoline to E85 Ethanol fuel Increased power, cleaner emissions Vehicle is student-built and operated Allows increased awareness of AERO Academy within PHS and surrounding community. Six AERO students currently on PHS Motorsports student race team) Great Marketing Tool! Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  30. Other things are we doing Gasoline to Electric car conversion (VW Karman Ghia) Ethanol production (Emerald Energy, Sierra Nevada Brewery…still pending) Bio-diesel/SVO fuel durability testing. Electric Drag Racing pickup Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  31. Teachers installed solar on two homes with Grid Alternatives Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  32. Field Trip to Edison Energy Center Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  33. Outside display Please check out the PHS Motorsports/AERO Academy drag racing car display located Outside the presentation room

  34. Field Trip to Porterville Solar dedication 6.7 megawatts Porterville High School AERO Alternative Energy Related Occupations

  35. Question and Answer period • Alternative Energy Resources Occupations (AERO)Academy • Porterville High School 465 West Olive Avenue Porterville, CA 93257 (559)793-3437 • Principal-Steve Graybehl • CTE Teachers-Brad Collins & Tom Reed • phsgearhead@hotmail.com • brad.collins@portervilleschools.org • treed@portervilleschools.org

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