Ypsilanti's New Tech High School awarded distinction as a national demonstration site
Ypsilanti's New Tech High School was named one of 30 national demonstration sites and will serve as a model school for districts considering implementing a New Tech school.
Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com
Cory McElmeel, director of Ypsilanti New Tech High School @ Ardis, said being considered among the New Tech model schools was another step in the development of the school, which opened at the beginning of the 2010-11 school year.
"With any new program there will be growing pains, however our team of educators and staff worked exceptionally hard to create a strong and viable model that will now serve as an example to others," McElmeel said in a statement.
The school will be welcoming its second class of students in the coming school year, and will have only a freshman and sophomore class. The school is based on the New Tech model, which focuses on project-based learning to help students prepare for working in the real world, according to school officials. The school also has an emphasis on technology and collaboration with other students.
By becoming a model school for other districts considering a New Tech school, the high school will host tours and meetings to discuss how the Ypsilanti school's staff operates and what they believe makes it successful.
The first New Tech program was formed in 1996 in Napa, Calif. and now has more than 62 high schools in 14 states around the country. Locally, Willow Run High School is switching to a New Tech model in the 2011-12 school year.
Ypsilanti schools superintendent Dedrick Martin said the decision to bring in New Tech to the district's high school options is helping YPS adjust to the expanding demands placed on public school systems.
"Our district faces many economic challenges, yet we recognized the need to expand our secondary options," Martin said in a statement. "We examined the components of the New Tech model and felt it would be a good fit for our diverse community and moved forward with the implementation... We are very proud of what has been accomplished in a short span of time."
Kyle Feldscher covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
scott
Thu, Aug 4, 2011 : 12:50 p.m.
Isn't it sad that this is the best we can come up with....? How can people not be more upset with whomever is "running" the show in education. What does the Dept. of Ed. do exactly?
Corky
Thu, Aug 4, 2011 : 8:48 p.m.
Please excuse the typos in my previous response. I was in a hurry!
Corky
Thu, Aug 4, 2011 : 3:15 p.m.
Why is this sad? I think it's great news that one of our local school is receiving recognition and trying to do something positive and different for our students. Whether the government is doing a good job or not....this school is working hard to provide students with an engaging, relevant, smaller learning community. I, for one, and thankful for that!