FY-2007 Innovation Grant Award Recipients

Award Recipients

Amount

The purpose of CyberCamp4Teachers is to build capacity within secondary teachers and counselors to implement the Nebraska Career Education (NCE) Career Fields/Clusters Model in the field of Communication and Information Systems. The goals to be accomplished are to:

1. • Create technology based lesson plans to incorporate into secondary curricula
2. • Implement a 3-location CyberCamp for 45 NCE teachers and counselors
3. • Provide resources to build capacity of workshop participants to implement the NCE Model
4. • Disseminate results of CyberCamp4Teachers at a variety of events

It is anticipated that this project will continue to strengthen the link between secondary and postsecondary partners and provide Nebraska students with the desired information that will develop a successful career path.

$40,000

Educational Service Units 1, 10 and 17 will continue their collaboration in building capacity via professional learning committees in five school districts that volunteered to participate in this project. Broken Bow, Cody-Kilgore, Laurel-Concord, Pleasanton, and Wausau worked together this past fiscal year to expand professional development and develop a plan for integrating and implementing the Nebraska Career Fields Model into their K-12 district curriculum. This grant will allow these five schools to execute their plan this fiscal year.

Each district will identify a coordinator to orchestrate their plan throughout the school year. District coordinators will continue as members of the local district professional learning community and collaborate between project schools, ESUs and NDE. The learning committees will discuss professional readings and participate in the planning, organizing, and completion of grant activities. Districts will conduct all faculty professional development meetings at least once each semester.

$40,000

TECHS Works is a technology course offered by the ESU #10 technology team for the purpose of connecting the knowledge and skills needed within the Communication and Information Systems Cluster to a career pathway in support of a related career specialty. This grant will allow the expansion of the TECHS curriculum and allow for more schools/ESUs to offer the course. TECHS will be delivered in an asynchronous or on demand format. Asynchronous delivery of the course will be made available through the course management program myelearning. The curriculum will be aligned with postsecondary education for articulation between secondary/postsecondary education.

$36,530

The purposes of the Islander Portfolio Project are to improve high school teacher’s and counselor’s awareness of available local careers within the NCE Career Fields/Clusters Model by having them participate in site visits to businesses, to provide professional development for high school staff members concerning portfolios, to establish the format and computer infrastructure needed to create portfolios for every senior at Grand Island Senior High School as a part of their personal learning plans (PLPs), and to create portfolios for a pilot group of seniors.

In the summer of 2006, a group of high school teachers and counselors will spend 2.5 days visiting local businesses representing the six fields in the NCE Career Fields/Cluster Model. Also an 8-person staff team comprised of teachers, counselors, and administrators will finalize what components will be included in student portfolios, with the portfolio integrated into Infinite Campus, the district’s Web-based student information management system. GISH will work with a computer consultant to integrate creation of portfolios into Infinite Campus. During the second semester a pilot group of 30 seniors will create portfolios. The project will target improving core indicators in academic attainment, vocational skill attainment, placement, and 4-year postsecondary enrollment.

$39,893

The purposes of the Islander Personal Learning Plan Project are to align the high school’s student course planning guide with the NCE Career Fields/Clusters model and to provide professional development for high school staff members for every student at Grand Island Senior High School. In the summer of 2006, a high school staff committee will meet for 4.5 days to learn about PLPs and to reorganize the high school’s student course planning guide so it corresponds with the six fields in the NCE Career Fields/Clusters Model. In September 2006, all GISH teachers, counselors, and administrators will participate in a one-day professional development activity where they receive an overview of PLPs and how they will be used at the high school. GISH teachers and administrators will visit the Millard Schools to discuss the school districts’ implementation of PLPs using Infinite Campus, a web-based student information management system. During the 2006-07 school year, GISH will work with a computer consultant to create PLP forms consistent with the Nebraska Career Education model of a PLP that can be integrated with the existing PLP tab available on Infinite Campus. Actual implementation of PLPs for students would begin in the 2007-08 school year.

$39,985

This grant will allow for the creation of a broadcast journalism class for students wanting to pursue a career in audio/visual production, journalism and broadcasting. Students will understand and practice methods necessary to creatively deliver their thoughts and ideas that will cause the intended audience to direct positive attention to their products, whether visual, audio, written, interactive computer presentation, the Internet, distance learning, or other multiple means. Special emphasis will be given to developing programming in Spanish that can be used to communicate messages about our school and the value of education to all patrons of our school district.

$40,000

Northeast Community College (NECC) proposes to increase interest and opportunities for secondary students in the fields of engineering and technology. The proposed project “Increasing Capacity in Pre-engineering” incorporates several areas of the Nebraska Career Education plan. The project will have three core components. The first is the development of a “Careers in Engineering” DVD and supporting materials that will enable secondary teachers and guidance counselors to better advise and prepare students for this career path. The second is the “Activity-based Math/Science” Workshop for junior high and senior high math and science teachers, to provide the opportunity to integrate activities and technology into existing courses in order to promote student interest and learning. The third is to establish a “guest instructor” initiative where NECC faculty will go out to area schools to have students perform activities related to their current course content with applications for engineering and other related fields. While at the schools, the faculty will be able to provide students, teachers, and counselors with information so the students are better prepared to enter a pre-engineering program.

$39,800

Northeast Community College (NECC) proposes to expand career and technical opportunities for students in electromechanical technology, irrigation technology, electrical construction and control, and welding. The proposed project addresses multiple areas of Nebraska Career Education and FutureForce Nebraska. The project will enable NECC instructors to conduct on-site training for guidance counselors, math instructors, and content instructors on campus. NECC will work with 18-25 schools to promote the career fields and opportunities.

The Train the Trainer workshops will assist secondary instructors in preparing their students for entering the different technical fields at Northeast Community College (NECC) and allow for hands-on learning opportunities for the instructors to increase their knowledge in each of the career fields. Secondary students will have opportunities to interact with NECC instructors and business/industry leaders in the different fields during the scheduled visits. The Industrial Technology (IT) Career Show on the Road will allow students and high school instructors to see first-hand what the different career fields involve on a daily basis and what the job opportunities are in these growing fields. A Road to Success trailer that will have different booths at which students can interact to gain knowledge of what each technical field involves. This plan is designed to expand interest in different technical fields and meet the growing demands of employers in the area.

$40,000

The Papillion-LaVista Schools Career Education program has represented a vocational education model that is in the process of being updated. As a result of Nebraska Career Education reorganization of curriculum and instruction around the six career fields, and then the breakdown into clusters, pathways and specific occupations, Papillion-La Vista recognizes the need to reorganize curriculum and instruction.

Papillion-LaVista School District has a structured process (Curriculum Toolbox) developed to review and plan a K-12 focus for each curriculum area. Through this process, a group of Papillion LaVista teachers review the entire curriculum in one particular curricular area (Business/Marketing, Family Consumer Sciences, and Industrial Technology). This review looks at current practices and best practices, select course materials, determine standards and assessments, and provide direction for the curriculum area. This project will provide the opportunity to keep what is working, and develop a new Career Education model that meets the needs of our students, and business community. Our goal is to provide a sequence of courses that address 10-12 of the national Career Clusters. During the 2005-2006 school year Papillion LaVista Schools focused on the Family and Consumer Sciences area, and adopted three career clusters. For the 2006-2007 school year the goal is to focus on Industrial Education, taking them through the process and developing 3-4 career clusters.

$40,000

The purpose of the Sarpy County Education Program is to provide an alternative placement for students excluded from their home schools for serious and dangerous behaviors. The program serves students from the following Sarpy County school districts: Bellevue, Gretna, Omaha Bryan, Papillion-LaVista, South Sarpy District 46, and distant rural school districts. A high percentage of the students enrolled in the program have had difficulty staying out of the judicial system and have repeatedly made the same mistakes once they return to their home schools. Many face substantial barriers to employment as a direct consequence of their educational disabilities and lack of industry appropriate job skills.

Sarpy County Education Program and Metro Community College will address this issue by implementing a mentor program to challenge adjudicated and expelled students at risk of educational failure to fulfill their academic and personal potential. A major focus will be to utilize the Nebraska Career Education (NCE) model and Personal Learning Plans for all students in the program. Students will receive employability skills instruction and career counseling that is designed to develop the skills needed to become employable, acquire knowledge about career clusters and refine decision making skills. Metro Community College students pursuing a degree in social/human services will have the opportunity to be a mentor to secondary students. The goal is for each student participant to graduate from high school with demonstrated employability skills, a well-defined occupational focus, and a plan for further education. The mentors serve as positive role models and provide support their partners need to provide instruction in life and social skills that are necessary in order to change negative attitudes and behaviors. An essential element of program design is to teach students that basic skills are necessary and used in the workplace.

$35,952

Southeast Community College proposes to improve career education by developing a model for increasing college aspirations and enrollment by high school Career and Technical Education students. The model will be called College and Career Road Shows. Rather than expecting high schools to spend time and money to bring students to the college campus for college/career exploration, approximately 40 community college faculty and staff will travel to a high school campus to help students understand Career Clusters and the full scope of career and educational and career opportunities available to them, including emerging and existing high-demand occupations, potential employers, average starting salaries, and solutions to college enrollment barriers.

The Road Show concept will be piloted with 10 rural schools reaching approximately 300 students. Schools served include: Geneva, Sutton, Exeter-Milligan, Bruning-Davenport, McCool Junction, Friend, Heartland Community (Henderson), Clay Center, Dorchester, and Meridian. The purposes of the project will be (a) to increase student aspirations for college; (b) to increase college enrollment among the target schools’ CTE population; and (c) to expand the use of career clusters for career and college planning. New PowerPoint presentations will be prepared around the Career Fields/Clusters, new SCC Cluster brochures will be presented to students, and a new model for career exploration-“The Road Show” will be tested. The Road Show will include three segments: (1) cluster exploration with SCC faculty; (2) an EducationQuest session on financing college; (3) a motivational speaker session. A take-home packet to share with families will include the new Cluster brochure. The College will conduct follow up with all students who complete prospect information. Expected outcomes are 300 students experiencing high quality exploration activities and an increase from 43% enrollment in 2-year colleges to 50% in the target schools.

$16,039

Southeast Community College and Lincoln Public Schools propose to enrich the Nebraska Career Fields/Clusters model through professional development for secondary and postsecondary instructors and administrators. The purpose of the professional development activities will be to increase knowledge and skill for teaching entrepreneurship and developing student entrepreneurial talents. The project will accomplish this purpose through:

1. • Training for rural secondary schools through six regional presentations in the state. A team of SCC and LPS faculty will meet with teachers and administrators to discuss rationale for entrepreneurship in the career fields/clusters, how to develop new curricula or imbed information in current curricula, where to find resources, how to encourage student entrepreneurial ventures, cooperation with student organizations, dual and college credit, postsecondary articulation, and other topics of interest to the secondary schools.
2. • Presenting a pre-session at the NCE Conference in June to introduce secondary and postsecondary participants to entrepreneurship education as an option within the career fields/clusters model; to present the LPS Entrepreneurship School model and the SCC Entrepreneurship Center educational activities; and to discuss curriculum, resources, and funding, entrepreneurship as a career path for women and minorities, and dual and college credit opportunities.

An estimated 100 secondary and postsecondary faculty and administrators will benefit from the NCE presentation and another 60 faculty and administrators are estimated to benefit from the six regional trainings.

$28,866

The goal of this project is to infuse new technology into the classroom and change instructional strategies in an effort to enhance student learning. The project components will consist of adjusting instruction (i.e. varied instructional groupings, team teaching, and pacing) using technology (pod casting and video pod casting).

Goals, activities and strategies that will be implemented through the grant include:

1. • Professional development for staff in the areas of technology and instruction
2. • Creation of co-teaching partnerships (select staff)
3. • Purchase and setup of video camera/microphones in select classrooms
4. • Creation of large group classes (i.e. 70 students in a co-taught classroom)
5. • Develop guidelines for accelerated classes (i.e. Geography/World History)

$39,454

This proposal is being written in order to aid in building capacity for the implementation of the immediate and deliberate articulation of Personalized Learning Plans (PLP) for all students at South Sioux City High School with an emphasis on the Nebraska Career Management System (NCMS). The monies earned from this grant proposal will allow for professional development, staff training, necessary planning and preparation of proper implementation of PLPs and the NCMS, articulation and communication with post-secondary educators and facilities as well as business partnerships with the intent of specific career oriented placements for all students.

Through Personalized Learning Plans, South Sioux City will focus on bridging the gap that currently exists between education in the classroom and career opportunities and exploration that are available for our students. Currently, nearly 60% of South Sioux City’s student population is minority, with larger than state average numbers in special education, migrant, free and reduced lunch rates and ELL students. And with an ever increasing Hispanic, migrant and special education populations, the need for relevance and rigor to close the career planning and educational gap is vital for students to be successful in the work place. South Sioux City believes that through the implementation of PLPs and NCMS, their students will begin to make connections with the business community that will allow them to have more opportunities than ever before. Community members have expressed that they are ready, willing and able to begin this endeavor with the school system.

$34,700