Butler Tech Academies
Construction and Manufacturing Academy led by Assistant Principal Matt Lindley includes the following programs: auto collision, auto tech, precision machining, welding, construction electricity, carpentry, and power equipment;
Service Academy led by Assistant Principal Jason Chillman includes the following programs: commercial arts, communication broadcasting, Info Tech Academy, business office education, early childhood, culinary and cosmetology;
Public Safety and Health Services Academy led by Assistant Principal Lee Corder includes the following programs: health technologies, fire fighting and criminal justice.
FAIRFIELD TWP. — A remodeled high school and a reorganization of programs is fueling change at Butler Tech.
For the 2010-2011 school year, D. Russel Lee will be divided into three learning academies, according to administrators of Butler Technology and Career Development Schools.
“I’m really excited about it,” Principal Monica Marsh said.
The three academies will be known as the Construction and Manufacturing Academy, Service Academy and Public Safety and Health Services Academy.
Teachers will become mentors and advisers of students under this arrangement, she said, so someone will always be keeping track of a student progress.
But, students also will have more responsibility for success, she said.
“We always ask our kids how they are doing in class,” she said. “We don’t want them to say ‘I don’t know.’ We want them to be more personally responsible for their grades.”
Dan Schroer, vice president of Secondary Workforce Education, said the benefits of the three academies are many. Each learning community will be taught by two teachers from each core area, who will work together to plan team interaction.
A focus, he said, will be on relevant and rigorous curriculum, instruction in 21st Century skills, practical work experience through job shadowing and internships, the possibility for industry certifications and more engaging curriculum and instruction.
An online classroom will be available for students who have random classes to fulfill credit needs.
“Academies will give more relevance to academics, and rigor can be applied in career classroom as well as academics,” Schroer said.
Marsh will continue as principal, but each academy will have an assistant principal, one counselor, one special education teacher and one vocational special education coordinator.
The schedule will be a modified block, so students and teachers will have three days of eight periods and two days of four periods to allow for academic laboratories or cross curricular activities.
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