A mouse clicks. Keys clatter on the keyboard. Students zoom into digital models of brightly-colored characters.
These are the typical sights and sounds you can expect to find at FISD’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center’s Animation I class. The course, taught by Yolanda Barnaby, is one of the center’s over 25 programs dedicated to preparing students for a field of their choosing, by incorporating various theoretical and hands-on skills.
“When students come [to the center], they have a broad array of careers they can go into, [whether that’s] animation, architecture, culinary, [or more],” Barnaby, in her second year of teaching the class at the facility, said. “By coming here, they can seek out if they like [the field] they’re interested in, [which] I love.”
The center’s curriculum centers around the concept of ‘future ready,’ by emphasizing the ‘real-world’ application of the content. These skills, as outlined by the FISD website, range from embracing challenges, to communicating with peers.
“A phrase I’ve never heard in this class is ‘when am I ever going to use this?,’” Forest Medcalf, a civil engineering teacher at the center, said. “As soon as students learn something, it’s going to be applied. [We focus on] how well [each student] understands their role, and how well they executed it. [With communication,] there’s sharing your design intent or findings [through presentations]. We [try hard to] bring these skills into our projects, in order to prepare students as they [potentially] become engineers.”
Classes in the center are organized sequentially, into ‘pathways.’ These pathways often culminate in an internship, or work-based learning opportunity, in the students’ final year.
“[Practicum in Education and Training] focuses on the day-to-day applications of being a teacher, and getting the practice of doing [activities] with the kids,” Sophia Ortiz, a senior at Independence and education intern, said. “This includes either [small group] or in front of the class as a whole. [At the moment], I’m currently interning at two schools: Ogle Elementary and Nelson Middle School, [using the knowledge] from the previous education classes [in the pathways].”
Teachers note the importance of the wide selection of fields offered at the center.
“When they don’t find out their passions before they go to college, and spend their money [there’s a chance it’s dedicated towards] a career they don’t like,” Barnaby said. “[The center] is a great prelude to saving their money and time.”
Students in the center’s classes have various outlets to express themselves and passions. For Animation one student Minseong Kim, the creative aspect of the class sparks his love for the field.
“[I was drawn to this field] after seeing a bunch of animators making their own short films,” said Kim, a sophomore at Emerson High School. “I wanted to be able to express [my passion, mainly] because I want to make something that’s tangible. [In animation], I can look at all the angles, and then position [a model the way I want to], and it just gives me more freedom.”
Students also have the opportunity to be certified for certain skills in their field. These recognitions are especially important for culinary students, who manage the center’s restaurant, Saveur.
“[Working at Saveur] significantly helps in the job process, and [sometimes], people will hire us straight off of here, just because we already have our food handlers license,” Emma Anderson, a senior at Lebanon Trail, said.
Ultimately, both students and teachers at the facility recognize the significance of the center’s impact on their futures.
“[At the beginning of the year,] I have a lot of people that will come here that have no idea about law enforcement,” Misty Vancuren, Survey of Law and Law Enforcement II teacher, said. “[However,] once you work with them, you get to see the student’s confidence build throughout the year. When they leave, they believe in themselves– that they could do a career in law enforcement, [irrespective of] their gender or size. Those things are really rewarding to see.”
