State Grant Brings "New Tech" Wing to Arkadelphia School
By: Josh Berry
Updated: September 14, 2012
8 Arkansas schools will roll out the red carpet this year for a new, "New Tech" wing of their campus.
A $150,000 grant awarded to just ten schools in the state, will allow for an innovative new way to teach.
Arkadelphia High School is one of them.
The school is still prepping the "New Tech" system two weeks away from the start of school.
"I'm thrilled to death I'm so excited," said New Tech facilitator, Sean Queen. "This is why I came to Arkansas really."
It's also why Queen moved halfway across the country for a job.
"When I heard the governor was going to have ten schools I definitely wanted to be in the state to be a part of that."
When the school year starts, AHS will become one of only ten in the entire state to be apart of the New Tech system.
New Tech Network is a non-profit organization that works with schools, districts and communities to implement innovative public schools.
This summer the high school had to undergo extensive construction to get that done.
The final product turned 5 small classrooms into 2 huge classrooms.
Tools, scraps and even unfinished desks still line the school and hallways. This time next week however, they say they'll be ready to go.
"Our goal is to have these rooms ready for the parents," said school Principal, David Maxwell. They're having two open houses the week before school starts.
While they may just seem like plain 'ol rooms, the new layout will allow for more classes to take place in less time and space.
Civics, Economics and Pre-AP English will go on in one room at once and Pre-AP Geometry and Introduction to Engineering Design will consume the other room.
"Two teachers, two sets of kids, all working together projects," Maxwell explained.
The space allows the school to incorporate project based learning and technology into the curriculum.
They'll even have a computer for every freshman. It's all part of a direction Maxwell said education is going.
In addition to preparing freshmen for higher level ap courses, they said construction also helps open up the campus.
"No windows, no light it was awful," said Queen.
Principal Maxwell characterized it as a prison.
Which is just one more reason why Queen wanted to be apart of this changing movement.
He said, "As soon as he said 'New Tech' I was on board and fighting to make sure I was going to be apart of it."
A $150,000 grant awarded to just ten schools in the state, will allow for an innovative new way to teach.
Arkadelphia High School is one of them.
The school is still prepping the "New Tech" system two weeks away from the start of school.
"I'm thrilled to death I'm so excited," said New Tech facilitator, Sean Queen. "This is why I came to Arkansas really."
It's also why Queen moved halfway across the country for a job.
"When I heard the governor was going to have ten schools I definitely wanted to be in the state to be a part of that."
When the school year starts, AHS will become one of only ten in the entire state to be apart of the New Tech system.
New Tech Network is a non-profit organization that works with schools, districts and communities to implement innovative public schools.
This summer the high school had to undergo extensive construction to get that done.
The final product turned 5 small classrooms into 2 huge classrooms.
Tools, scraps and even unfinished desks still line the school and hallways. This time next week however, they say they'll be ready to go.
"Our goal is to have these rooms ready for the parents," said school Principal, David Maxwell. They're having two open houses the week before school starts.
While they may just seem like plain 'ol rooms, the new layout will allow for more classes to take place in less time and space.
Civics, Economics and Pre-AP English will go on in one room at once and Pre-AP Geometry and Introduction to Engineering Design will consume the other room.
"Two teachers, two sets of kids, all working together projects," Maxwell explained.
The space allows the school to incorporate project based learning and technology into the curriculum.
They'll even have a computer for every freshman. It's all part of a direction Maxwell said education is going.
In addition to preparing freshmen for higher level ap courses, they said construction also helps open up the campus.
"No windows, no light it was awful," said Queen.
Principal Maxwell characterized it as a prison.
Which is just one more reason why Queen wanted to be apart of this changing movement.
He said, "As soon as he said 'New Tech' I was on board and fighting to make sure I was going to be apart of it."
