CHOICE Technical Academy: planting a seed for the future

Growing pains are to be expected throughout the first year of CHOICE Technical Academy located on Pillsbury campus. 
Despite loose ends regarding bus drop off, lunches and extracurricular activities, the academy is set to start school on September 8, along with the Owatonna Public School District. 50 or so students (seventh – 12th grade) are already enrolled, and faculty expect that number to continue to grow throughout the year. 
Pillsbury campus is bound to be a busy location this fall, especially in Pillsbury Hall (the triangular shaped building). Pillsbury Hall is home to CHOICE Technical Academy, and they will be temporarily sharing that space with St. Mary’s School. 
Late in the summer, SMS discovered a foundational issue that could possibly lead to floor collapse. As they fix flooring foundations, SMS will be holding class in all of the second floor in Pillsbury Hall, as well as certain areas of the first floor. 
“It will be really busy in here. We thought it would just be us, but their hope is to get out and back into their own space as soon as possible,” said CHOICE Technical Academy science teacher Kathleen Brinton.
CHOICE Technical Academy has a large room that seems to be the size of three classrooms. They also have a sun room, foundry and the vestibule area. 
“Next year, we plan to utilize the upstairs space,” said Brinton. “The second floor was actually never finished, so St. Mary’s is actually helping us out financially by putting in some wall structures up there.” 
CHOICE Technical Academy has three certified teachers that will act as advisors, making it a teacher to student ratio of 1 to 15 or 18. Staff consists of teacher Sara Baird, teacher Carl Anderson, teacher Kathleen Brinton and administrative assistant Shari Carlson. 
Carl Anderson is the technology and visual arts advisor. He has been a certified teacher for approximately 15 years, and is looking forward to getting started. Aderson said that the teachers go by advisors to make it more of a democratic learning environment. 
Like the project-based learning program at the Owatonna High School, CHOICE Technical Academy offers project based learning to student’s seventh to 12th grade. Like the Options program, students have more control over what their curriculum looks like based on their own personal interests. 
According to the Student/Parent handbook, “CHOICE Technical Academy is a place offering limitless opportunities. It is the responsibility of the student to take learning seriously and to apply him or herself to get their work completed.”
The academy is designed as part of the Technical Academies of Minnesota and is technically apart of the Technical Academies of Minnesota’s school district. Dream Technical Academy of Willmar, Minnesota, is kind of like the sister school to CHOICE Technical Academy. The school in Wilmur opened in the fall of 2014. 
Many might wonder what project-based learning might be like. The handbook claims that each student will be expected to complete 10 project credits per year in order to advance to the next grade level. One of the projects must include a presentation, and another project must be turned into an exhibition at a presentation night or other public venue. 
On Monday, Aug. 24, and Thursday, Aug. 28, faculty of CHOICE Technical Academy hosted a parent orientation to discuss more details of the project based curriculum.
The parents were given a student schedule. From 8 to 8:50 a.m., students will start and prepare for the day by meeting with their advisor and beginning project work. From 8:50 to 9:40, students will working on ALEKS mathematics (computer program). 9:30 to 11:30 is project work time. Lunch is 11:30 to 12, and all student of CHOICE Technical Academy are expected to bring their own lunches. Hot meals are not yet instated. 
After lunch, students have a quiet reading time from 12:00 to 12:45. There is more project work time from 12:45 to 2, and the last half an hour is spent in advisory. 
The schedule will be different for the first six weeks, as students adapt to the new learning style and decide on projects that will benefit their own personal growth in education. “During the first six weeks, students learn what we mean by project-based learning,” said Anderson.
Students will also be spending those first few weeks building their own desks from scratch. “This gives them ownership of their work space,” commented Anderson. 
Each student will receive a Chrome Book computer that will be used at various points throughout the day, especially for math. Regarding actual “grade levels,” the school meets students where they are at. “We don’t see the difference between ninth grade and 12th grade English,” said Brinton. “Everyone is ready at different times.” 
The academy hopes to become active in community service as part of the curriculum as well as extracurricular. As far as other extracurricular opportunities, the CHOICE Technical Academy reported to parents that “it is in the works.” The school has not yet reached an agreement with the Owatonna Public School district regarding extracurricular sharing. 
As of now, extracurricular activities will be “in house.” Parents expressed concern, but they also brainstormed ideas. 
“There are going to be hiccups, and we have to have a sense of humor about it,” remarked Brinton. 
Due to the school’s fresh roots, students and parents will have a part of molding the academy. Students will have a say in how the budget is spent regarding their education. They will also learn to write grants in order for the school to receive more funding. 
CHOICE Technical Academy wants to be open to all backgrounds and include active parent participation despite possible language barriers. Lorna Mendez is a part of CHOICE Technical Academy’s advisory committee, and she is available to provide general information regarding enrollment to Spanish speaking families. Her email is Lmendez@tecnicalacademies.org. 
CHOICE Technical Academy encourages those interested in enrolling to visit their website at www.choiceta.org or call at 507-400-4009.
“The lease is signed, and we’re here. We’re here to provide the best option for students,” said Brinton. “It’s a leap of faith. It’s a seed of an awesome foundation.”