Something New Is Heading Your Way!!!

FUSION AcademyFUSION AcademyRevealedRevealed

Rutherford County SchoolsMarketing, Hospitality, and Mass Communications

AcademyAnn Stewart

June, 2008

What is FUSION? According to the dictionary, FUSION is the

merging of different elements into a union. The FUSION Academy at Blackman High

School is a perfect blend of multiple disciplines resulting in “An Enhanced Career Experience” incorporating real-world business partnerships with student-centered learning activities.

Service learning projects and opportunities are integrated into every grade level of the Academy experience.

Current Snapshot Opening in August, 2008 with 450 students Established initial 9th grade Exploration

course Capstone Senior Project course CLEP tests to be used to provide college

credit opportunities Honors Communication for Life under

consideration for Dual Credit

Grant Modifications The initial desire to establish true Dual

Credit opportunities for Marketing and Entrepreneurship students were modified.

MTSU College of Business was unwilling to even participate in a meeting regarding the possibility.

Temporary work-around was established by using CLEP testing opportunities for students. Tests available for

Introduction to Management Introduction to Marketing

Show me the money Budget funds were expended as specified in the budget

narrative One wireless lab of 26 laptops was purchased to be shared

by the Fusion Academy teachers (funds were not available for two labs)

Word and Adobe Creative Suites 3.0 were purchase for the wireless lab

Supplemental reading and reference materials were purchased as proposed

Professional development was provided for attendance at conferences

Printers, projectors, and screens were purchased for Academy teachers who did not have the current technology

Local funds were used to provide substitutes for Academy planning

Project Timeline We had one year to prepare this Academy for

opening and feel that was ample time for planning

The only change made to the Grant timeline centered around the Dual Credit offerings MTSU roadblocks dictated the change in

that part of the timeline There is still a tremendous amount of work and

planning to be done to develop Leadership Seminars and enhance cross-curricular projects for students

Academy faculty is continuing planning and implementation strategies for the upcoming year

Success and Challenge Review

Successes Students and parents are extremely excited

about the innovative opportunities presented by FUSION

Two new courses have been approved by the State (FUSION Exploration and Senior Project)

Challenges Finding time within the school year to work on

developing the project Learning how to navigate the State office to

establish the new courses Convincing the College of Business at MTSU to

open communication about Dual Credit courses

How to make it better My own naiveté about how difficult it would

be to manage a project involving this many representatives from different disciplines and perspectives was a surprise

A stronger understanding of how the State Department of Education works would be useful

Open communication with MTSU College of Business would have eliminated most of the challenges we faced

Final Thoughts This grant has presented the FUSION faculty

with a tremendous opportunity for innovation and change within our school.

These forward-thinking strategies will continue to develop over the next few years.

Taking the steps toward making this a reality has re-energized students and faculty alike.

Best comment overheard (from two students walking down school hall)…“I can’t wait for Senior Project next year, I will really get to USE what I have learned! Can you imagine, USING something you learned in school?”

Transitioning from Secondary to Postsecondary Education in CTE

Kay Nixon, Project ManagerRutherford County Board of Education2240 Southpark Blvd.Murfreesboro, TN 37128615-893-5815 X 22083

Transition Progress:

Two teachers are registered for the CLEP Prep course for Principles of Management

Four teachers are registered for the CLEP Prep course for Principles of Marketing

Two brochures are being printed to share with parents and students about this opportunity

Marketing II, Entrepreneurship and Virtual Enterprises International™ CLEP in Principles of Marketing 3.0 GPA OR 22 ACT Be Admitted to MTSU ($25) Cost of Test $90 Pass Test – 3 Hours Credit

Transition Progress:

Transition Progress:

Virtual Enterprises International™ via CLEP in Principles of Management 3.0 GPA OR 22 ACT Be Admitted to MTSU ($25) Cost of Test $90 Pass Test – 3 Hours Credit

Transition Progress:

Dual Credit Pilot – (Public Chapter 459) Greenhouse Management for Introduction to Ornamental

Horticulture (ABAS 1101) Postsecondary Course Taught at the High School Taught by High School Faculty Taught for High School Credit Students Receive Postsecondary Credit

Successfully Complete Course Pass Assessment Developed and/or Recognized by

Granting Postsecondary Institution Institution Will Post Credit Upon Enrollment of the Student

Free of Charge

MTSU Personal Finance On-Line Course 3.0 GPA OR 22 ACT Be Admitted to MTSU ($25) Students Pay Regular Tuition and On-Line Fees Students Can Apply for Lottery Dual Enrollment Scholarship for $300 Students Receive 3 Hours Credit

University of Tennessee Martin Personal Finance Dual Enrollment for Finance 160: Financial

Planning 3.0 GPA Use $300 Dual Credit Grant Reduced Fees

Transition Progress:

Currently Working With Motlow State Community College to Explore Dual Enrollment Opportunities Be Admitted to Motlow Students Pay Regular Tuition Students Can Apply for Lottery Dual Enrollment

Scholarship for $300 Students Receive 3 Hours Credit Cost around $50

Transition Progress:

Health Science – Certified Nursing Assistant For Graduating Seniors June 17 – July 22, 2008 6 Hours Per Day for 22 Days Week of July 4 Off Cost is $500 Receive CNA Certificate Upon Completion

No students participated due to the cost

Transition Progress:

Modifications:

Changed focus from Business Technology to any CTE postsecondary transition The postsecondary faculty at Middle Tennessee

State University College of Business, after signing off on the grant, refused to provide any secondary transition options.

Budget Expenditures:

A Budget Amendment was submitted on March 3 in order to expand the focus of the grant

A Final Budget Amendment was submitted on May 30 in order to have line items reflect the actual amount spent

All grant funds were expended

Timeframe: The timeframe by the state was reasonable

Our timeline was impossible to meet until we changed the focus due to the lack of participation by the MTSU College of Business

Greatest Success:

Connecting to the proper people at MTSU to make the transitions possible Executive Vice President & Provost Kaylene Gebert Mike Boyle, Dean, College of Continuing Education and

Distance Learning Molly Culbreath, Dual Enrollment Coordinator

Convincing MTSU to apply for a Public Chapter 429 Pilot The only thing that would have made the project /process

better would have been to connect with the above people earlier in the process