Issue 88 Spring 2013

Home at Last! New MTI Campus Opens to Students

M anatee Technical Institute just opened its brand new

main campus on State Road 70, entering an exciting

new season of equipping our local workforce with the finest in

career and technical education in the nation. After years of prepa-

ration, this new $44 million investment and its 210,000 square

foot facility replaces much of the original West Bradenton

campus built in 1963. With open spaces, accessible classrooms,

efficient space planning, and beautiful interior design, the campus

is a trophy in the heart of Manatee County.

The facility is packed with advanced equipment and ultra-

modern facilities, and students can now learn in an environment

that matches their 21st century skills. Advanced career education

programs include—among others—digital animation, television

production, information technology, web design, business

administration, hospitality, culinary arts, drafting, manufacturing

technology, welding, electrical, HVAC, carpentry, cosmetology,

automotive technology, marine technology, and much more. MTI

also serves up skills in adult education, while serving the commu-

nity through personal enrichment classes.

Visitors are welcome to experience a tour and sample the

culinary students’ expertise at Café Mirabilis and at Whetstone,

the facility’s new fine dining establishment.

John Ziemnicki, Chairman of the MTI Board of Governors

and the board’s drafting advisory committee representative for 30

(Continued on page 2)

T hree Manatee County engineering students competed in

the F1 in Schools World Finals racing competition in

Abu Dhabi, UAE! The

students par tnered

with three Canadian

students to form team

Velox F1 in this inter-

national adventure.

See the complete

article on Page 13.

F1 Students Race in Abu Dhabi!

Continued on Page 2

ACT Grants and Funding Continues To Grow

T he following is a summary of grant and funding

monies applied for and received over the past 11

years from the Adult, Career and Technical Education

Department, including areas such as MTI, Take Stock,

Transitions, Tech Prep, SLCs, Secondary CTE, Manatee

Stars, and others. Grant monies are essential to enhancing

quality education and moving the District forward in its quest

to provide excellent education and opportunities to all of our

students.

Grants and dollar value Totals

Number of grants applied for: Number of grants approved: Number of grants pending approval: Dollars applied for: Dollars approved: Dollars pending approval:

395 303

0 $117,527,889

$66,719,562 $0

Page 2 Adult, Career and Technical Education

A fter 50 years in education, 25 years of it serving Mana-

tee County, Angie Grasberger is slowly headed for

retirement. The word is “slowly” because now that her time with

us is done, she’ll still be serving another two-year term as presi-

dent of the National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC). For the

past 16 years, she has been thoroughly involved with the NCAC,

attending the very first conference and serving in several leader-

ship and board positions with multiple terms as president.

Angie taught geometry and trigonometry at Manatee High

School for eight years before changing directions into career

education. She joined the ACT Department and served as the

MHS Career Connections Coordinator for eight years, and then

transitioned to a district level Career Advisor for five high schools

(six once Braden River High School opened), and then on to the

SLC project manager until December, 2012. Angie spearheaded

the planning and implementation of several substantial Smaller

Learning Community (SLC) grants, working tirelessly until

celebrating that all six high schools are now structured with wall-

to-wall career academies.

“I never really wanted to leave the classroom,” Angie

shared. “Teaching was my first love. But I was looking for a

change, and I loved career counseling. I got to make a difference

for a lot more students.”

Angie has been on the forefront of the national movement

and the advance of career academies as a way to engage students.

She’s passionate about helping students connect academics with

applied learning—and where else to apply the learning and

connect the dots than through real-world careers?

The ACT Department’s Academy committee created the

guidelines and standards that were used to evaluate Manatee

County’s career academies in the early days. “Because of Angie’s

national reputation and leadership, our Manatee County standards

were adopted and used as the foundation for the NCAC’s

National Standards of Practice,” said Doug Wagner. “This effort

that Angie led has positively affected schools in over 15,000

school districts in the United States.”

As she heads into retirement, in addition to traveling and

working for the NCAC, Angie also plans to visit family scattered

across the country. When asked what advice she’d like to give to

new educators, she instantly replied, “It’s a passion. If you don’t

have education as a passion, then don’t stay because you are only

hurting the kids. Be here for the love of imparting some of your

knowledge to students.”

Grant Efforts Hit a Wall—a Climbing Wall!

T he ACT Department’s Grant Resource Specialist

Melissa Schwab works hard to help teachers through-

out the District apply for funding for special projects and class-

rooms. Melissa recently worked with Nolan Middle School P.E.

Coach Brad Claussen, and through their efforts, the Pirate’s

Charities Fields for Kids Program has awarded Nolan a $5,000

grant towards a traversing wall. In an effort to gain an additional

funding source, Mr. Claussen applied to Fuel Up to Play 60 and

the Dairy Council of Florida, and Nolan Middle School was

awarded $5,000 during the Back to Football contest. These grants

provided the remaining funding needed for the traversing wall.

Nolan gym’s new climbing wall provides fun-filled activities to

promote overall wellness for the students.

To f in d o ut m or e abo ut g r ant r e so urces , v i s i t

www.ManateeACT.com, click News, and click Grant Opportuni-

ties Update. Here you’ll find a grant calendar, application form,

and resource newsletter. For more information, contact Melissa

Schwab at 941-708-8770 ext. 2226.

years, has been keenly involved with this project from the begin-

ning. “These are exciting times,” he said recently. “It’s been 15

years since we first started thinking about this, working through

the funding and acquiring the property. Along with a new, state-

of-the-art building, these students now have access to the most

current technology. We’re looking forward to the best of times in

this new building.”

The new MTI campus is located adjacent to the campus of

Braden River High School, and opened to students for the first

time on January 8, 2013. The Grand Opening and dedication was

held February

14th with over

600 people in

attendance.

Manatee Technical Institute, continued

Angie Grasberger (5th from right) with her team of Smaller Learning Communities

Career Advisors at her retirement celebration. Students reach for the top on Nolan’s ACT grant-funded climbing wall.

Angie Grasberger’s Legacy

The new,

state-of-the art

Manatee

Technical

Institute

School District of Manatee County Page 3

Changes to Gold Seal Scholars Award

T here are important changes in store

for recipients of the Gold Seal

Vocational Scholars (GSV) award, part of

Florida’s Bright Futures scholarship

program. The Gold Seal scholarship is

awarded to students meeting certain academic requirements in

addition to completing a minimum of three Career and Technical

Education (CTE) credits in one vocational program. Beginning

with this award year, GSV students may be funded for up to

100% of their program of study in Career Education programs.

According to the new requirements, awards may apply to techni-

cal degree education including Associate of Science degrees (AS),

Associate of Applied Science degrees (AAS), and College Credit

Certificates (CCC). Career certificates or diplomas (also referred

to as Postsecondary Adult Vocational/PSAV) include Career

Certificates and Applied Technology Diplomas (ATD). While the

new changes mean that the GSV cannot be applied toward an AA

degree, the award continues to promote and fund postsecondary

career and technical education for programs at Manatee Technical

Institute and State College of Florida.

Career Academy Accomplishments

E ight of our career academies were recognized at a

school board meeting for their accomplishments in

attaining Endorsed, Certified or National Model status when

reviewed by the National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC).

LRHS: All three academies attained the Certified status,

including the Business & Technology Academy, the Health &

Public Service Academy, and the Arts Academy.

SEHS: The Center for Leadership Academy (CLA), the

latest of the SEHS academies, was reviewed for the first time and

attained the Endorsed status. Team members have taken the

results and recommendations that were made and are working on

adding additional pathways which will result in the opportunity

for additional industry certifications for the students.

BRHS: Each of the four academies has attained the highest

level of achievement and has become a national “Model”

academy. The four academies were honored at the National

Career Academy Coalition Conference.

BRHS National Model

Academies

A t the 16th Annual

Nat ional Career

Academy Coalition (NCAC)

held in Nashville Tennessee,

Braden River High School

took center stage in front over

almost 1,000 teachers, princi-

pals, school board members,

district staff and business lead-

ers to receive the NCAC

Model Academy Awards for

the Arts and Communication

Academy, the Business and

International Studies Acad-

emy, the Science Technology

and Health Academy, and the

Engineer ing, Design and

Leadership Academy. Of the

entire United States which has

over 15,000 school districts,

only 23 academies were being

recogn ized as a Nat ional

Model. BRHS received 4 of

the 23 awards.

Up to this point, Mana-

tee County had two Model

Academies: Manatee High

School’s Medical Academy

and Southeast High School’s

Visual and Performing Arts

Academy.

Our community should be very proud of what our teachers

and schools are doing to help advance our students through these

academies and the industry certifications they provide.

Middle School Academies Expand

T hree more Manatee middle schools are planning the

development of a career academy for 2013–14. The

Lincoln Middle Academy of Agriscience has hit the ground

running. Its mission states that the academy will “prepare stu-

dents for successful careers and lifetime success in global agricul-

ture, food, fiber and natural resources systems through hands-on,

project-based learning and relevant, research-based curriculum.”

Under the direction of Principal Ronnie King and lead teacher

Ms. Kim Lough, the academy has shown great promise.

The Nolan Middle School eSTEAM Academy (Expertise in

Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math), under the

Lead teachers

and Smaller

Learning

Communities

Project Manager

Angie Grasberger

after receiving

academy

recognition.

Representatives from each of the four

Braden River High School career acad-

emies receive recognition at the NCAC

Model Academy Awards.

Page 4 Adult, Career and Technical Education

direction of technology educator Justin Devine, Principal Nancy

High, and Assistant Principal Tamara Cornwell, will strive to

create self-reliant 21st century innovators through the use of tech-

nology, leadership and academic excellence to support student

career, college and future choices and the motivation to thrive in

an ever-changing technological world. A thought provoking three

year plan ensures this academy great success.

Sugg’s Culinary Academy of Kitchen Epicure Systems

(CAKES), under the direction of family and consumer science

teacher Valerie Montgomery and Principal Sharon Scarbrough,

will provide students with the opportunity to survey food through

taste, research, demonstrations, science-based experimentation,

and cooperative cooking teams. This academy integrates academic

-based learning with real life skills as students attain industry certi-

fications that transition them to existing CAPE Academies at

Manatee and Southeast High Schools.

The school teams (principal and lead teacher) along with

district staff have met to discuss this new initiative and how it will

look and affect their school. The teams have chosen a name,

developed a mission statement, and set goals for the first three

years. They have identified the course progression and industry

certifications for their academy students, and have submitted

documentation with any changes to the curriculum. The schools

have now completed their academy applications and marketing

materials (flyers and videos), and presented their ideas to their

faculties, SAC groups and to their feeder elementary and high

schools. Great things are in store for the students who will enroll

in these three new academies.

CAPE Academies Honored

T he career academies at all six of Manatee County's

traditional high schools were honored at a school

board meeting, taking home a total of $385,000 they had earned

through their student’s achievements.

The Florida Legislature recognizes Career and Professional

Education (CAPE) academies, and awards funding for every

graduating senior who earns an industry certification. These certi-

fications equip students with work-ready skills, whether they

attend college or go directly into the workforce.

Bayshore, Palmetto, Southeast, Lakewood Ranch, Braden

River, and Manatee high schools all received checks to be used by

their career academies.

Left: Agriscience instructor Kim

Lough and Principal Ronnie King

teamed together to plan Lincoln’s

Academy of Agriscience.

Right: Family and Consumer Science

instructor Valerie Montgomery and

Principal Sharon Scarbrough are

planning the CAKES Academy

CAPE Academy checks presented to representatives from each of the career

academies.

School District of Manatee County Page 5

Freshman “Microsoft Office Master”

B raden River High School’s business technology teacher

and FBLA adviser Christy Goehring reports that

freshman Cory Bolles has started the new year off with a bang!

Cory earned his seventh and final Microsoft Office industry certi-

fication when he passed the Excel Expert exam, which makes this

ninth-grade student a Microsoft Office Master. Accomplishing

such an amazing achievement makes Cory stand out not just in

high school but also in the competitive global market. He has

earned certifications in Microsoft Office Word, Access, Excel,

Outlook, PowerPoint, Word Expert, and Excel Expert.

Students Zap Electrical Certifications

T he Electronics Technology program at

MTI is proud to announce that ten of its

students have acquired the Electronics Techni-

cian Association (ETA) national certification in

DC Associate Certified Electronics Technician

(C.E.T.)—DC Basics. The certification qualifies the

students for an entry-level position as an electronics assembler,

and is the first of four internationally recognized electronic certifi-

cations. All of these certifications were acquired during the first

quarter. Congratulations to Joel Casas, Robert Clark, Andrew

Cline, John Henry, Ronald Lemus, Dustin Lynn, Herminio

Maldonado, Ian Moore, Yonier Pinon, and James Skene. Kudos

to instructors Wendy Sheehan and Russ Swallow, as well.

Chief Architect Certification Workshop

T echnology and engineering teachers from across the

District came together at PHS to attend and learn at a

Chief Architect industry certification workshop. Everyone was

blown away by the power and

ease of this affordable yet

powerful professional 3D

architectural home design

software.

Meet Sara Gaines, New Transition Specialist

S ara Gaines is excited to join the ACT

Department as the new Florida Diagnostic

and Learning Resources System (FDLRS)

Human Resources Specialist. Sara will work

primarily with students who are ages 14–22 and

who are part of the Exceptional Student Educa-

tion (ESE) program. Sara feels that her new

position is a great fit, as she has worked as an ESE teacher for the

past ten years. She is looking forward to assisting the students as

they transition into their postsecondary education or careers.

OJT Delivers Experience, Opportunity

“When I grow up, I want to be… ”

W hat was your dream job growing up? Who were the

people that encouraged you? Did someone tell you

that your goal was unachievable? Did one specific person help

you achieve a goal in your own journey? Have you helped a

student achieve his or her goal?

In many situations, skills are taught best through experience

and opportunity. The students of Manatee County Schools are

fortunate to have the unique opportunity to collaborate with our

business partners to gain this experience and opportunity.

Through the On-the-Job Training (OJT) and Option 2 programs,

students are able to learn a variety of skills that assist them in

successfully transitioning into their postsecondary goals.

While at their community-based job sites, students are

mentored, encouraged, and guided to learn job skills in a positive

atmosphere. Students arrive at their job sites during the school

day and earn credits towards graduation from their high school.

The students featured in this edition of the Transition Times are

just a few examples of how these programs are leading to positive

results and—in the process—helping some find that dream job.

Thank you OJT teachers, business partners, Option 2

coordinator, teachers, and support staff for daily encouraging

these students and working with them to achieve their personal

career goals.

Proskurina Photographer of the Year

M arina Proskurina, digital design instructor

at Manatee Technical Institute, won 2012

Photographer of the Year from the Professional

Photographers Society of Central Florida. The

society presented her with the award at a banquet

in Orlando. Earlier in the year, Proskurina had

three of her creative images accepted into the

2012 International Photographic Competition

Below: Mrs. Goehring

with Microsoft Master

Cory Bolles

Above: Mrs. Goehring's first period students

who passed the Microsoft Word national

certification exam

District technology teachers learned

Chief Architect 3D design software.

Sara Gaines

Marina Proskurina

Page 6 Adult, Career and Technical Education

hosted by the Professional Photographers of America.

Digital design is a new program offered at MTI. To apply

for acceptance into this program or for more information,

contact MTI career counselor Terri Parrish at (941) 751-7900 or

parrishm@manateeschools.net.

Surprise $40,000 Scholarship Winner

W hen MHS senior Katty Pierre-Charles was in eighth

grade, she never dreamed of the surprise that

transpired just recently. Katty was working in economics class

when she was requested to go to a meeting. When she arrived,

classmates and her parents yelled, “Surprise!” and Katty learned

she had been named one of five Florida winners of the Take

Stock in Children Leaders 4 Life Fellowship, a scholarship valued

at $40,000!

Katty’s parents immigrated to the area from Haiti, and she

speaks fluent Creole. In eighth grade, Katty was awarded a Take

Stock in Children scholarship, one that paid the cost of tuition for

a Florida college if Katty met all the requirements for the rest of

her high school career. She would have to maintain good grades,

good behavior, and meet with a mentor once a week during the

school year.

Since that time, Katty has met all of those requirements and

more, and has met weekly with her mentor, retired media special-

ist Judith Leipold. A student at the MHS Medical Academy, Katty

plans to pursue a career in medicine. She has been accepted at

USF in Tampa, and is wait-

ing to hear from two other

universities. Congratulations

to this deserving scholar.

Leadership Breakfast: All-Star Henry Lawrence

C ommunity leaders, faith based leaders, educators, and

mentors recently gathered for the Sixth Annual Lead-

ership Prayer Breakfast benefitting Take Stock in Children of

Manatee County. This year the Keynote Speaker was Oakland/

LA Raiders All-Star Henry Lawrence, a Palmetto native and for-

mer migrant worker who rose to stardom earning three Super

Bowl Championship rings.

Now an enterta iner and

philanthropist, his impas-

sioned presentation at the

Prayer Breakfast encouraged

Take Stock scholars and the

over 450 guests present to

pursue their dreams. “The

sky’s the limit!” he shared.

Nolan HOSA: Generous and Caring

T he Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)

students at Nolan Middle are a very generous commu-

nity. Under the leadership of advisor Pam Rahn, HOSA members

helped Hurricane Isaac victims in Louisiana by hosting a friendly

Penny Wars competition between all of the first period classes.

The group received a letter and certificate of appreciation from

the HOSA state advisor in Louisiana for their efforts. HOSA

raised almost $1,700 to be used for the club and donated to

Cystic Fibrosis research and to Hurricane Isaac victims.

HOSA also hosted a Nolan's Got Talent Show to raise

funds for Hurricane Sandy victims. Deborah Wilbanks, a sixth

grade World Culture teacher, was asked by her students, "How

can we help people affected by Hurricane Sandy?” At that time,

HOSA was celebrating HOSA week and decided to partner with

Mrs. Wi lban ks to ra ise

funds. HOSA members

earned over $1,400 in seven

days!

“We appreciate the

efforts of our students, their

parents, families, and teach-

ers supporting our efforts!”

said Ms. Rahn.

HOSA Helps Earn Fuel Up to Play 60 Grant

A s the Fuel Up To Play 60 ambassadors, a

grant for $2,400 was awarded to Nolan

Middle School through HOSA. Nolan’s own

artist, Wade Smith, will be leading an initiative to

brighten the dining hall with a mural depicting fruits, vegetables,

grains, and dairy. There will also be taste testing for breakfast and

lunch and healthy snacks for sports’ clubs. The PE department

will receive a DisCatcher Golf Target set to prepare future golf-

ers. We appreciate the ongoing support of Nolan HOSA!

PHS HOSA: Generosity Abounds

H at’s off to Palmetto High School’s HOSA students

who raised $513 recently at this year’s Making Strides

Against Breast Cancer Walk.

Janel S. Shinn, HOSA advi-

sor and biomedical science

teacher, reports that the

students donated the funds

to the Breast Cancer Society.

Katty Pierre-Charles receives her

scholarship from School Board Chair

Karen Carpenter.

Former NFL All-Star Henry Lawrence

Above: Nolan’s HOSA Chapter is

going strong; right: talent show raised

funds for Hurricane Sandy victims.

PHS HOSA members at the Making

Strides Against Breast Cancer walk.

School District of Manatee County Page 7

Then, in support of the patients at All Children’s Hospital,

the PHS HOSA students collected bears and books. Janel then

delivered the collections to the hospital to donate. The students

collected over 120 books, 50 bears, and 17 gifts! Way to go Tigers

and HOSA, for putting those generous hearts into action.

“We Care” Dental Serves Needy Children

L ocal school children recently received dental care

through two events of the “We Care” Dental Project at

MTI East. The project is a joint effort of MTI and the Manatee

District School Nurses. MTI Dental Assisting students provided

pediatric teeth polishing, fluoride treatments, radiographs, and

oral health screenings. MTI dental assisting program director and

project co-coordinator Kim Bland, CDA, reports that many

children do not have access to dental care.

At the first event, students were under the supervision of

volunteer local dentists Dr. Peter Masterson of Lakewood Ranch

Dental, Dr. George Meadows, a pediatric dentist in Bradenton,

and Dr. Francis Curd of LECOM School of Dentistry.

At the second event, Dr. Allison O'Brien was the supervis-

ing dentist, accompanied by volunteer hygienist Kelly Roth,

RDH, who is a former MTI Dental Assistant graduate and

current hygienist for Dr. Tiffany Boyd of Braden River Dental.

The “We Care” Dental Project serves school-age children

who have limited access to routine dental care. The event runs

two to four times per year depending on funding and volunteer

dentist availability. Patients requiring further dental treatment are

then referred to area dental healthcare providers with follow-up

supervision provided by the child’s school nurse.

Appointments are made by the Manatee District school

nurses through project co-coordinator Cheryl Stuart, RN, nurse at

McNeal Elementary. The services are provided at MTI’s East

Campus at 5520 Lakewood Ranch Boulevard.

The MTI students are active in the Health Occupations

Students of America (HOSA), SkillsUSA, and the MTI Student

Chapter of the American Dental Assistants Association. The “We

Care” project is a community service/service learning project for

these student

organizat ions.

“It is a labor of

l o v e f o r a l l

involved in its

p r o duc t io n , ”

said Kim Bland. “We couldn't make it happen without Cheryl

Stuart, our school nurse liaison/partner.”

The “We Care” clinic plans to serve more children in March

and May of 2013. At this time, the clinic is free for the children.

Funding has come from various sources, including grants from

the District and the Gulfcoast South Area Health Education

Center. However, the project is always looking for funding and

professional volunteers to continue its services. Interested

donors, dentists, and hygienists may contact Bland at 941-752-

8100 x 210 or blandk@manateeschools.net.

In the news: The We Care project was featured in Inside

Dental Assisting magazine, a national publication for professional

dental assistants. To see the feature, visit:

http://editiondigital.net/publication/?i=134086&p=18

Real-World Relevance: Healthcare Field Trips

N olan Middle School’s HOSA students recently spent a

day visiting two healthcare facilities: the Lake Erie

College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) and the Windsor

Memories Alzheimer’s facility. Both facilities have agreed to part-

ner with Nolan for future visits.

Students began a visit to LECOM's Medical and Pharmacy

programs. One of the medical program speakers was a former

HOSA student from Georgia, and one of the pharmacy speakers

was also a former HOSA member.

Nolan students observed how they film LECOM students

for their exams as they perform diagnostic procedures with real

patients from the community. The younger students saw the

pharmacy compounding lab and the problem-based learning

classes that were in session.

Nolan students then toured LECOM's dental program and

were the first school to tour the facility! Students from the pro-

gram answered questions, and Nolan students were able to enter

the lab where they were making dentures. The kids loved to see

the actual process! They learned about a Medical Science Acad-

emy that LECOM holds for two weeks in the summer for middle

and high school students, and about The Human Body Explored,

a monthly program offered from January to May. The students

from LECOM even offered emails to instructor Pam Rahn so

that the kids could contact them with questions.

After lunch, the group visited the Windsor—Memories. The

students talked with residents, played games, danced, and sang. “I

can't describe the level of emotions the kids experienced,” shared

Pam. “Tears and happiness for being able to make someone feel

good for a few minutes in a lifetime—it was very special.”

HOSA students

collected books,

bears, and gifts

for All Children’s

Hospital.

L–R: Dental Assisting students Guadalupe Sanchez and Courtney Parrott provide

polishing and fluoride varnish to the teeth of an elementary school student. Dental

Assisting student Kevin Lucas assists Dr. Orin Oberlander with a procedure for a high

school student.

L–R: Nolan HOSA students at LECOM; interacting with a resident of the

Alzheimer unit at the Windsor assisted living facility.

Page 8 Adult, Career and Technical Education

PCT Students Serve Community

A t this year’s Manatee County Fair,

students from the Patient Care

Technician (PCT) class from Manatee

Technical Institute’s (MTI) North

Campus in Palmetto staffed the MTI

booth. The students promoted the school, their career prepara-

tion program, as well as the career and technical student organiza-

tion to which they all belong, SkillsUSA.

In recent months, the PCT students have served the

community through participation in a breast cancer walk,

Alzheimer's walk, filling shoe boxes for seniors through Meals on

Wheels, and assisting the Salvation Army of Manatee County. The

same group recently had a fundraiser at Woody's River Roo in

Ellenton to promote SkillsUSA, PCT program awareness, and to

raise funds for travel to SkillsUSA conferences.

For more information about the Patient Care Technician

program, contact instructor Susan Elias, RN, BSN, at

eliass@manateeschools.net or (941) 845-2092 ext. 2004.

FBLA Walks for the Pink Cause

S outheast High School's Future Business Leaders of

America (FBLA), led by advisor and business educa-

tion teacher Cindy Rees, hosted the 4th Breast Cancer Awareness

Walk. As part of a month-long breast cancer awareness event,

FBLA students made posters and sewed pink ribbons to distrib-

ute to all staff members. FBLA students accepted donations on

behalf of the Na-

tional Breast Cancer

Foundation or the

Susan G. Komen

Foundation.

Lincoln FBLA Starts Out with Success

T he new Lincoln Middle School business education

teacher and FBLA advisor Teresa Cook reports that

the chapter held its first

fundr a i ser o f the ye ar .

Students sold over $2,200

worth of Yankee Candle

products resulting in a profit

of $864.40. Congratulations!

Haile FBLA Develops Leadership

H aile Middle School FBLA students, under the leader-

ship of Rochelle Banach, enjoyed the Fall Leadership

Conference in Melbourne, Florida. Haile was recognized in the

closing ceremony for having the highest number of middle school

students attending. Way to go, Haile FBLA, for showing your

commitment to future business leadership.

FBLA and Computer Applications in Business 2 students

took a field trip to the Bealls distribution center, gaining exposure

to this local retail employer. FBLA students also worked hard

prepar ing

for compe-

titions and

f o r t h e

D i s t r i c t

Leadership

Conference.

Manatee County Hosts FBLA District Events

M ore than 500 middle and high school students repre-

senting five counties converged on the State College

of Florida (SCF) on a recent February Saturday, when SCF and

the Manatee County School District hosted the Future Business

Leaders of America (FBLA) District 18 Leadership Conference.

Students competed in a wide variety of business-related contests

including Impromptu Speaking, Entrepreneurship, Digital Video,

Job Interview, Management Decision Making and more. Students

who won competitions at the District level will advance to

compete at the FBLA State Conference in Orlando in April.

Lakewood Ranch High School business technology teacher

Bobbi Colson, Ed.D., serves as District 18 Director, while South-

east High School’s business technology teacher Cindy Rees serves

as Co-Director. Four of the seven student FBLA officers are

from Manatee County.

More results and photos from the event will be shared in

the next issue of the ACT Update. For more information, contact

Bobbi Colson, Ed.D., at Lakewood Ranch High at 727-6100, ext.

2118.

Scenes from the SEHS

Breast Cancer Aware-

ness Walk.

LMS FBLA fundraiser success

L–R: Haile students enjoyed a leadership presentation at the Melbourne

Civic Center. Tyler McCrane, FBLA Vice President, demonstrates his

leadership presentation qualities by explaining his project.

L–R: FBLA District 18 Director and LRHS business technology teacher Bobbi Colson;

the FBLA contingent from Bayshore High School with advisor Bonnie Condor; PHS

business technology teacher Laura Gonzales, District 18 Co-Director Cindy Rees, and

retired PHS business technology teacher Gayle Twitty.

School District of Manatee County Page 9

New at Southeast High: Chef Jacque

T he ACT Department introduces the new Southeast

High School chef and culinary instructor, Jacque Allen.

For Chef Jacque, making the switch from Haile Middle’s cafeteria

manager to Southeast’s culinary arts program was a natural

progression. Chef Jacque, who also works as a chef at the Polo

Bar and Grill in Lakewood Ranch, relates well to teenagers and

has begun to develop a rapport with her students.

“Kids are opening up to me,” she shared recently. “Some

have come to talk to me, kids who are thinking of dropping out.

If they come and talk to you, you know you’re getting through.”

In the few months since she started her new position, her

students have participated in the Chowdown for Charity event

and the Mixon Fruit Farms Culinary Competition, where two of

her students placed first and second in their events. (See related

article.) They also participated in a Gingerbread House competi-

tion in Sarasota and are making plans for SkillsUSA competitions.

With 320 students in Culinary 1, 2, and 3, as well as a group

of interns in their fourth year of culinary, the school’s brand new

commercial kitchen stays busy. Chef Jacque and her advanced

students serve lunch daily for staff, teachers, and guests at the

Seminole Café, where $4.00 buys a chef-inspired meal. They also

prepare and sell culinary creations for special events, such as

Thanksgiving pies and Christmas cookies. Through the Seminole

Café operations, events, and sales of goodies, the program strives

to be self-supporting.

“It’s a lot to get used to,” said Chef Jacque. “But I’m really

enjoying it!”

Sugg Middle, Where Culinary Meets Science

S ugg Middle School culinary students and their teacher,

Valerie Montgomery, have already discovered how

much this new program has to offer. As they began the food

safety unit, students learned through hands-on science experi-

ments combined with research activities. Some of these efforts

were recognized at fightbac.org, an organization that promotes

food safety.

One experiment demonstrated the importance of hand

washing. In groups of six, students examined three sets of hands:

unwashed, water rinsed, and those washed for twenty seconds

with soap then rinsed with water. Then, each student applied

glow germ powder and examined their hands under black light—

with startling results! Washing hands with soap for the required

twenty seconds made a huge difference.

Another enlightening experiment came about when students

shook hands with Mrs. Montgomery as they entered the class-

room. Mrs. Montgomery then took out an apple, cutting board,

and knife. The apple was cut into 6 pieces and placed in a plastic

bag marked “everybody.” The process was repeated after Mrs.

Montgomery washed her hands, all equipment, and another apple.

This bag was marked “Mrs. M.” After seven days, students

surveyed results and discovered the importance of washing their

hands and their food before it is eaten.

This food safety curriculum culminated in the creation of

food safety videos. Students filmed commercials depicting the

dangers of poor food handling, kitchen safety procedures, and

hand washing. These commercials are being aired on the school

morning news for every student to see. Students also created

posters to inform the school population about bacteria, safe food

handling, and kitchen safety.

The student’s work was featured on Team Food Safety, an

online community for food safety educators at: http://

teamfoodsafety.org/bac-fighter-field-reports/item/mythbusters-

in-the-classroom.

As Sugg plans for the new Culinary Academy of Kitchen

Epicure Systems (CAKES) program, the future looks bright. Next

semester students will learn nutrition by cooking through the

food plate and traveling the world through international recipes.

Visiting chefs will teach knife skills and practical knowledge about

culinary careers. At the end of this year, eighth graders will test to

receive industry certification in safety and food handling. Next

year, as eighth graders, they will also have the opportunity to en-

roll in a high school course, Culinary I, earning high school credit.

Greenhouse management will be added through the integration

of an on-campus greenhouse, as it is their wish that all students

understand the impor-

tance of bringing the

garden to the table.

Food safety

experiments

demonstrate

bacteria and the

importance of

washing hands

correctly.

Culinary students entertained

visitors for an open house at

Sugg’s new culinary facility.

Here, students pose with

interim Superintendent Dr.

David Gaylor.

Above: Chef Jacque oversees the baking with a

student chef. Right: Chef Jacque and her

advanced students made the cover of TownTaster

Magazine! See the article at http://bit.ly/XcVOfr

Page 10 Adult, Career and Technical Education

FCCLA Meeting: Get a Clue!

D istrict 7 of Family, Career and Community

Leaders of America (FCCLA) held their

annual District Meeting at Woodland Community

Church. There were almost 100 people at this

meeting representing six different schools from the district. The

schools represented were Lake Placid Middle School, Sebring

High School, Braden River Middle School, Lakewood Ranch

High School, Manatee High School, and Sugg Middle School.

State officers Micaela Figueroa, Miranda Lim, and Briana

Nelson-Canty worked together with district officers Alexis

Gregor, Nicoletta Freer, and Hailey Todoroff to plan the meeting

around the well-known Clue board game and the state theme,

“FCCLA: the Best Kept Secret.” Each school in attendance had

to create wall decorations to represent a room they were assigned

from the game Clue. The state and district officers also created a

skit around the Clue game, while attendees tried to figure out the

mystery.

At the end of the meeting, new district and state officer

candidates were selected. These students include Cassandra

Rankin, Jessica Zelitt, Meghan Neu, and Michelle Sobolewski for

district officers and Nicoletta

Freer and Hailey Todoroff

for state officer candidates.

L–R: Briana Nelson-Canty, Nicoletta

Freer, Meghan Neu, Cassandra Ran-

kin, Micaela Figueroa, Hailey Todoroff,

Michelle Sobolewski, Jessica Zelitt,

Alexis Gregor, and Miranda Lim

First Place Clue

T he FCCLA theme for this year is FCCLA: The Best Kept

Secret. As part of the District 7 Fall Leadership Meeting,

each chapter was assigned a room from the ever popular Clue

Game. Manatee High School (MHS) students created the dining

room, with the chandelier hiding a wrench, the curtains tied back

with rope (of course), and a candlestick and knife on the table.

After winning first place, the

“room” now hangs as a

backdrop for the preschool

kitchen area. Everything is

always put to good use!

The Clue game hangs as a backdrop

at the MHS preschool kitchen area.

Smart Students, Smart Table

T he Small Learning Communities grant recently

purchased a new SMART Table for the MHS Early

Childhood Education (ECE) program, under the direction of

instructor Nancy Acton. A SMART Table is a multi-touch,

multi-user interactive learning center that allows groups of early

education students to work simultaneously on one surface.

Today's tech-savvy students gravitate to the SMART Table and its

horizontal, 360 degree surface. While working on the SMART

Table, students build cognitive, social, and fine motor skills and

teachers can create engaging activities.

The ECE 2 students, along with hand-picked ECE 1

students, attended a workshop to learn how to operate the new

SMART Table. Two representatives from Audio Visual Innova-

tions, Inc. spent three hours teaching the students (and Mrs.

Acton) how to use the table and how to create their own activities

for the table. Classroom

laptops were loaded with the

software and students learned

just like the preschoolers they

teach; hands-on!

Learning the new SMART Table

How Does Your Garden Grow?

W ith the help of Crystal Culver, a member of the MHS

Global Leadership Academy Advisory Board and

Keiser University instructor, and Pat Zalo, MHS Science Depart-

ment Chair, the ECE students are growing herbs and potted

vegetables in the preschool play area. With the donation of a

plant lighting unit, the students started seeds inside and then

transplanted them outside. The preschool children observe plant

growth and learn the value of being productive. One of their daily

responsibilities is to water the plants. The herbs are then available

for Culinary Arts.

Students transfer

seedlings into felt

wrappings, which are

then placed in the

vertical garden.

Learning + Fun = Priceless

A fter completing the Department of Children and Fami-

lies (DCF) Child Growth and Development Module,

the ECE 1 students recently put learning into action. Working in

groups, students planned games, crafts, and a puppet show. The

students wrote simple lesson plans, created and gathered materi-

als, and implemented the activity with the children. One group

created several simple games for the children to use on the new

SMART Table. Fun plus learning for everyone = priceless!

Trikes for St. Judes

M HS ECE students, along with the VPK preschoolers

and FCCLA members, participated in a Trike-a-Thon

fundraiser for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Before the

VPK students learn on the SMART Table; ECE students put learning into action.

School District of Manatee County Page 11

event, the children learned about the importance of bicycle safety

and Mrs. Acton’s FCCLA students collected donations for St.

Jude’s. The ECE students set

up a “race course” and the

children brought their bikes

and safety gear. It was so

much fun that they plan to

do it again this spring!

St. Judes Trike-a-Thon

Mini Mustang Adventures

L akewood Ranch High School’s Mini Mustangs have

been busy. The four-year-old VPK class rode a school

bus for the first time as they attended the School Time Perform-

ance held at the VanWezel

Performing Arts Center.

They were accompanied by

their high school Early Child-

hood Education student -

teachers. It was lots of fun

for everyone!

The three-year-olds dressed in Native Ameri-

can costumes for their family feast at Thanks-

giving. The children’s parents were invited to

the Feast to share lunch and observe the class

projects. It was a great time to share with

families!

Above: boarding the bus to the Van Wezel Performing Arts

Center. Left: a family feast.

New FCCLA in Action

F CCLA is alive and well again at Sugg Middle School,

under the direction of advisor Valerie Montgomery.

Their first service project was to bake each month for “Pastry

with the Principal.” This is a meeting with parents and adminis-

trators to discuss concerns and happenings on campus. So far

students have made monkey bread, muffins, and a variety of

coffee cakes.

Students then gathered momentum to raise money for a

turkey raffle open to all students. They raised enough money for

25 turkeys to be given away. Next year their goal is 100! As the

semester ended, students were planning their projects and looking

forward to competing in the District Competition and States in

the spring. Meanwhile, they still found time to help pack up holi-

day boxes for servicemen and women overseas. FCCLA stuffed

100 Christmas stockings made from socks for the Salvation

Army. The stockings plus

100 ditty bags were for those

who are often forgotten at

Christmas. FCCLA is off to

a fantastic start!

FCCLA students give away turkeys

Chowdown for Charity

C ulinary students from Manatee High School, Southeast

High School, Manatee Technical Institute and USF

Sarasota/Manatee competed at the recent fourth annual Chow-

down for Charity event, raising funds to support their programs

as well as the Manatee County Food Bank. Sponsored by the

Manatee Chapter of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Associa-

tion, the event was held at the Riverhouse restaurant in Palmetto.

Several participating restaurants took part.

Congr atu l at ions to

Chef Marquette and the

Canes culinary students who

swept first place in all three

categories including the Peo-

ple’s Choice, Judge’s Choice,

and Best Booth Presenta-

tion. Canes culinary students

presented and served their

signature Harvest Bread

Pudding dessert to a crowd

of over 300 community and

business leaders.

Manatee High School chefs and

Manatee Technical Institute chefs

Citrus Competition Winners

E leven Southeast High School culinary students partici-

pated in Mixon Fruit Farm’s fifth annual Citrus

Cooking Competition, along with many other students from

Manatee Technical institute, Manatee High, and Sugg Middle

School. The students entered dessert and appetizer competitions,

in which the main ingredient of the dishes had to be composed of

citrus fruit. Mixons donated the citrus fruits, jellies, and jams to

each participating school.

Southeast’s very own Sabrina Escuza took first place in the

dessert contest with an Upside Down Orange Cake, and won a

chance to job-shadow two chefs, Lan Bradeen at Melange and

Steve Phelps at Indigenous, as well as her cake being featured for

one month at Melange restaurant. Lucas Fath took second place

in the Appetizer contest with his Citrus Roasted Bruschetta, and

also got the opportunity to job-shadow chef Greg Campbell at

Pier 22, and they both will be featured in an article in the Town

Taster Magazine. Southeast High School would like to thank

Mixon’s Fruit Farms for their continued support.

In related news, Sugg Middle School students placed third in

the dessert category. Their orange olive oil cake was made with

olive oil that was provided free of charge from their business

L–R: SEHS’s Sabrina

Escuza and the trophy

for winning the Citrus

Competition Dessert

contest. Sugg citrus

competitors

Page 12 Adult, Career and Technical Education

partner, Paneolio Olive Oil. The school was to be featured on

their website, www.paneolio.com.

MTI Culinary Sparkles at Wine Fest

T he MTI Culinary Arts Program instructors and

students wowed guests at the 11th annual Suncoast

Food and Wine Fest at the Sarasota Polo Grounds. This popular

annual event allows culinary students to share the spotlight with

35 area restaurants and about 2,000 wine and food lovers. Spon-

sored by the Rotary Club, the event supports numerous local

charit ies. MTI

instructor Chef

Jamie Gregorich

and one of her

students, Mau-

reen Kendal l ,

gave a cooking

class during the

Wine Fest.

Scenes from the fest

SETV Debuts Army Corps of Engineers Video

W hen the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

needed to produce a video to help warn

children and adults about the dangers of unex-

ploded ordnance or ammunition, they ultimately turned to the TV

and Production Department at Southeast High School, under the

direction of instructor Mike Sanders. Just over 12 minutes in

length, the video uses an imaginary news broadcast to emphasize

the potential dangers and proper responses children or adults

should follow when they encounter an unexploded bomb or

other form of munitions or explosive. The video presents the

“Three R’s” of explosives safety (Recognize, Retreat, and Report).

USA Environmental, Inc., a business based in Oldsmar,

Florida, will use the video in training demonstrations across the

country to teach people about the danger, especially in areas

where the U.S. Military has had or has rifle, artillery, tank or

bomb ranges.

“We go to school sites and tell students and parents how to

be prepared if

t h e y c o m e

across an unex-

ploded ordnance

(UXO),” said Sarah Gambino, Marketing Supervisor for USA

Environmental, Inc. “We also speak to adult groups and organi-

zations such as construction or utility workers who might come

across these kinds of munitions.”

GSL Solutions, a Tampa-based website design and content

management services firm, played an important role in bringing

the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the TV Production

Department at Southeast High School together for this project.

SETV Instructor Mike Sanders directed the video and

employed the services of two of his former SETV students, Farah

Britto and Chelsie Sloan, in the roles of producers and editors for

the project.

Actors for the video included Southeast High School

Drama Teacher Jason Schiessl, Yearbook/Senior Advisor Randy

Funderburke, and three TV Production students – Jaysha Patel,

Daniel Shevlin, and Luizangel Walle. In addition, members of

Southern Manatee Fire Rescue Station 1 volunteered their

services for the video.

SETV Broadcasts Live PAL All Star Game

S outheast High School Director of Television Mike

Sanders reports that the Police Athletic League (PAL)

granted permission for the SETV sports broadcast team to stream

the PAL Bowl All Star football game between Manatee County all

stars and Sarasota County all stars. The live broadcast gave an

opportunity for the SETV students’ work to be seen nationwide

via the internet, and gave the football players with relatives and

friends outside of the area an opportunity to see their favorite

student athlete in action. To see clips of this game and other

SETV broadcast s , v is i t

www.highschoolcube.com/

schools/southeast -h igh-

school-bradenton-florida

Live football broadcast of the

PAL Bowl All Star game

Tony Smith Joins Lee’s TV Production and TSA

N avy veteran Tony Smith recently joined Lee Middle

School as a TV Production/Technology teacher and

TSA advisor. Tony’s career began with over 20 years of military

service where he worked with complex electronic systems and

later as an advanced electronics instructor. After earning a degree

in Education and Curriculum Development from Southern

Illinois University and later moving to Florida, Tony participated

in Troops to Teachers, a program designed to help prior military

personnel start a new career in education. He

began as a guest teacher in Manatee County, while

earning his Florida teaching certification.

In 2009, Tony volunteered to help Southeast

High School’s TSA chapter. In 2010, he began

teaching math and science at Braden River Middle,

and assisted with their TSA program as well. He

spent 2011 teaching intensive language arts at

Footage from the

SETV production of a

training video for the

US Army Corps of

Engineers

Tony Smith

School District of Manatee County Page 13

Southeast, and this year arrived at Lee Middle. Tony looks

forward to starting Lee’s TSA program.

“I have worked with Engineering and Technology for most

of my life,” said Tony, “and am looking forward to passing that

knowledge and experience to a new generation of learners.”

Communication Rocks

B RHS Arts and Communication Academy co-lead

teacher, Jillian Bieber, reported that BRHS won the

93.3 FLZ Jingle Ball contest. The wonderful students and staff

voted every day for two weeks straight, and won out in competi-

tion with over 20 Tampa Bay schools. The only other Manatee

school was Lakewood High School. BRHS achieved total votes of

41.49% of all the participating schools! Wow!

The winning school sent one student to walk and work the

red carpet and two students to attend the show and interview the

performers such as Justin Bieber, Kesha, Ed Sheeran, and Sean

Kingston. Journalism students selected Kelsey Lutzi to walk and

work the red carpet and Brandon Huynh and Bailey Rodgers who

attended and reported on the show. A special mention goes to

Katie Cafiero, who brought this competition to the school’s

attention and worked extremely hard to secure votes. She also

attended the event.

Kelsey Lutzi and Katie Cafiero had a Skype interview during

Journalism class with Gayle Guyardo from News Channel 8. The

students were followed by her videographer during their red

carpet experience at the Jingle Ball Concert at the Tampa Bay

Times Forum. The "Making a Difference" segment was aired the

next day. Gayle asked the girls how they were going to bring this

experience back to the classroom, what they learned from their

experience, and what surprised them about interviewing the stars.

The girls met Gayle at the concert; she was so impressed with

their story of how they had won this experience from 939.3FLZ

that she wanted to follow up with them and tell their story

through her own news show.

L–R: The

students with

Gayle

Guyardo live,

and on Skype

from the

classroom.

Cover Story: F1 Students Race in Abu Dhabi

B RHS engineering student Mario Palmer, BRHS alumni

Jeremy Petty, and Lakewood Ranch freshman Aly

Cote traveled to the F1 in Schools World Finals racing competi-

tion in Abu Dhabi, UAE. F1 in Schools is a multi-disciplinary

challenge in which teams of students deploy CAD/CAM software

to collaborate, design, analyze, manufacture, test, and then race

miniature gas powered balsa wood F1 cars.

The students were part of Velox F1, a collaboration team of

six students—three from Manatee County and three from

Canada—who spent five months and approximately 500 hours

virtually preparing for the event using Skype, social media

networking, and WebEx. The six did not meet in person until

they arrived in the UAE for the competition.

The team finished 13th after fierce competition. A total of

33 teams from 22 countries competed in the event with more

than 350 students competing for top awards. The competition

was held inside the world’s largest indoor theme park, Ferrari

World on Yas Island overlooking the prestigious Yas Marina

Formula One Circuit in Abu Dhabi.

“This was a truly amazing learning experience,” said Mario,

the team’s graphic designer. “We have met students from all over

the world and witnessed

how each team inter-

preted the engineering

rules to compete in this

global competition.”

The VELOX team with advisors in

Abu Dhabi

BHS VEX Excellence—Heading to VEX Worlds

C am Powell and Zack Zofrea will represent

Bayshore High School and Manatee County

at the VEX World Championships in Anaheim,

CA in April 2013. Cam and Zack earned their way to World's

with two VEX Excellence Awards this season. As seniors, com-

peting at the World level was their goal and they earned their first

invitation early, at the Bayshore Bot Blast in October 2012 by

outperforming over 30 teams from Miami to Tampa. They earned

their second invitation in January 2013 with a win at the Space

Coast Showdown at Palm Bay High School. This time they out-

performed 34 extremely competitive teams including teams from

Puerto Rico and Mexico. VEX Excellence is awarded to teams

that excel in four key skills; programming, driver skills, competi-

tion and engineering design. Cam and Zack know they need to

continue improving their design and game strategy between now

and worlds in order to capture the world title.

The VEX Robotics Competi-

tion (VRC) is a worldwide technol-

ogy event with more than 4,800

teams from 20 countries competing

in over 300 tournaments worldwide.

VEX infuses fun and excitement

into a solid program enhancing skills

in science, technology, engineering,

and math (STEM). The league helps

students improve their robotics

engineering and competitive skills.

Cam Powell and Zack Zofrea ,

VEX Excellence award winners

Page 14 Adult, Career and Technical Education

BHS TSA Creates League, Hosts VEX Event

B ayshore High School technology education

instructor and TSA advisor Martha Proulx

has led the charge to implement a new area VEX

robotics league. Proulx and her TSA robotics

students hosted over 30 middle and high school teams from

Tampa to Naples, where competitors sharpened skills and partici-

pated in a VEX competition. “The league gives the students

opportunities to come together and get up to speed on VEX

robotics,” said Proulx. Bayshore is home to two-time national

VEX champs Cameron Powell and Zack Zofrea, and is also one

of the few schools with an all-girls team. Madison Perry and Sarah

Ann Polyakovics have begun to earn respect in the league.

Manatee County TSA advisors and volunteers who partici-

pated in the event included Martha Proulx (BHS), Roger Proulx

(BHS), Richard Platt (SEHS), Adam Carmicheal (KMS), Hollis

Bostic (JMS), Tony Smith (Lee), Tracy Whitlock (LRHS/HMS),

Crystal Perry (parent TSA advisor, BHS), as well as students from

H a r l l e e M i d d l e a n d

Braden River High who

worked as scorekeepers

and field resetters.

Clockwise from left: BHS

engineering teacher Martha Proulx

with students; engineering teach-

ers Adam Carmicheal (King MS),

Richard Platt (SEHS) Hollis Bostic

(Johnson MS) and School Board

Member Dave Miner; scenes from

the VEX event.

Model Water Tower Competition

I n conjunction with our technology and engineering pro-

grams, the American Water Works Association (AWWA),

Florida Region X, recently held its tenth annual Model Water

Tower Competition at Haile Middle School.

The objective of the model water tower competition is to

make participants aware of the importance of reliable drinking

water and the rewarding opportunities available in the water

profession. The competition does this by having students develop

an idea into a functioning water tower, just like water profession-

als do in the real world!

Student-built water towers are judged on structural

efficiency, cost efficiency, hydraulic efficiency—measured by the

amount of time it takes to fill and drain one gallon of water, and

design ingenuity, a

subjective evaluation

of craftsmanship,

imaginat ion , and

artistic merit.

Robotics Volunteers

S everal Bayshore High School (BHS) Technology

Student Association (TSA) students volunteered to

help with the 18th Annual Manatee Children’s Summit at the

Manatee County Civic Center. TSA students spent two weeks

building and programming three VEX robots as well as designing

an obstacle course for area elementary school students to experi-

ence robotics for the first time. The VEX robots were provided

by RECF, Robotics Education Competition Foundation, which is

a not-for-profit organization dedicated to integrating science,

technology, engineering, and math (STEM) into the classroom.

The TSA students worked with over 100 excited students

who were using cutting-edge technology to test their robotics

skills. BHS volunteers included first-time robotics students,

experienced students, and even a Bayshore alumnus. Special

thanks to the students, TSA advisor Martha Proulx, and RECF

Business Partner/Regional Support Manager Mr. Roger Proulx.

TSA Hosts Party for Foster Families

M ore than 45 foster care families and more than 140

children in foster care were treated to a special

celebration when Haile Middle School hosted the Third Annual

Technology Student Association’s Holiday Party. Student and

faculty volunteers representing TSA chapters from Haile, Nolan,

Johnson, Sugg, Harllee, Buffalo Creek, and King middle schools,

as well as Lakewood Ranch, Southeast and Bayshore high schools

provided technology-related activities and gifts for the children

and families attending the event.

With the help of TSA chapter members, the children raced

CO2 cars, operated robots, designed video games in Scratch,

created animation using Flash, built boats for racing, laser

engraved thermoses, designed marshmallow guns, and created

digital designs in Photoshop to print on tee shirts. All of these

fun activities helped them explore science, engineering, technol-

ogy, and math (STEM). Guests enjoyed a spaghetti dinner, took

photos with Santa, and created ornaments, too. Special apprecia-

tion to Haile’s TSA advisor and technology instructor Pam Platt

for coordinating this event.

Tech News from Nolan

C ongratulations to Justin Devine, technology teacher

and TSA advisor at Nolan Middle School. Justin wrote

a grant sponsored by Civil Air Patrol—Aerospace Education and

was awarded funds to put towards the enhancement of the tech-

BRHS technology teacher Gil

Burlew (right photo) observes

students’ water towers.

TSA students help foster children enjoy hands-on technology activities

School District of Manatee County Page 15

nology program. In addition, with much anticipa-

tion, Justin and Nolan leaders are working towards

establishing the eSTEAM Academy (Science,

Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math). Kudos

to Mr. Devine for his leadership in encouraging

students in their passion for technology.

Elementary Engineers in Action

I nspiring Elementary Engineering (IE2) teacher Deb

Smith reports that the Freedom Elementary Technology

Student Association (TSA) team has been involved in a coopera-

tive project with the Ringling College of Art and Design and the

county Water Conservation Department. Students designed a

team project that explained different aspects of water conserva-

tion. Teams were given a wide variety of choices; some made

science fair board presentations, others designed TV game show

videos, game boards, obstacle courses, door hangers, knowledge

blocks, and comic strips. The young teams came up with great

ideas after a guest speaker shared about what our county does in

the area of conservation.

After the elementary projects were completed, they were

given to a class of Ringling graduate students who then used them

to produce their own water conservation projects as a course

requirement. It was a tremendous collaboration between the three

venues. As a culminating experience, the TSA team took a field

trip to the Water Treatment Plant on Waterline Road to see how

our water is processed and how it arrives at our homes safe

enough to drink. The team also heard about several conservation

efforts that the county is implementing. The kids enjoyed the

project and learned quite a bit that will provide a solid base for

the creation of some outstanding water towers for upcoming

water tower competitions.

Freedom

Elementary TSA

students observe

water testing and

learn about water

treatment proc-

esses.

FBA Visits IRISS, Inc. Commercial Job Site

I t was a terrific day for exploring career pathways in

the building industry for 85 Future Builders of

America (FBA) students, where running was the

theme of the day. Cement trucks were running wet concrete, elec-

tricians were running wires, plumbers were running pipes, and

HVAC guys were running vents on the construction site of the

new global headquarters of IRISS, Inc. in Lakewood Ranch.

FBA students from Lincoln Middle School with FBA

advisor Ray Weiland, Palmetto High School with FBA advisors

Bob Lounds and Jim Kapper, Manatee High School with advisor

Jeff Sharp, Sarasota Military Academy with advisor Ron Jones,

and MTI with advisors Jim Eisner and Brian Forbes, all dressed

in hard hats, safety glasses, long pants and closed-toe shoes so

they could get an up close look at the inner workings of an active

commercial job site.

Hosted by Fred M. Starling Construction, the students were

escorted by the job superintendent on a tour of the 30,000 foot

facility that is close to getting its Certificate of Occupancy.

Students observed how many trades play a vital role in the

construction industry and the importance of coordinating the

trades in order to keep the project on time and on budget. Of

special interest were the blueprints, which document the entire

plan for the construction of the building.

Alan Anderson, Executive Vice President of Home Builders

Association Manatee-Sarasota, facilitated the field trip and works

closely with FBA advisors, ensuring that students interested in the

construction industry have the opportunity to explore real-world

career experiences. FBA students also participated in the Parade

of Homes, an HBA Manatee-Sarasota sponsored tour of new

homes, where they will judge the homes based on quality, design,

use of space, and green building technologies.

BRHS Agriscience Intern

U niversity of Florida (UF) graduate

student Sarah Pinkston is completing an

internship under the leadership of BRHS agri-

science instructor Deb Barry. Sarah is completing

her UF graduate program in Agricultural Education

and Communication (AEC), one of the nation’s top

programs in developing leaders, educators, and communicators to

meet today’s challenges in agricultural and life sciences. Sarah

recently met with ACT Department Director Doug Wagner to

discover more about the agriscience programs in the district.

“What I like most about interning in Manatee County is the

tremendous support that I have been offered by my cooperating

teacher and other teachers in the county," said Sarah. "My goals

during this internship are to extend my teaching curriculum,

improve my classroom management procedures, and develop my

own teaching style.”

Justin Devine

FBA students on

the job site at the

new Lakewood

Ranch global

headquarters of

IRISS, a manu-

facturer of infra-

red windows.

Sarah Pinkston

Page 16 Adult, Career and Technical Education

Ag Students Appreciate Quilting Lessons

W hen PHS agriscience instructor and FFA

advisor Julie Tillet’s students were raising

animals for the county fair, they came up with a ter-

rifically unique idea to help with sales. They invited Trish Litton

from the ACT Department to teach them how to make quilts.

Next, they each worked hard to make a handmade quilt to be

given to the buyer of their animals! The students were so appre-

ciative of the time and skill that Trish lent to the class that they

created a quilt to present to Trish and invited her for a surprise

celebration. The quilt displays the FFA emblem in the center, a

PHS tiger paw print on

each of the four corners,

and the class year of 2012

–2013. Trish was touched

with their thoughtfulness,

and the quilt now hangs

on her office wall.

FFA students honored Trish Litton.

Remembering Florida

B raden River High School agriscience and business

students sponsored a special event recently featuring

Rick Smith, the son of Patrick D. Smith, acclaimed author of A

Land Remembered. Students are reading this book, applying the

content to different cross content-area projects, and creating

digital movies of the story. The visit was sponsored by a generous

grant from the Manatee Farm Bureau.

A Land Remembered captures the pioneering spirit of Floridi-

ans and illustrates the colorful history of the state. The book

begins in 1858, when the MacIvey family abandoned 40 acres of

played-out Georgia clay and headed for the wilds of Florida,

where they settled near present-day Gainesville to begin farming.

Despite adversity, the MacIveys built a considerable kingdom

from ranching and orange groves over the

next half century.

Rick dressed as Tobias MacIvey, the patri-

arch of the novel’s fictional family. The

program was a multimedia sensory delight

incorporating video clips, photos, paintings,

music, and sound effects to transport the

audience to another place and time.

Rick Smith presented a multimedia history lesson from A

Land Remembered, his father’s book.

Farm City Week Essay Winners

S ince 1955, the National Farm-City Council has

supported educational programming to build interde-

pendence between rural and urban citizens, and the President of

the United Sates has annually proclaimed the week leading to and

including Thanksgiving Day as National Farm-City® Week.

Locally, agriscience students learned about Farm City Week and

participated in a county-wide essay contest.

Congratulations to

Haile Middle's Melanie

Doty and Braden River

High's Emily Champagne,

named this year's Farm

City Week Essay Winners. Each winner received a plaque and $75

check from the Farm City Week Committee. Other students plac-

ing in the contest included Garett Schultz (LRHS), 2nd Place;

Savanna Thomas (BRHS), 3rd Place; Christine King (NMS), 2nd

Place; and Julia A. Lawson (HMS), 2nd Place.

Buffalo Creek Middle Fundraiser

U nder the direction of agriscience teacher and FFA

advisor Greg Egan, Buffalo Creek Middle’s FFA

recently held its first annual Animal Expo, fundraiser BBQ

dinner, and silent auction. Through generous contributions from

auction sponsors Mosaic, Peacocks Meats, Sam’s Club, C&K

Smokehouse, PJ’s Sandwich Shop, Gecko’s Restaurant, Slentz

Electric, Vineyards, Surf Shop, Lipman Farms, and Prince Fars, as

well as proceeds from the

dinner and expo, BCMS

FFA raised $3,200. The

funds will support animals

at the schoo l and go

toward the purchase of an

animal transport trailer.

BCMS Animal Expo

Nolan FFA at Foundation of Dreams

N olan Middle School FFA students—along with their

advisor Stefani Heidenthal—recently had an opportu-

nity to spend a beautiful fall morning with campers from the

Foundation of Dreams.

The students spent most of the morning helping (and play-

ing) at a fall festival with campers making bubbles, eating donuts

from a string, planting their own pumpkin seed, and learning

about what plants need to grow. The highlight of the day was an

egg toss, scavenger hunt, and mummy contest. Campers and

counselors had to create a mummy with bandages and a Nolan

FFA student, with a mummy fashion show and award for the best

mummy to follow.

A wonderful morning was had by campers, counselors, and

especially Nolan students

who had an opportunity

to participate in this fun-

filled morning.

Nolan Middle FFA students at the

Kiwanis Foundation of Dreams.

Deb Barry, Melanie Doty, Mr. Ralph

Garrison (FCW Chairman) and

Karen Ciemniecki.

School District of Manatee County Page 17

Buffalo Creek Middle’s Fair Successes

B uffalo Creek FFA advisor Greg Egan reports that his

students returned from the Manatee County Fair with

smiles, ribbons, and awards. “A great big thanks to parents and

supporters, and especially to the students who put in tireless

hours getting ready,” says Greg. Here’s his report:

13 students showed hogs (two worked with the chapter hog)

12 hogs were sold for a total of $11,876.50

5 students showed steers, 5 were sold for a total of $22,616.50

57 student entries were put in the fair ranging from plants, beef breeding/steers, hogs, dairy, poultry, goats, horses, and rabbits.

49 blue ribbons were awarded

6 students had plant sales totaling $1,345.00

Reserve Grand Champion hog

Grand Champion & Reserve Champion plants

2nd Place Showmanship rabbits

1st Place Showmanship goats

1st in Best Coordinated Costumes for dairy

1st in Record Book competition

Horseman of the Year, 13 year old Jordon Olson

1st in Senior Showmanship in horses

1st in Senior Western Pleasure

Lincoln Middle’s Fair Successes

L incoln Middle School FFA advisor Kimberley Lough

reports that her students enjoyed wonderful experi-

ences and success at the recent fair.

Plants—10 exhibitors, total of 15 blue ribbons! Show sweepers: 1 Grand

Champion in Plant Showmanship, 1 Reserve Grand Champion in Plant

Show, 1 Grand Champion in Plant Show

Dairy—2 animals, 4 exhibitors, 2 blue ribbons for Dairy Costume

Show, 2 blue ribbons for Dairy Show

Swine—2 individuals, 1 chapter animal with 11 members who partici-

pated. 1 Grand champion in Swine Showmanship, 1 First in class and

Reserve in Division for Swine Show, 3 blue ribbon hogs overall.

Rabbits—3 exhibitors, total of 4 blue, 1 red ribbon.

Poultry—5 exhibitors with multiple birds, total of 12 blue ribbons, 4 red,

show sweeper for Poultry Showmanship! 1st, 2nd AND 3rd place in

Showmanship this year!

Livestock Judging Competitions—1st and 4th place winners in Horse

Judging, 1st Place Winner in Beef Judging, 2nd Place Winner in Dairy

Judging.

Nolan Middle’s Fair Successes

S tefani Heidenthal, agriscience teacher and FFA advisor

at Nolan Middle School, reported that Nolan won 23

out of 30 places in Livestock Evaluations, and student Nolan

FFA Student Rebecca Elek took Overall in Evaluation. “FFA is

such a great opportunity for students to grow in so many ways,”

says Stefani, “and truly this is one of the best parts of my job as I

get to watch the confidence and leadership skills these students

are gaining in all of their projects.” Stefani also reported these

other outstanding results from Nolan FFA exhibitors:

Swine—18 swine registered, 17 in, 16 Blue/1 Red, chapter swine/Blue,

3 called back for Showmanship

Steer—3 registered, 3 in, 3 Blue, 2 called back for showmanship

Heifer—1 registered and in, 1 Blue

Dairy—10 in, 1 chapter

Rabbit—6 in, 5 Blue/1 Red, 1 Best Small Breed

Plants—6 Projects, 5 Blue/4 Red

Goat—4 in, 4 Blue, One Grand Champion/Best in Class

Braden River’s Fair Successes

D ebbie Barry, agriscience teacher and FFA advisor at

Braden River High School, is thrilled to report that

student Cassidy Delong is the recipient of the Randy Ballard

Memorial Award, a $1,000 scholarship. Student Sarah Adams was

selected Junior Miss Manatee County Fair, not to mention her

Grand Champion award in Beef Breeding. Successes include:

Swine—Swine Showmanship Finalist, 1st Place Swine Showmanship, 1st in Class Swine

Beef Breeding—Grand Champion, 1st in Class—Charolais Breed Heifer, Grand Champion—Brahman Influence Heifer; 2 Showmanship Finalists

Dairy: Showmanship Finalist, 1st Place Dairy Costume Contest; 1st in Class—Milker

Beef—2 Showmanship Finalists

Livestock Judging—three 1st Place, two 2nd Place, one 3rd Place, two 4th Place, three 5th Place.

Horse—1st in Class

Goat—Reserve Grand Champion—Nigerian Goat Breed, 1st in Class Lamancha Goat Breed

Rabbit—2nd Place Showmanship

Poultry—2nd Place Showmanship

Dog—1st in class

Page 18 Adult, Career and Technical Education

BHS Students Win SkillsUSA Elections

B HS SkillsUSA advisor MaryAnn Kauffman

announced that BHS students are holding

four of the seven elected Region 6 officer posi-

tions; 14 candidates ran for 7 offices. “Thank you

to Ms. McCann and Ms. Ladd for helping the students with their

candidate speeches,” said MaryAnn. “They were elected on the

merit of their speeches, and I am so proud of their efforts in

becoming leaders!” The new officers include: President Kristin

Staley; Secretary Arianna Priebe; Reporter Julia de Camargo; and

Parliamentarian Amber Wilson.

SkillsUSA Serves Brush with Kindness

F ourteen MTI SkillsUSA students volunteered for

Habitat for Humanity helping a Citrus Meadows home-

owner paint her home. The Brush for

Kindness project helps homeowners

with exterior repairs and maintenance

when they need help for financial and

often health related reasons. MTI Draft-

ing students Brooke Gore and Daniel

Mitchell coordinated the student effort

with Ogden Clark, the volunteer coordi-

nator for Manatee County’s Habitat for

Humanity.

SkillsUSA students offer help to a homeowner.

SkillsUSA Students Serve HOPE

C omputer networking students volunteered at HOPE

Family Services to create a “toy store” for HOPE

clients to obtain gifts for their children. The project was a com-

munity service project for SkillsUSA. HOPE Family Services

helps victims and survivors of domestic violence. HOPE donor

relations coordinator Elsa Hanna expressed her gratitude, saying,

“The students were phe-

nomenal, a real joy, and so

courteous. We couldn't have

done it without them—they

were a real Godsend!”

SkillsUSA member Stephanie French

at HOPE Family Services.

More Help from SkillsUSA

M TI’s SkillsUSA students were busy during the holidays

making a difference in our community.

SkillsUSA cosmetology, facial and nails students collected

toiletries and $120 to spend on toiletries to send to US troops.

SkillsUSA and HOSA students from the dental assisting program

adopted 21 people for Christmas from the Verandas at Riverfront

independent and assisted living facility, delivering gifts and spend-

ing time together. Baking and Pastry Arts SkillsUSA students

prepared pastries for a Meals on Wheels Senior Shoebox benefit

dinner at the Polo Grill in Lakewood Ranch. Adult education and

SkillsUSA students from Electricity, Drafting, Plumbing, Web

Design, Networking, and Cosmetology rang bells outside of the

Bayshore Publix to help raise money for the Salvation Army.

Mr. Heart Throb Fundraiser

M anatee Technical Institute hosted

a Mr. Heart Throb Contest at the

new main campus. Students and instructors

competed in an all-male pageant to raise

money for student travel to the SkillsUSA

National Championships. A portion of the

funds raised will be donated to the American

Heart Association and the Blue Star Mothers.

16th Annual Chili Cook Off: Game On!

T he annual MTI Chili Cook Off was back and better

than ever! This year, the theme was “No benches. No

half-times. No time-outs. Game On!” From Candyland to the

PGA tour, the MTI crew represented their favorite game for a

good cause, with all proceeds benefitting the United Way.

At the Cook-Off, 26 teams entered 28 chilis to compete for

the first place title. With a slightly unfair edge because of their

mad cooking skills, the culinary team won first place with their

“Sorry, We Don't Have a Clue Chili.” Networking students took

second with their “Striker Chili” and Electrical program students

took third with “White Chicken Chili.”

SkillsUSA officers in order listed above, in text.

Guests and participants enjoyed a wildly successful Chili Cookoff

School District of Manatee County Page 19

Prohibition of Discrimination. Any person who believes he/she has been discriminated

against or has been harassed by an employee, student, or other third party who is subject

to control of the Manatee County School Board is encouraged to use the appropriate

grievance procedures set forth in policy. Complaints should be forwarded to Rebecca

Wells, Equity Coordinator; P.O. Box 9069, Bradenton, FL 34206; 941-708-8540 ext. 3035.

The Most Original Booth award went to the Dental

students. The tug o’ war champions were HVAC for the men’s

team and the Patient Care Technician team (main campus) for the

women’s team. For the wild and wacky foot race battle, students

raced handcrafted, cardboard vehicles including qualifying heats,

two pit stops, and a trip down Victory Lane. Winning the race

were Pharmacy Tech, first place; Automotive Service, second

place; and Carpentry, third place. With action, great food, and live

entertainment from local sensation Gumbo Boogie, this event

was great fun for a great cause.

Celebration Supports Farmworker Children

T he MTI’s Farmworker Education and Services Pro-

gram and the Adelante Team of Tropicana Products

Inc. presented the 5th Annual Celebration at the Head Start

school at the migrant camp at Falkner Farms in Myakka City.

Farm workers and families enjoyed a showcase of Hispanic

culture and received school supplies donated by the Adelante

Team. The purpose of the activity was also to raise money for the

Farmworker Emergency Fund, serving families in crisis situations.

To donate to the fund, contact the Farmworker Education and

Services Program at 941-751-7947 or 751-7900 ext. 2165.

Inaugural Car Show and Food Truck Rally

T o help raise funds for student scholarships, students

and faculty from the MTI Automotive Service Tech-

nology program recently teamed up with Napa Auto Parts, Snap-

on, and Suncoast Food Trucks to host the Inaugural MTI Car

Show & Food Truck Rally. The money raised at the event will

help send students to the SkillsUSA

National Championships.

With free admission, live music,

door prizes, and food from six differ-

ent Suncoast Food Trucks, the event

was a smashing success. Car buffs

entered cars in categories such as

Antique/Classic, JDM, Muscle, Exotic,

Hot Rod, Show Favorite, European,

Best Engine, Best in Show, and more.

It was the first event held at the new

MTI campus before it opened its

doors to students.

Law Enforcement 5K Run

M TI’s Law Enforcement Academy held its fourth

annual 5K Veterans Day Challenge in honor of Vet-

erans. Law enforcement basic recruits ran alongside participants.

SkillsUSA members organized the event to raise funds for state

and national competitions. The race was held at the MTI East

Campus, and event sponsors included On a Shoestring, Suncoast

Striders Walking and Running Club, Publix, New Balance, S & R

Uniforms, and Road Runners Club of America.

First Responder’s Challenge

T he MTI Alumni Association sponsored and held the

First Responder’s Challenge, where law enforcement,

fire, and EMT professionals competed in physical challenges

while showcasing their skills to the community. Proceeds will help

send students to HOSA and SkillsUSA competitions.

Law Enforcement Academy Graduation

T he MTI Law Enforcement Academy recently graduated

basic recruits at the Bayshore High School Auditorium.

Successful completion of the Law Enforcement Academy at MTI

makes one eligible to take the State Certified Examination for

Law Enforcement, the required test to become a Certified Law

Enforcement Officer in the State of Florida. Class leader George

M. Schrenk IV presented Academy Director Mike Rushing Sr.

with the class plaque. Guest speaker Manatee County Sheriff Brad

Steube addressed the class. Steube advised graduates to set goals,

continue their education, remember they are public servants, and

to have integrity at all times. He also encouraged them to put

God and family before self and career. Chief Rick Wells, Palmetto

Police Department, gave the invocation and benediction. MTI

Director Mary Cantrell,

PhD, gave the open ing

remarks.

Mike Rushing receives the class

plaque from class leader and

graduate George Schrenk.

Farmworker children and families enjoyed the celebration.

Classic cars on display at the

MTI Car Show.

CTSO and Student-Centered Events

T he ACT Department is here to support you in any way we can to help you achieve a successful chapter. Attending

conferences with students is one of the most exciting and demanding aspects of being a CTSO advisor, while providing

student-centered educational opportunities that last a lifetime.

School District of Manatee County 215 Manatee Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 (941) 708-8770 x2227 fax (941) 708-8686

www.ManateeACT.com

Adult, Career and Technical Education is the branch of academics that links the world of education to the world of work. The ACT UPDATE delivers the department’s latest news, events, and “shining stars”—accolades of achievement in career and technical education. Got news, events, or comments to include in the next ACT UPDATE? Send your articles to:

Doug Wagner, Director ACT wagnerd@manateeschools.net

or Trish Litton, Secondary Vocational Specialist

littont@manateeschools.net

CECF/BPA www.cecf.org or www.bpa.org March 17–20, 2013, State Leadership Conference, Orlando

DECA www.deca.org April 24–27, International Career Development Conference, Anaheim

FBLA/PBL www.floridafbla-pbl.com April 25–28, State Leadership Conference, Orlando

FCCLA www.flfccla.org March 2–5, 2013, State Leadership Conference, Orlando

FFA www.flaffa.org June 10–14, State Leadership Conference, Orlando

FPSA www.fpsainc.org March 5–8, FPSA Annual State Conference, Ocala

HOSA www.flhosa.org April 4–8, State Leadership Conference, Orlando

SkillsUSA www.skillsusafl.org April 28–30, State Skills and Leadership Conference, Pensacola

TSA www.floridatsa.com March 13–16, State Conference and Competitions, Orlando

FBA www.futurebuildersofamerica.org March 1–3, FBA Leadership Camp, Haines City

Watch for all of the publications keeping you informed

about what’s happening around the District in the Adult,

Career & Technical Education Department.

Around the District

Tech Times Career Pathways Take Stock Times Transition Times ACT Update Spotlight on Success. ManateeACT.com