Dragon Strong Community
Superintendent's Update - Jan 15, 2021 - New Programs!
Great News!
January 15, 2021
Dear Dragon Community,
We have great news to share! Mountainburg High School has been awarded two Start-Up Grants for Career and Technical Education for a total award of $116, 602.59. These grants are awarded through the Arkansas Dept of Education, Division of Career and Technical Education to cover approx 85% of the costs to start the programs.
We build our present through teamwork and collaboration.
Hats off to the team who worked to secure these funds for our students: Mrs. Jennifer Turner, Mrs. Mary Curd, Mrs. Misty Christian, with help from Mrs. Amanda Howard, Mrs. Barbara Daniel.
We create our future through creativity and innovation!
Sincerely,
Dr. Debbie Atwell
Superintendent
Culinary Arts & Food Production
Exciting new program and courses!
With the grant award of $67,199.57 the district will purchase commercial equipment, cookware and bakeware and renovate one of our existing FACS lab kitchens from residential to commercial.
"This Food Production and Culinary Arts program will allow students to leave HS with a Servsafe certificate and be qualified to run a food service establishment. Most students will work in some type of food establishment as they prepare for their futures. This will give them an advantage and would make them qualified to work as assistant chefs/chefs in nicer restaurants or hotels and not just fast food establishments. If the student chooses this trade as a profession, they will also be given credit for courses taken if they choose to attend the Brightwater Food Institute. AR Tech, UAFS, and U of A all have culinary work programs that allow students to work for reduced tuition or for pay during their college years and these certifications will allow students to be qualified for those programs. Food prep and catering is a highly sought after job field, not only for restaurants but hotels, convention centers, and other hospitality venues."
Q: What learning topics and opportunities will Dragons have in your new program of study?
A: Students will not only learn about safe practices in selecting,
preparing, serving and storing food, but they will also learn about balanced nutrition, food pairings, and presentation. Students will also learn about professional knife skills, baking, pastries and butchery of various meats.
Q: How will you prepare for the new program and courses?
A: Some construction will be needed for the classroom to convert the residential kitchen labs to commercial labs, but as far as myself, I am in contact with Culinary programs for professional development this summer so that I am up to date on my knowledge so that I can pass that on to our students.
Q: What makes you most excited about the new opportunity?
A: I am very excited for our students and excited about the windows of opportunity this program will offer our students and give them advantages in hiring potential compared to students from other districts. I am also excited that FCCLA members will be eligible to compete in new categories that were not available to them such as knife skill, baking, pastries and food innovations.
Mobile Apps Development
New computer science pathway for Dragons!
With grant funds of $49,403.02, our current business computer lab will be updated with 25 new computers, IPod Touch/Android phones, iPad/Android Tablets a MacBook Pro, media carts, cases, headphones, and cables.
Mrs. Christian, Business teacher and FBLA advisor, will offer the Mobile Apps Development program of study in the fall of 2021.
A: Next year I will begin teaching Mobile App Development I and II. The following year, Mobile App Development III and IV, and finally the third year, we will begin offering the final courses of the program of study. At this time, those are yet to be decided.
Q: What learning topics and opportunities will Dragons have in your new program of study?
A: The mobile app development courses will introduce students to
- Computational Thinking and Problem Solving
- Data, Information, and Security
- Algorithms and Programs
- Computers and Communications
- Professionalism and Impacts of Computing
Students will also be given the opportunity to receive industry certifications through the courses in the program of study:
- Microsoft Technology Associate Software Development Fundamentals
- Microsoft Technology Mobility and Device Fundamentals
- Swift Certification Level 1
- Associate Android Developer
- CompTIA Linux *specific certifcations TBD
A: Virtual trainings on Saturdays to prep in computer science knowledge and certification. Having many colleagues in area schools who have been through this training and have taken the Praxis for Computer Science Test will be a huge benefit for me to be able to reach out to them for advice and assistance.
Q: What makes you most excited about the new opportunity?
A: This is my 28th year of teaching. I’ve always been a computer applications teacher; however, I want to do the very best I can for our students and for our school. I will be stepping out of my comfort zone, but when I see that a challenge is beneficial for our students, I become more willing to go the extra mile.
Other information about the program
A: About ten years ago, I began implementing the Microsoft Office Specialist Industry Certifications into Survey of Business (formerly CBA). I saw the benefits this could potentially provide our students and as students have graduated, I have heard from several that have been able to use their certifications instead of having to take a course in college or they have listed their certifications on an application or resume which may have provided them an advantage over another applicant. I see this change in the program of study as offering our students the same advantages that students in larger districts may seem to have. It puts us all on an even playing field. Changing a program of study does take some time for the teacher and for the students. The next three years will pose challenges that will give me and my students more opportunities to learn.
Leading Dragon Strong
- Honor our History through Values and Traditions
- Build our present through Teamwork and Collaboration
- Create our future through Creativity and Innovation
Dr. Debbie Atwell is serving her third year as superintendent. She and husband Roger are MHS graduates, life long residents of the community, and are owned by dogs Woodrow & Sadie.
Email: debbie.atwell@mountainburg.org
Website: www.mountainburg.org
Location: 129 Hwy 71 SW, Mountainburg
Phone: 479-369-2121