Home: Proposal
About: Analysis of Need, Current Efforts, Demographics
People: Students, Parents, Teacher, Advisors
Courses: Descriptions and Schedule
Logistics: Homework, Grades, Rules
Money: Cost and Funding of Program
Outcomes: Habits of Mind, Projections, Proficiencies
Timeline: Blog of progress with visuals!

MAKERTEENS People

Student Qualifications

Although MakerTeens works best for students who have passed Alegbra I, any student entering grade 9 - 12 may apply. More than half of those selected are “identified by the school district as most at-risk of not graduating or being college or career ready, historically and traditionally marginalized and historically underrepresented”. Current dropouts, age 20 or younger, may also apply. Successful applicants will have recommendations from two school staff members. Students may not repeat this opportunity in a subsequent year.

Often students at risk of dropping out have experienced Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), toxic stress, and other dysfunctional contexts that have negatively impacted brain development. Fortunately, with intensive care and retraining, the plasticity of the adolescent brain can grow health promoting neural pathways while allowing bad habits of mind to be pruned away. Students willing to contractually commit to the demands of the MAKERTEENS program are ideal candidates. A student needs a willingness to stick with selected classes and activities throughout the school year. Contracts are signed so parents and students fully understand their rigorous commitments.

Students with severe emotional/behavioral disorders and/or chronic aggressive behaviors, are not categorically disallowed to apply. However, due to the necessity for vigilant shop safety, including working with power tools, it would be problematic for unsafe students to remain in the program.

Sometimes students who display at-risk factors such as sporadic school attendance and/or disengagement from extra-curricular school events are high achieving students.

Parent Qualifications

Parents are uniquely qualified to inform the teacher of “wraparound” issues at home and in the community. In order for their teen to be in the program, parent(s) (or guardian) need to commit to monthly meetings where we discuss parenting issues. Additionally, each parent would need to make time to randomly visit at least one hour of class per month. In the “Check and Connect” model, adults make frequent time to proactively acknowledge students positive behaviors, rather than primarily reacting to student misbehaviors. The resulting authentic praise promotes healthy communicating relationships. (Details to consider: https://educationnorthwest.org/sites/default/files/pbd.pdf)

Teacher Qualifications

BS Psychology, Univ. of Oregon
MA Education, Western Oregon Univ.
STEAM trained, Lane ESD
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), Linn-Benton ESD

Oregon Profession Teaching License (exp. 1/1/2022)
K-12 Endorsed in:

Art
Music
Health
Science
Social Studies
English Language
Career Trades Generalist
Family and Consumer Studies
Elementary - Multiple Subjects
Principal License (expected June, 2022)

Applicable Experience:

17 years teaching in Oregon’s PERS.
Drop out prevention specialist serving five school districts in Douglas Co.
Adjunct professor of psychology, Pioneer Pacific College
Co-Taught parenting classes through Oregon Research Institute
Taught 1 year in a wilderness reform school for incarcerated juveniles.
Taught 5 years in special education, Sutherland, OR
Taught 1 year high school art, Oakridge, OR
Taught 1 year general music, Albany, OR
Highly Qualified in ESOL, Spanish speaker
Owner of Build Safer, LLC. Property management and construction
General Contractor License # [in process]

The teacher is available to MAKERTEENS 24/7 via phone call.

Technical Advisors:

Chris Higginbotham, Oregon CTE Teacher of the “Viking House” construction class at Forest Grove High School. www.fghsvikinghouse.com
Patrick Hawke, Oregon CTE Teacher, currently living in Boise, Idaho.
Kristin Gunson, CTE Regional Coordinator for Lane ESD, kgunson@lesd.k12.or.us
Brian Robin, CTE Regional Coordinator for Southern Oregon ESD, brian_robin@soesd.k12.or.us
heartoforegon.org/programs/youthbuild.html

True leadership lies in guiding others to success. In ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do and doing it well. — Bill Owens

Trailblazers:

http://www.rivertownsenterprise.net/Rivertowns_Enterprise/4-21-17_Teens_build_tiny_house_based_on_big_idea.html

http://www.laconiadailysun.com/newsx/local-news/100458-tiny-house-taking-shape

http://tinyhouselistings.com/tag/north-carolina/

http://www.lakesregionbuilders.com/news.htm

http://tinyhouseola.com/we-are-famous/

http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/07/17/annapolis-school-to-show-off-hyper-efficient-tiny-house/

http://stamps.umich.edu/creative-work/stories/tiny_house