What’s Right With Our Schools: Dalewood Career Clusters
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Two years ago, Dalewood received a great that paved the way for Career Clusters. One of those clusters in Audio Visual Innovation. Students love it.
It’s 21st century example of what’s right with our schools.
Rashaad Williams is the Principal at Dalewood.
He says, “Two years ago, we applied for a district grant. It was called a Soar grant, and it allowed us to reimagine how we delivered middle school instruction with an intent to restore joy for students wanting to be in school. My team and I developed what we call career clusters based upon a model that the district currently has with high schools, with the future ready institutes, and so we have three clusters here, digital fabrication, computer science, and then visual innovations.”
He continues, “In audiovisual innovations, students are learning all things audio and video. We know we have a generation of students who love video and being a part of videos through TikTok and so on. So, the students expressed an interest of really learning it as a career pathway. The goal of the clusters is to link a career industry with a student interest with core content.”
Skylee Andrews is an 8th grader at Dalewood.
Skylee says, “I like that I can really, I guess, explore with real programs and stuff because I do want to write my own music eventually.”
Janet McGarity is the Audio-Visual Career Cluster Lead at Dalewood.
She explains, “The kids basically get their hands on really nice equipment so that they can create things anywhere, from podcasts, topics that they’re interested in. The media team does school news broadcasts and social media videos. The music team learns how to everything from writing music to producing music and even recording it. In our studio here. We use Final cut pro, so we have MacBooks that they have access to. We have four Sony cameras that they can go around, and they can shoot video, edit their video with Final Cut pro. It just gives them another outlet while they are at school so that they can help make connections with their peers and with their teachers. Aside from the fact that they’re actually learning about real world things, or they’re learning real world skills that can help them with 21st century jobs, some of those kids that maybe struggle to make connections in their other subjects gives them something to be here excited about while they’re at school, gives them something to look forward to that they can talk about.”
Richiunna Allen is an 8th grader at Dalewood.
She says, “It can help me by already knowing the things to do and things and like what to do and if other people want to do it, I can help.”
Janet McGarity concludes, “To some of those kids that don’t necessarily have something, if they don’t play sports or if they’re not a super academic type kid, it gives them another outlet to which they can express themselves. But then, aside from that, they’re also learning real world skills, like 21st century job skills.”
