CTACE BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Issue 2

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1 2 CTACE BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Issue 2 CTACE Broward County Public Schools DECEMBER 2015 IN THIS ISSUE Lauderhill 6-12 Student Becomes a LOFT Fellowship Recipient Andrew Gayle, high school student, heard that Lauderhill 6-12 students were programming drones, creating video games, and entering contests; it was not difficult to predict his next move- he decided to join the party. Immediately he submerged himself in with a group of programmers and gamers. The next steps towards his goal of owning his own video game company continued as a student in Mr. Deich s Game Design classes; it was there he learned about the value of competing. Andrew entered the Video Game Innovation Fellowship Challenge sponsored by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and Hispanic Heritage Foundation (HHF); their goal is to challenge minority youths to develop video games addressing social issues impacting their communities. Andrew entered the national competition with an original video game, The Trash Eliminator which brings awareness to pollution and the value of recycling. Andrew was identified as one of twenty Fellows to receive a grant to network and continue development of his game project. Andrew was flown to Washington, D.C on October 21 st to present his idea to Antonio Tijerino, President and CEO of Hispanic Heritage Foundation. He spent the morning providing interviews to the Miami Herald, NBC Universal, and local DC news outlets. At the Capital, he met and networked with Rep. Tony Cardenas (CA), Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ), Rep Stony Hoyer (MD), Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (NM), and Michael Echols, Director of Cybersecurity of US Department of Homeland Security; they discussed his game and the empowerment of minority youth related to STEM. His day concluded with a White House briefing led by Erik Martin from the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Andrew was selected for his vision, creativity and positive impact on the community. As a 2015 LOFT Fellowship recipient Andrews plans on utilizing his $1000 on a new laptop purchase that meets his gaming requirements. He has also started recruiting members to join his team. The Trash Eliminator has a bright future. Sapphire! Meet the Hallandale Magnet High School robot, Sapphire. Sapphire was built by the Engineering students at Hallandale High School. Andrew Gayle A 2015 LOFT Fellowship recipient. This Lauderhill 6-12 student was selected for his vision, creativity, and positive impact on the community.

2 CTACE BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Issue 2 2 Virtual Enterprises Opens Doors in Broward County Schools! JP Taravella High School, under the leadership of Laurie Acosta and with the support of Principal Shawn Cerra, launched one of Broward County's first Virtual Enterprise International courses this fall! (Piper High School has also started a Virtual Enterprise). The new course, which is offered under the name "Business Ownership Honors," is an inschool, live, global business simulation that offers students a competitive edge through project-based, collaborative learning and the development of 21 st - century skills in entrepreneurship, global business, problem-solving, communication, personal finance and technology. Students are connected to one another and to other VEI Firms through a portal, where they engage in tasks that guide them through every phase of starting a company, and then launch their business and engage in trade with other VEI firms. At the beginning of this year, students applied and were interviewed for positions within their "firm", and then through a process of brainstorming and research, came up with their business idea. Student CEO Aaron Mitchell, along with Vice Presidents for Human Resources, Marketing, Sales, Design/IT, Administration, Communication and Finance, conduct regular staff meetings, evaluate their teams, and manage all the tasks that a real start-up firm would encounter. Together they will write a business plan, launch an e-commerce website, attend live trade shows out of state, and create an annual report. They each receive a paycheck, and learn personal finance skills as they make purchases as consumers in the VEI world. One of the key success factors for VEI firms is the involvement of business mentors. Taravella is fortunate to have support from several firms, including BrightStar Credit Union and new partner, Digital Risk and its founder, Jeff Taylor, who sits on the national VEI Board. Digital Risk, one of the largest independent providers of mortgage-related services committed to bringing safe mortgages to the future, has already assisted JPT's new firm with the staffing process, has provided feedback on the company's website, and has lent support in a variety of areas to help the fledgling program succeed. Over the summer, JPT completely redesigned an under-utilized teacher planning room and converted it to look like a corporate office, complete with reception desk and conference room. It was important to transform the environment so that the students see themselves as "employees" of a company, rather than students in a classroom. JP Taravella and Piper have joined a network of VEI firms in more than 40 countries. There are now five such firms in Florida, including two in Dade County and one in Tampa. Everglades HS First NAF Student Intern Last year Everglades HS opened the Academy of Health Sciences program focusing on Personal Training. NAF program completer, Jaden Dacres is captured in this picture with Mrs. Darbar as she is presented with her NAF Internship Check. by [Article Author] Jaden Dacres is their first NAF student intern. She worked all summer under the supervision of the athletic trainer and NAF teacher, Mrs. Menendez. Jaden earned valuable experience while earning a salary. Jaden has made great strides toward achieving her future goals.

3 CTACE BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Issue 2 3 Congratulations Marcia Notkin of Hallandale High School as NFTE Teacher of the Year! Marcia Notkin epitomizes the NFTE mission and values through her classroom success at Hallandale High School and within the South Florida community. With such an honor comes her nomination for the 2016 Global Enterprising Educator Awards where she will represent our South Florida NFTE program an allexpense paid, three day trip to New York City from March 29 th -31 st. During her trip she will sightsee, participate in a day of learning and collaboration with NFTE colleagues from other offices, participate in a showcase where she will display her amazing teaching in action, and receive $500 along with a commemorative award. Marcia is presently a business and technology teacher. NFTE Students compete in National Competition in NYC Young minds have big ideas, and we re making them happen. These savvy-minded teenagers competed in the National NFTE Challenge this past October. Alyssa Brennan and Aviva Grimmett of Nova High School, two NFTE National Competitors, say that NFTE has shown them a way to face challenges head on; it is an organization that doesn t just help make businesses, but teaches us how to fix complications we come across. Kevin Diniz from Piper High School was a runner-up in the elevator pitch and Jason Ramadon from Coral Springs High School took 1 st place on his elevator pitch. These students had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas in 60-second videos and members of the public watched the pitches and voted for their favorites online. The winner of the most unique votes overall took home a $2,500 prize package to help advance their education or get their business off the ground. The two runners-up receive $500 each. Since 1987, the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) has ignited the entrepreneurial mindset in more than 600,000 young people, leading them to pursue educational opportunities, start their own businesses, and succeed in life. NFTE students learn to think like entrepreneurs-understanding and using an entrepreneurial mindset-and apply important 21 st Century noncognitive skills such as persistence, flexibility, and confidence.

4 CTACE BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Issue 2 4 Stoneman Douglas DECA and Award-Winning Speaker Scott Fried Create Lasting Impact on Self-Acceptance in Adolescents As a part of Stoneman Douglas DECA s chapter project: I am Enough motivational speaker, Scott Fried, discussed self-acceptance and shared his story about living with HIV/AIDS to over 1300 students in an effort to show the positive influence that loving yourself can have. The positive impact from the students successful day with Fried was remarkable as evident by the countless student and staff responses. On October 5, Scott Fried communicated the importance of reaching your fullest potential and finding joy in each day. Fried is an international award-winning speaker, youth educator, and HIV/AIDS advocate. He has spoken at various schools, leadership programs, and events such as TED Talk to ensure that students are educated about issues facing the current generation such as HIV/AIDs as well as educating students on how to deal with pain and difficulties in life. During the two assemblies, Fried expressed ideas concerning living with contradiction, the importance of gratitude in all things, learning how to overcome the odds, and how selfesteem is brought about by doing esteem able acts. The most rewarding part of the assembly was seeing over one hundred students stay after each of the two assemblies to thank Scott Fried for speaking and being a true inspiration in their lives. The goal of the project I am Enough is to educate the DECA chapter, school and community to learn and accept their differences by appreciating the qualities that make us unique. Many students struggle with their own internal battles for happiness and are not provided with the tools to overcome their obstacles. Unfortunately, issues concerning self-esteem and selfacceptance can drastically affect one s life. Stoneman Douglas DECA would like to help people learn to accept the qualities that inhibit them from excelling. The message I am Enough is a defining idea that allows individuals to understand the importance of being themselves and not trying to live up to the expectations of others. We believe students of the current generation are no longer defined by their character, morals, and integrity but rather by numerical figures such as their GPA and SAT scores. Students Enjoy Construction Career Days There was plenty of hands-on learning during the recent Construction Career Days at the Bergeron Rodeo Grounds in Davie. More than 2,200 students took part in the two-day event, sponsored by the Florida Department of Transportation, the Florida Transportation Builders Association and the Federal Highway Administration. A lot of the kids look forward to it all year long, said Cindy Griffin, CTE curriculum facilitator. They come as juniors, and they like it so much that they beg to come the next year. This give them a sense of different professions, so it s great. The teens were split up and rotated through various quadrants and learning labs, where they gained insight on construction equipment, street design and more. They also got to peek inside a traffic signal cabinet to learn about its computer equipment and view the transportation system that controls traffic cameras. The Career Services Center provided information regarding jobs, resume, filling out applications and acing interviews. It s about getting kids to think differently and being interested in a particular career path.

5 2 CTACE BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Issue 2 CTACE Broward County Public Schools 1701 NW 23 rd Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL What is Icon? The Innovative Concepts (icon) Program is an in-school youth program provided by the School Board of Broward County, Florida, Career, Technical, Adult and Community Education Department in collaboration with the Broward Workforce Development Board, Junior Achievement (JA), and Helping Abused Neglected Disadvantaged Youth Inc. (HANDY). This program prepares a minimum of 235 academically and economically disadvantaged Juniors and Seniors to become productive citizens within the workforce. Facilitators provide hands on activities through Project Based Learning aligned with the following services: Employability Skills Training, Entrepreneurial Training, Life Skills, Work Experiences, and Holistic Wrap-Around Services. Do you have something you want us to share? Jillian Berg and you can be in our next issue. Jillian Berg CTACE Curriculum Facilitator jillian.berg@browardschools.com The School Board of Broward County, Florida Dr. Rosalind Osgood, Chair Abby M. Freedman, Vice Chair Robin Bartleman Heather P. Brinkworth Patricia Good Donna P. Korn Laurie Rich Levinson Ann Murray Nora Rupert Robert W. Runcie Superintendent of Schools Daniel Gohl Chief Academic Officer Office of Academics Enid Valdez, Director Career, Technical, Adult and Community Education Meet our Student Advisory Board! The School Board of Broward County, Florida, prohibits any policy or procedure which results in discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation. Individuals who wish to file a discrimination and/or harassment complaint may call the Executive Director, Benefits & EEO Compliance at or Teletype Machine (TTY) Taravella High School is presented with a donation from the Florida Restaurant Association at the School Board Meeting to help fund their culinary adventure to France. Individuals with disabilities requesting accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, (ADAAA) may call Equal Educational Opportunities (EEO) at or Teletype Machine (TTY)