School-Based Efforts: A Plan to Support At-Risk Youth

Share a minimum of three things you observed showing how teachers at Biotech Academy instigate and maintain student support and success. Be sure to consider what characteristics they have to have and what behaviors and practices they need to present to their students.

After watching the video, there were three things that I observed showing how teachers at Biotech Academy instigate and maintain student support and success. The first thing that I found was at the beginning of the video with the teachers having a conference with a student named Sarah. Sarah was failing from being absent for a month. Her teachers cared enough to want to support and help her find her way back to success by giving positive encouragement and plans and goals. The second thing that I observed was the teacher named Doug Schafer giving his interview. I felt that he instigated support and success by taking time out of his schedule to make sure students were doing well in their classes, making sure they were not skipping, and just being that authority figure that each child needs. Keith Field’s teachers were willing to use their lunch time to meet with him and his mom to speak about the “C” he received. They were able to speak freely between each of them.

Describe the impact collaboration between teachers, parents, and students has on student success as well as having a spirit of cooperation instead of competition between students. 

Being able to get parents involved in their child’s success is something that is incredible because it does not always happen. Students need that support system. It is like the saying “ it takes a village to raise a child.” He teacher is a part of that village. When parents, teachers, and students are able to work together it creates something within the student that makes them want to do better and make goals. IT also promotes teamwork. It makes students want to help each other in succeeding.

Discuss two to three observations you made that show relevancy between Biotech Academy instruction " supports and what students need in post-secondary education and employment. Be sure to address how having such relevancy for student learning impacts their ultimate success.

I believe that the same way that students that attend Biotech Academy receive the nonstop support and encouragement; students in post-secondary education and employment require the same thing to promote productivity and the need to want to be successful. I observed that the teachers did not speak down to the students at Biotech. I also observed the teachers asking for feedback as they were doing instruction.

Discuss how traditional school environments might learn from Biotech Academy and employ in their school culture so as to potentially increase graduation rates and matriculation to post-secondary education and employment for at-risk students.

I believe that traditional schools should also be extremely selective when hiring qualified teachers to work with students. Experience is not all that is needed. Teachers should be well-educated and really want to make a difference in the lives of children and young adults. Students can know when a teacher cares or not. They are able to pick up on that.

Reference:

[Edutopia.] (October 1, 2003). Biotech Academy: A catalyst for change [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/biotech-academy-school-career-video