Civil Municipal - April 2024

appreciation and language fluency. This integration ensures language merges into daily academics, making it practical and impactful. “These standalone programs show our pledge to provide varied opportunities,” states Shuldiner. “We prioritize STEM, but what sets us apart is our specialties.” This ensures every student gets a personalized and enriched four years. HIGH SCHOOL AND CAREER TECH Last year, the district created Lansing Technical High School (LT), a four-year high school devoted to career and technical education. At Lansing Technical High School, that training starts in 9th grade, unlike traditional schools. LT has four pathways - computer science and coding, construction science, culinary arts, and EMS health sciences. These are full-day curriculums, providing individuals with four immersive years and equipping them with valuable skills for the workforce or further studies. Students embark on specialized tracks, with core subjects seamlessly integrated with the chosen field. “We have found children engage more when the things they learn matter to the other subjects they are invested in,” says Shuldiner. When a child takes the computer science and coding pathway, math, science, English, and social studies instruction supports the computer science class work. The construction science pathway focuses on subjects like math in real-life scenarios. Shuldiner states, “For instance, geometry is not merely about geometric shapes, but is taught in the construction context, illustrating the relevance of concepts.” The culinary arts pathway provides skills beyond the kitchen, teaching cooking and business management. Students engage in hands-on activities like budgeting and scaling recipes for large events. This pragmatic technique includes applying math concepts to real- world scenarios and understanding profit-and-loss statements. In addition to the CTE opportunities at LT, the district offers a comprehensive, hands-on experience 236 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 5, ISSUE 04