At the secondary level, technology becomes more applied. Middle school maker space programming and high school project-based learning programs allow students to use tools in ways that translate directly to real-world contexts, including communications and broadcast initiatives through Owen Valley TV (OVTV). OVTV students record and live stream concerts, school events, and athletics—providing families access to major events even when they cannot attend in person, while giving students direct experience in media production and communications pathways. PATRIOT MANUFACTURING: A WORK-BASED LEARNING MODEL WITH MEASURABLE OUTCOMES One of Spencer-Owen’s most distinctive initiatives is Patriot Manufacturing, a work-based learning program created through the district’s Ready Schools regional opportunity work. Patriot Manufacturing emerged from a deep community listening process. The district interviewed approximately 1,200 individuals, including staff and community members, and the message was consistent: students need hands-on, real-world learning that prepares them for employment after graduation. Patriot Manufacturing was designed to meet that need while aligning with grant requirements tied to advanced manufacturing. Students produce real products—custom apparel, screen-printed shirts, vinyl designs, and laser-engraved items such as mugs, awards, and promotional materials. The program is structured around the idea that advanced manufacturing is not just physical production—it is the result of technical design, programming, process control, and business operations. The program integrates multiple pathways, including advanced manufacturing, business and marketing, communications, and family and consumer sciences. Students engage in design work, machine programming, production workflows, quality control, and customer-facing processes. Community partners such as Cook Incorporated and Boston Scientific helped inform early planning and contributed to 307 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 SPENCER-OWEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
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