CompuPower Site Visit at South Mountain High School

On Friday, November 16, CGEST personnel conducted a site visit at South Mountain High School, our first partner school.

South Mountain H.S. was the first high school built in Phoenix's South Mountain area, located just south of downtown Phoenix, across the Salt River. It has recently undergone a structure change to create four distinct academies: Science & Technology, Public & Social Service, Aerospace & Engineering, and Media Arts & Designs. Each academy functions as a small school, with its own principal, mirroring a traditional college/university to better prepare students for higher education after high school.

The CompuPower site visit was put together to allow advisory board, partners, and funders to learn more about the program and engage with the mentor teachers, and the CompuPower students. “The CompuPower program helped the school start us off in this new direction,” says Matt Lersch, Assistant Principal of Registration, South Mountain High School.

In addition to Dr. Kimberly Scott, CGEST Director and Professor in the School of Social Transformation at Arizona State University, and Matt Lersch (who is a former student of Dr. Scott's), CGEST staff members Kalani Rice (Program Manager), Laila Sarah (Assistant Director of Capacity), Matt Ruf (Executive Coordinator), and Oliver Dean (Media/Communications) attended.

Additionally, three other organizations were represented, with Becca Allpow, from the Arizona Community Foundation, the largest funder of private scholarships in Arizona, Nicole Turner from the Helios Foundation, whose mission is to ensure that everyone has access to quality education, and Olga Teran, Program Coordinator with the American Dream Academy. The American Dream Academy is an 8 week program that supports college-bound students' families with tools and the confidence to join forces with schools and communities to make sure their children have successful academic careers and prepare for a university experience.

Kalani Rice recounts what was discussed:

"We had an opportunity to meet with the students in the CompuPower class and hear from them how the class has impacted them thus far. The CompuPower teacher and Coach, Marcus Carter, shared that this was his second year teaching the class. He indicated that the class allows the students to be creative, interactive with one another, learn to problem solve , and provides tools to empower them. The students in class added that the curriculum gave them a chance to open up about things going on in the media, and felt that it was a safe space to have open dialogue about topics that other classes do not allow. They indicated that they really opened up to one another during the interview assignment, and now feel more like a family. As a class they have designed their own website, created videos, and are now in the process of interviewing their families. One student loved the course so much that he decided to retake the class. When asked why he said that he enjoyed the class so much that he wanted to be in the open environment again. The class also mentioned that the skills they are learning; communication, program solving, editing videos, leadership, and team work are helping them be successful in other classrooms, all of which was the intention of Dr. Kimberly Scott, when she wrote the initial grant."

During the visit they toured the school and learned fascinating information about the school’s history, which includes a visit by Rosa Parks and a jam session with Stevie Wonder. They viewed aspects of the new model which includes a full courtroom in the public and Social Service Academy, a dance studio in the Media Arts and Designs Academy. They also learned that students can graduate with a private pilot license in the Aerospace and Engineering Academy.

Thanks to South Mountain H.S. and all attendees for an exciting and informative site visit!