SREB says Lanier High received the award, in part, because of the collaboration between Career Technical Education (CTE) and academic teachers as students participate in project-based learning in the school’s academy programs. Lanier is one of five Gwinnett high schools to launch academies last school year as a way to better prepare students for college and careers.
Dr. Reuben Gresham, the principal at Lanier High, was presented the award at the 29th Annual HSTW Staff Development Conference in Atlanta. “Winning this award has truly been a blessing for all of our stakeholders in the building and in the Sugar Hill community,” Gresham said. “Our goal is to allow students the opportunity to experience content in an extraordinary way and to ensure that we have a culture where students’ desire to learn outweighs our current structure. However, it takes hard work, flexibility, and a passion for learning in order to create such an environment. Our teachers have responded to this challenge in an honorable way.”
To be recognized for the Outstanding HSTW Assignments Award, a school must have revamped its career and technical education instructional assignments around authentic projects that require students to draw heavily on their academic and career and technical education skills. Additionally, students in CTE classrooms are required to think, do background research, work in teams, read technical documents and apply math to complete assignments, and they perceive that the CTE assignments are rigorous and relevant.
In honoring Lanier High, Sandy Culotta with SREB said, “Not only do the projects at Lanier High School embed academics, but students are provided real-world experiences such as presenting to investors for support in obtaining patents.”
