[Music] so what makes a homeless student come to
so what makes a homeless student come to
so what makes a homeless student come to school every day with a positive
school every day with a positive
school every day with a positive attitude and the resolve to achieve
attitude and the resolve to achieve
attitude and the resolve to achieve their dreams where does the force that
their dreams where does the force that
their dreams where does the force that drives the student with a severe
drives the student with a severe
drives the student with a severe learning disability to sit in a regents
learning disability to sit in a regents
learning disability to sit in a regents exam for six hours to the point of tears
exam for six hours to the point of tears
exam for six hours to the point of tears refusing to give up where does that come
refusing to give up where does that come
refusing to give up where does that come from what makes the student from an
from what makes the student from an
from what makes the student from an abusive home come to school and treat
abusive home come to school and treat
abusive home come to school and treat their peers with real love and respect
their peers with real love and respect
their peers with real love and respect and equality and demand tolerance what
and equality and demand tolerance what
and equality and demand tolerance what makes a father turn down a job and a
makes a father turn down a job and a
makes a father turn down a job and a promotion to keep his son in the school
promotion to keep his son in the school
promotion to keep his son in the school he’s in what makes students beam with
he’s in what makes students beam with
he’s in what makes students beam with pride and jump at any opportunity to
pride and jump at any opportunity to
pride and jump at any opportunity to brag about their school these are the
brag about their school these are the
brag about their school these are the stories that we are seeing unveil
stories that we are seeing unveil
stories that we are seeing unveil unravel every single day at P Tech a
unravel every single day at P Tech a
unravel every single day at P Tech a little background
little background
little background HFM p Tech T Tech stands for pathways
HFM p Tech T Tech stands for pathways
HFM p Tech T Tech stands for pathways and technology Early College High School
and technology Early College High School
and technology Early College High School that will be on the test is made up of
that will be on the test is made up of
that will be on the test is made up of fifteen cooperating component school
fifteen cooperating component school
fifteen cooperating component school districts that collaborate with over 40
districts that collaborate with over 40
districts that collaborate with over 40 probably close to 50 now business
probably close to 50 now business
probably close to 50 now business partners in the Fulton Montgomery
partners in the Fulton Montgomery
partners in the Fulton Montgomery Community College where we stand right
Community College where we stand right
Community College where we stand right now through a participation grant with
now through a participation grant with
now through a participation grant with New York State they send their students
New York State they send their students
New York State they send their students to our school to not only start high
to our school to not only start high
to our school to not only start high school in the ninth grade but to start
school in the ninth grade but to start
school in the ninth grade but to start college and we know they start college
college and we know they start college
college and we know they start college because F MCC census – bill it’s
because F MCC census – bill it’s
because F MCC census – bill it’s competitive to get in as a matter of
competitive to get in as a matter of
competitive to get in as a matter of fact three students for every seat
fact three students for every seat
fact three students for every seat because of this we have these interviews
because of this we have these interviews
because of this we have these interviews and in these interviews before the
and in these interviews before the
and in these interviews before the students can can get in we ask these
students can can get in we ask these
students can can get in we ask these open-ended questions our first interview
open-ended questions our first interview
open-ended questions our first interview was with a student named Meg I’ll never
was with a student named Meg I’ll never
was with a student named Meg I’ll never forget interviewing Mae Mae came in and
forget interviewing Mae Mae came in and
forget interviewing Mae Mae came in and she just beamed and one of our
she just beamed and one of our
she just beamed and one of our open-ended questions was how do you see
open-ended questions was how do you see
open-ended questions was how do you see yourself improving or impacting the
yourself improving or impacting the
yourself improving or impacting the community someday and she’s she’s she
community someday and she’s she’s she
community someday and she’s she’s she replied I know this sounds weird but I
replied I know this sounds weird but I
replied I know this sounds weird but I really like to solve homelessness with
really like to solve homelessness with
really like to solve homelessness with dance and I looked at May and like go on
dance and I looked at May and like go on
dance and I looked at May and like go on I always thought I could help people but
I always thought I could help people but
I always thought I could help people but I didn’t know how it sounds crazy but I
I didn’t know how it sounds crazy but I
I didn’t know how it sounds crazy but I think about what do I have to offer and
think about what do I have to offer and
think about what do I have to offer and what does the world need well I love
what does the world need well I love
what does the world need well I love dance and homelessness makes me so sad
dance and homelessness makes me so sad
dance and homelessness makes me so sad so I think what if I were to open up a
so I think what if I were to open up a
so I think what if I were to open up a traveling dance studio and travel around
traveling dance studio and travel around
traveling dance studio and travel around and teach homeless people how to dance
and teach homeless people how to dance
and teach homeless people how to dance and maybe they would get a job dancing
and maybe they would get a job dancing
and maybe they would get a job dancing or maybe they had opened their own
or maybe they had opened their own
or maybe they had opened their own studio or maybe they’d just be inspired
studio or maybe they’d just be inspired
studio or maybe they’d just be inspired to do better and get their life in order
to do better and get their life in order
to do better and get their life in order and go get a job get a get back together
and go get a job get a get back together
and go get a job get a get back together with their family improve or just become
with their family improve or just become
with their family improve or just become confident and then boom right there in
confident and then boom right there in
confident and then boom right there in that moment I knew that it wasn’t a
that moment I knew that it wasn’t a
that moment I knew that it wasn’t a students grades or their discipline
students grades or their discipline
students grades or their discipline record that would make or break them in
record that would make or break them in
record that would make or break them in this program it was their ability to
this program it was their ability to
this program it was their ability to think outside the box be resilient take
think outside the box be resilient take
think outside the box be resilient take risks use their own individual talents
risks use their own individual talents
risks use their own individual talents to impact their world locally and
to impact their world locally and
to impact their world locally and globally
globally
globally I knew students like May were the future
I knew students like May were the future
I knew students like May were the future of our school that statement is now one
of our school that statement is now one
of our school that statement is now one of our core missions and Mays in her
of our core missions and Mays in her
of our core missions and Mays in her third year here at P tech F MCC majoring
third year here at P tech F MCC majoring
third year here at P tech F MCC majoring in business she just finished up her
in business she just finished up her
in business she just finished up her first internship with a Fulton
first internship with a Fulton
first internship with a Fulton Montgomery Chamber of Commerce thanks to
Montgomery Chamber of Commerce thanks to
Montgomery Chamber of Commerce thanks to our amazing business liaison Nicole and
our amazing business liaison Nicole and
our amazing business liaison Nicole and our partnership with the FM Chamber who
our partnership with the FM Chamber who
our partnership with the FM Chamber who helps beat at connect in a very
helps beat at connect in a very
helps beat at connect in a very seriously meaningful way with our local
seriously meaningful way with our local
seriously meaningful way with our local businesses project-based learning drives
businesses project-based learning drives
businesses project-based learning drives a curriculum at p tech that means all
a curriculum at p tech that means all
a curriculum at p tech that means all content is delivered through projects
content is delivered through projects
content is delivered through projects not just the memorization projects end
not just the memorization projects end
not just the memorization projects end in a public display of knowledge a pitch
in a public display of knowledge a pitch
in a public display of knowledge a pitch maybe a presentation a debate a
maybe a presentation a debate a
maybe a presentation a debate a professional fair or even a trial by
professional fair or even a trial by
professional fair or even a trial by jury students work in small groups on
jury students work in small groups on
jury students work in small groups on everything they create an agreement for
everything they create an agreement for
everything they create an agreement for participation and well for non
participation and well for non
participation and well for non participation sometimes student hold
participation sometimes student hold
participation sometimes student hold students don’t hold up their end of the
students don’t hold up their end of the
students don’t hold up their end of the bargain
bargain
bargain sometimes there are arguments and
sometimes there are arguments and
sometimes there are arguments and sometimes people are absent or don’t do
sometimes people are absent or don’t do
sometimes people are absent or don’t do what they they need to do to make the
what they they need to do to make the
what they they need to do to make the group successful sound familiar life
group successful sound familiar life
group successful sound familiar life real life
real life
real life like your workplace maybe at P Tech
like your workplace maybe at P Tech
like your workplace maybe at P Tech every student goes through a one-on-one
every student goes through a one-on-one
every student goes through a one-on-one mentorship experience with a business
mentorship experience with a business
mentorship experience with a business partner focusing on professional skills
partner focusing on professional skills
partner focusing on professional skills when one of our new industry partners
when one of our new industry partners
when one of our new industry partners Mohawk cabinet saw P Tech student named
Mohawk cabinet saw P Tech student named
Mohawk cabinet saw P Tech student named Ryan to speak at an event they
Ryan to speak at an event they
Ryan to speak at an event they immediately wanted to work with us their
immediately wanted to work with us their
immediately wanted to work with us their CEO Jim was so happy with the results
CEO Jim was so happy with the results
CEO Jim was so happy with the results that came from working with our students
that came from working with our students
that came from working with our students he engaged our entire school to redesign
he engaged our entire school to redesign
he engaged our entire school to redesign his webpage and offer the winning design
his webpage and offer the winning design
his webpage and offer the winning design team a paid internship that would focus
team a paid internship that would focus
team a paid internship that would focus on remarketing and redesigning the
on remarketing and redesigning the
on remarketing and redesigning the Mohawk cabinets online parts business
Mohawk cabinets online parts business
Mohawk cabinets online parts business long story longer Mohawk cabinet now has
long story longer Mohawk cabinet now has
long story longer Mohawk cabinet now has an international web presence they went
an international web presence they went
an international web presence they went from trade manuals selling the parts and
from trade manuals selling the parts and
from trade manuals selling the parts and trade manuals and mailings to digital
trade manuals and mailings to digital
trade manuals and mailings to digital globalization in just a few weeks thanks
globalization in just a few weeks thanks
globalization in just a few weeks thanks to the students at P Tech I have to say
to the students at P Tech I have to say
to the students at P Tech I have to say it was a little weird
it was a little weird
it was a little weird handing the students their pay tech
handing the students their pay tech
handing the students their pay tech paychecks from the internship at the end
paychecks from the internship at the end
paychecks from the internship at the end of the school week but as weird as it
of the school week but as weird as it
of the school week but as weird as it was it was ten times as awesome
was it was ten times as awesome
was it was ten times as awesome some students didn’t know what a bank
some students didn’t know what a bank
some students didn’t know what a bank account was so we had to help them
account was so we had to help them
account was so we had to help them because they were collecting their
because they were collecting their
because they were collecting their paychecks in their purse so we had to go
paychecks in their purse so we had to go
paychecks in their purse so we had to go and open up a bank account which was
and open up a bank account which was
and open up a bank account which was awesome and today one of our sophomores
awesome and today one of our sophomores
awesome and today one of our sophomores Aislin is introducing Google Analytics
Aislin is introducing Google Analytics
Aislin is introducing Google Analytics and website optimization to frozen parts
and website optimization to frozen parts
and website optimization to frozen parts comm as a paid internship when I think
comm as a paid internship when I think
comm as a paid internship when I think about the students that made an
about the students that made an
about the students that made an authentic impact made on Mohawk cabinet
authentic impact made on Mohawk cabinet
authentic impact made on Mohawk cabinet I can’t help but wonder what changed why
I can’t help but wonder what changed why
I can’t help but wonder what changed why do they stay why do they choose to
do they stay why do they choose to
do they stay why do they choose to achieve when they didn’t in the past why
achieve when they didn’t in the past why
achieve when they didn’t in the past why didn’t they just give up when the chips
didn’t they just give up when the chips
didn’t they just give up when the chips were down why didn’t they just quit what
were down why didn’t they just quit what
were down why didn’t they just quit what is it about peak tech that makes them do
is it about peak tech that makes them do
is it about peak tech that makes them do the things they do I asked one student
the things they do I asked one student
the things they do I asked one student Nigel I asked Nigel if I could use his
Nigel I asked Nigel if I could use his
Nigel I asked Nigel if I could use his name and tell a story he was very
name and tell a story he was very
name and tell a story he was very excited I asked him these questions and
excited I asked him these questions and
excited I asked him these questions and he told me before he came to P Tech that
he told me before he came to P Tech that
he told me before he came to P Tech that his life was chaotic his sister had
his life was chaotic his sister had
his life was chaotic his sister had passed away the year before and he was
passed away the year before and he was
passed away the year before and he was angry angry at everyone everything and
angry angry at everyone everything and
angry angry at everyone everything and at the world Nigel would attend 25
at the world Nigel would attend 25
at the world Nigel would attend 25 percent of his classes his eighth grade
percent of his classes his eighth grade
percent of his classes his eighth grade year he even became violent sometimes I
year he even became violent sometimes I
year he even became violent sometimes I wish you could meet this young
wish you could meet this young
wish you could meet this young professional now polite poised
professional now polite poised
professional now polite poised professional six
professional six
professional six seedy and I just said he could identify
seedy and I just said he could identify
seedy and I just said he could identify one thing that changed his perception of
one thing that changed his perception of
one thing that changed his perception of school changed his life really and I
school changed his life really and I
school changed his life really and I just said coach who never really coached
just said coach who never really coached
just said coach who never really coached any organized sports with Nigel but used
any organized sports with Nigel but used
any organized sports with Nigel but used to come in early to open up the gym so
to come in early to open up the gym so
to come in early to open up the gym so the kids could play basketball and pick
the kids could play basketball and pick
the kids could play basketball and pick up ball or run around or just hang out
up ball or run around or just hang out
up ball or run around or just hang out before school so the students bestowed
before school so the students bestowed
before school so the students bestowed upon her the most esteemed beloved title
upon her the most esteemed beloved title
upon her the most esteemed beloved title of all coach
of all coach
of all coach she gave me space he said she asked
she gave me space he said she asked
she gave me space he said she asked about me personally how am i doing she
about me personally how am i doing she
about me personally how am i doing she asked not just questioning me about the
asked not just questioning me about the
asked not just questioning me about the class about my grades and harping on me
class about my grades and harping on me
class about my grades and harping on me about how I was doing in the class she
about how I was doing in the class she
about how I was doing in the class she believed in me you see folks Jamie
believed in me you see folks Jamie
believed in me you see folks Jamie Dickenson like all of the teachers at P
Dickenson like all of the teachers at P
Dickenson like all of the teachers at P Tech is a risk-taker an instructional
Tech is a risk-taker an instructional
Tech is a risk-taker an instructional surgeon with heroic aptitude when it
surgeon with heroic aptitude when it
surgeon with heroic aptitude when it comes to project-based learning but most
comes to project-based learning but most
comes to project-based learning but most of all she believes in the students that
of all she believes in the students that
of all she believes in the students that she teaches she will not be deterred
she teaches she will not be deterred
she teaches she will not be deterred think about your most beloved profound
think about your most beloved profound
think about your most beloved profound life-changing educational experience
life-changing educational experience
life-changing educational experience think about that go there right now
think about that go there right now
think about that go there right now picture the teacher the coach the
picture the teacher the coach the
picture the teacher the coach the conductor the professor who was central
conductor the professor who was central
conductor the professor who was central to this experience
to this experience
to this experience did anybody picture themselves hacking
did anybody picture themselves hacking
did anybody picture themselves hacking away at a pile of copied packets of busy
away at a pile of copied packets of busy
away at a pile of copied packets of busy work at the kitchen table or hours spent
work at the kitchen table or hours spent
work at the kitchen table or hours spent with the little green regents review
with the little green regents review
with the little green regents review books copying spell work spelling words
books copying spell work spelling words
books copying spell work spelling words ten times each or listening to a lecture
ten times each or listening to a lecture
ten times each or listening to a lecture in the classroom filled with 200 I don’t
in the classroom filled with 200 I don’t
in the classroom filled with 200 I don’t think so
think so
think so those aren’t personal experiences those
those aren’t personal experiences those
those aren’t personal experiences those are obstacles you have not succeeded
are obstacles you have not succeeded
are obstacles you have not succeeded because of those mundane experiences you
because of those mundane experiences you
because of those mundane experiences you have this succeeded in spite of them was
have this succeeded in spite of them was
have this succeeded in spite of them was anyone reminiscing about reminiscing
anyone reminiscing about reminiscing
anyone reminiscing about reminiscing about the standardized testing then why
about the standardized testing then why
about the standardized testing then why may I ask do we continue to make
may I ask do we continue to make
may I ask do we continue to make education look the way it currently
education look the way it currently
education look the way it currently looks why are we continuing to crank out
looks why are we continuing to crank out
looks why are we continuing to crank out worksheet packets as homework and call
worksheet packets as homework and call
worksheet packets as homework and call it learning John Dewey called for the
it learning John Dewey called for the
it learning John Dewey called for the change in 1899 we still haven’t
change in 1899 we still haven’t
change in 1899 we still haven’t realized it yet peacock is paperless and
realized it yet peacock is paperless and
realized it yet peacock is paperless and Wireless every student gets a one-to-one
Wireless every student gets a one-to-one
Wireless every student gets a one-to-one MacBook they take it home every day no
MacBook they take it home every day no
MacBook they take it home every day no rows no bells no lockers we have a
rows no bells no lockers we have a
rows no bells no lockers we have a robotics lab and every classroom is
robotics lab and every classroom is
robotics lab and every classroom is designed after the Google offices yet
designed after the Google offices yet
designed after the Google offices yet all of these things are just things
all of these things are just things
all of these things are just things tools really a means to the end but not
tools really a means to the end but not
tools really a means to the end but not the end not the special sauce the
the end not the special sauce the
the end not the special sauce the culture of this school
culture of this school
culture of this school that’s the magic when student
that’s the magic when student
that’s the magic when student ambassadors are asked talk to visiting
ambassadors are asked talk to visiting
ambassadors are asked talk to visiting dignitaries like up here and when the
dignitaries like up here and when the
dignitaries like up here and when the dignitaries asked them questions like
dignitaries asked them questions like
dignitaries asked them questions like what makes your school so special time
what makes your school so special time
what makes your school so special time after time students overwhelming and
after time students overwhelming and
after time students overwhelming and respond the teachers saying they trust
respond the teachers saying they trust
respond the teachers saying they trust us they let us take the lead they treat
us they let us take the lead they treat
us they let us take the lead they treat us like adults they let us use our
us like adults they let us use our
us like adults they let us use our judgment good or bad the experience is
judgment good or bad the experience is
judgment good or bad the experience is ours when a child says the word like
ours when a child says the word like
ours when a child says the word like ours we know that something special is
ours we know that something special is
ours we know that something special is going on we’ve been trying now for three
going on we’ve been trying now for three
going on we’ve been trying now for three years to try to figure out what’s going
years to try to figure out what’s going
years to try to figure out what’s going on at P Tech and why what is happening
on at P Tech and why what is happening
on at P Tech and why what is happening is happening and after a body of work
is happening and after a body of work
is happening and after a body of work was discovered and quite honestly just
was discovered and quite honestly just
was discovered and quite honestly just stumbled upon by listening to a podcast
stumbled upon by listening to a podcast
stumbled upon by listening to a podcast called freakonomics I got interested in
called freakonomics I got interested in
called freakonomics I got interested in behavioral economics Tversky and
behavioral economics Tversky and
behavioral economics Tversky and Kahneman said it’s not the data that
Kahneman said it’s not the data that
Kahneman said it’s not the data that drives perfect decision-making
drives perfect decision-making
drives perfect decision-making no the experts that are creating that
no the experts that are creating that
no the experts that are creating that data are wrong it’s your experiences in
data are wrong it’s your experiences in
data are wrong it’s your experiences in the way you frame these experiences it
the way you frame these experiences it
the way you frame these experiences it is your belief or your perception of
what you mean or the value of yourself
what you mean or the value of yourself to your organization or to your school
to your organization or to your school
to your organization or to your school it is your perception of your value
just the past couple weeks I was at a
just the past couple weeks I was at a local school district giving a talk very
local school district giving a talk very
local school district giving a talk very much like this hoping that some eighth
much like this hoping that some eighth
much like this hoping that some eighth grade students would apply to our
grade students would apply to our
grade students would apply to our program and when I start out is to think
program and when I start out is to think
program and when I start out is to think about your perfect school you have all
about your perfect school you have all
about your perfect school you have all the money you could ask for you have
the money you could ask for you have
the money you could ask for you have access to the the best teachers best
access to the the best teachers best
access to the the best teachers best technology best furniture what does that
technology best furniture what does that
technology best furniture what does that school look like schedule anything is
school look like schedule anything is
school look like schedule anything is yours go ahead and first it was silence
yours go ahead and first it was silence
yours go ahead and first it was silence I want you to think about your perfect
I want you to think about your perfect
I want you to think about your perfect school to when these students started
school to when these students started
school to when these students started popping off they started saying things
popping off they started saying things
popping off they started saying things like well we want to use our cell phone
like well we want to use our cell phone
like well we want to use our cell phone all the time we want more space in our
all the time we want more space in our
all the time we want more space in our lockers what what do you mean
lockers what what do you mean
lockers what what do you mean well we’re sick of jam and stuff into a
well we’re sick of jam and stuff into a
well we’re sick of jam and stuff into a small space and crowded with each other
small space and crowded with each other
small space and crowded with each other we want more space and then another
we want more space and then another
we want more space and then another student will call out yeah we want space
student will call out yeah we want space
student will call out yeah we want space to plug in our devices and another
to plug in our devices and another
to plug in our devices and another student would say hey we want to be with
student would say hey we want to be with
student would say hey we want to be with our friends all day long we want to work
our friends all day long we want to work
our friends all day long we want to work with our friends another student said we
with our friends another student said we
with our friends another student said we want the middle of the day to stop and
want the middle of the day to stop and
want the middle of the day to stop and we want to just do what we want to do in
we want to just do what we want to do in
we want to just do what we want to do in the middle of the day we get to choose
the middle of the day we get to choose
the middle of the day we get to choose and I was waiting for it another student
and I was waiting for it another student
and I was waiting for it another student yelled out Golden Corral in the middle
yelled out Golden Corral in the middle
yelled out Golden Corral in the middle of the school as surprised it took so
of the school as surprised it took so
of the school as surprised it took so long and I was at Starbucks I’m like oh
long and I was at Starbucks I’m like oh
long and I was at Starbucks I’m like oh okay this was actually longer than I
okay this was actually longer than I
okay this was actually longer than I thought it would take for you guys to
thought it would take for you guys to
thought it would take for you guys to get to the food but so noted the
get to the food but so noted the
get to the food but so noted the students then asked we don’t want to be
students then asked we don’t want to be
students then asked we don’t want to be lecture 2 anymore please stop lecturing
lecture 2 anymore please stop lecturing
lecture 2 anymore please stop lecturing noted the students wanted comfortable
noted the students wanted comfortable
noted the students wanted comfortable spaces they said soft rocking chairs and
spaces they said soft rocking chairs and
spaces they said soft rocking chairs and chairs with wheels and the more they
chairs with wheels and the more they
chairs with wheels and the more they kept the talking the more I smiled
kept the talking the more I smiled
kept the talking the more I smiled they wanted to be in control of their
they wanted to be in control of their
they wanted to be in control of their education they wanted it to mean
education they wanted it to mean
education they wanted it to mean something to them and be real so at the
something to them and be real so at the
something to them and be real so at the very end as students were throwing out
very end as students were throwing out
very end as students were throwing out what their perfect school would look
what their perfect school would look
what their perfect school would look like I just smiled back at them and I
like I just smiled back at them and I
like I just smiled back at them and I said you just described p-tech want to
said you just described p-tech want to
said you just described p-tech want to come thank you very much
come thank you very much
come thank you very much [Applause]
”
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