BEAUFORT COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
MedTech7
Magnet Schools Assistance Program
story by CARRIE CHAPPELL photos by PAUL NURNBERG
The Beaufort County School District (BCSD) is bringing innovative curriculum and resources to students and professional development for instructors in seven district schools through the MedTech7 grant. MedTech7 is funded through the federal Magnet School Assistance Program (MSAP) to provide schoolwide arts integration, and medical and cybersecurity technology magnet pathways to the Whale Branch and Beaufort clusters. In addition, MedTech7 offers medical, technology, and arts-themed summer camps to students free of charge.
MedTech7 aims to prepare BCSD students to step into careers or post-secondary education in the medical and cybersecurity technology fields directly after high school graduation. The courses provided as part of the MedTech7 magnet pathways give students the knowledge and skills employers seek. The medical magnet pathways include Mossy Oaks Elementary, Lady’s Island Middle, Beaufort Middle, and Beaufort High. Schools participating in the cybersecurity technology magnet pathways are Whale Branch Elementary, Whale Branch Middle, and Whale Branch Early College High. Both the medical and cybersecurity technology fields require highly skilled and highly qualified candidates to fill positions in Beaufort County. Local businesses and community organizations such as the Beaufort Digital Corridor, USC Beaufort, Technical College of the Lowcountry, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce, Beaufort County Black Chamber of Commerce, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Beaufort-Jasper YMCA, Gullah Church Nurses Association, and the Arts Center of Coastal Carolina have partnered with the MedTech7 grant to offer resources and internship opportunities to students and teachers at MedTech7 schools. James Woodfin, MedTech7 Computer Science teacher at Whale Branch Middle School, says, “Students can experience career fields and possibilities they have never encountered or considered through the MedTech7 curriculum. Many technology and medical fields require no extensive college education but provide very well-paying jobs if they obtain the necessary credentials.”
The MedTech7 Medical Magnet Pathways offers learning experiences for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade in the Beaufort cluster. Deirdre Appleby, MedTech7 MSAP Director, states, “Changing the healthcare landscape requires a change in how students are educated. Through this change, the MedTech 7 medical program will better prepare future healthcare leaders who can contribute to their community. Transforming medical education requires a significant cultural shift among students, educators, and healthcare professionals. MedTech7 students will create service-learning projects to help the communities in which they reside.” Mossy Oaks Elementary, Lady’s Island Middle, and Beaufort Middle School students engage in Project Lead the Way medical-themed curriculum with courses and units such as Introduction to Health Professions, Medical Detectives, Infection Detection, and Healthy Habits. At Beaufort High, students have various opportunities to earn high school credits, and Career and Technology Education completer status in Health Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, and Sports Medicine. High school students can also earn multiple medical industry credentials, such as American Heart Association CPR/AED, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and Certified Nursing Assistant certifications. Kayla Felix, MedTech7 Gateway Medical Teacher at Beaufort Middle, shares this insight into her classroom, “Students are learning by doing hands-on activities. They are learning to take and read vital signs, and analyze test results. MedTech7 is preparing students for the health field and the real world.”
The MedTech7 Cybersecurity Technology Magnet Pathways offers learning experiences for students in Kindergarten through 12th grade in the Whale Branch cluster. Students at Whale Branch Elementary and Middle engage in Project Lead the Way technology-themed curriculum with courses and units such as Computer Science for Innovators and Makers, Design and Modeling, Robotics and Automation, and Spatial Sense and Coding.
At Whale Branch Early College High School, students have a variety of opportunities to earn high school credits, and Career and Technology Education completer status in Information and Support Services, Game and Interactive Media Design, Computer Science, and Web and Digital Communications. High school students can earn technology industry credentials, such as A+, Network +, Test Out Client Pro, and Adobe certifications. Cory Cooper, MedTech7 IT/STEM Curriculum Specialist, talks about the need for technology education in our schools, “With the rate that the technology field is advancing, the students in Kindergarten through 12th grade need exposure to the skills and experiences that will prepare them to adapt and evolve with technology after high school. The MedTech7 curriculum gives students a way to not only prepare themselves but to make themselves attractive candidates to local technology businesses and colleges.”
In addition to Medical and Technology Magnet Pathways, MedTech7 schools are also implementing arts integration schoolwide. Dr. Kelsey Gibson, MedTech7 Arts Integration Specialist, states, “A part of what makes MedTech7 schools special is that they implement arts integration in all of their classes. Arts integration effectively allows students to explore their regular course content through hands-on experiences in the arts. For instance, a student may explore a scientific concept through the art of dance or social studies through the art of acting and theatre. There are positive effects of art integration as well. Students are shown to remember content they learn more easily and perform better on standardized testing. Authentic learning experiences engage and motivate students while also fostering student creativity, critical thinking, and imagination.” MedTech7 and BCSD have partnered with The Institute for Arts Integration and STEAM (IAS) to provide standards-aligned lessons and high-quality instructional materials through an innovative digital platform. “We are thrilled to partner with Beaufort County School District in their efforts to build a new model for educational success. And that starts with providing teachers with what they need to succeed,” said Susan Riley, Chief Executive Officer at IAS. “Research shows that arts integration and STEAM can improve academic outcomes, and develop critical and creative thinking. It’s clear that Beaufort recognizes the power of the arts, and we’re proud to support their impressive work.”
The MedTech7 Magnet School Assistance Program is an excellent example of how BCSD offers a diverse community of students a personalized approach to learning that prepares them for success in the classroom and beyond. Students who do not currently attend a MedTech7 school can apply through BCSD School Choice to attend any of the seven schools. The window for school choice applications is open from March 1-31, 2023, at www.beaufortschools.net. To learn more about MedTech7 visit www.MedTech7.com, or visit their social media on Facebook @MedTech7Magnet, or on Twitter and Instagram @BCSDMedTech7.
