Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, East Career and Technical Academy ( East Tech) in Las Vegas, Nevada stands tall as one of only 15 Magnet Schools of America nationally certified Demonstration Schools and the Dr. Ronald P. Simpson Distinguished Merit Award winner for 2018 - MSA's highest honor. Known as "The Mountain" by students, faculty and staff, East Tech empowers its learners to climb to the top and reach for success in an ever-changing technological world.

 

With eight different programs of study - construction tech, IT, culinary arts, health information management, medical professions, mechanical tech, education, and hospitality - East Tech attracts students from different racial and socioeconomic backgrounds to come together to study under one roof. And it pays off: East Tech outperforms its Nevada peers with a graduation rate of 99.6 percent - a particularly incredible feat as many East Tech students are the first in their families to graduate from high school.

 

Jayme Rawson, East Tech's Achievement Coach, reiterated this accomplishment at the Magnet Schools of America 2018 National Conference. "Our graduation rate far outpaces the graduation rate across the district and the state," she said. "We're very proud of that. We don't have magical kids - we have a magical place."

 

With 75 percent of the student body made up of first-generation college students, East Tech is particularly proud of its ability to prepare students for life after high school - through college, careers and beyond. Each of its eight program areas are centered in project-based learning and include tailored, real-world simulations, field trips to industry hubs and robust internship programs. 

All programs offer college credits for Career and Technical Education (CTE) coursework, and many students also receive a Certificate of Skill Attainment upon successful completion of their program of study. 

The school also partners with professional institutions across the state including Sunrise Hospital, PepsiCo, MGM, Clark County Water District, and Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance - all of which provide opportunities for students to explore workplace settings and evaluate their own potential professional track. Keep Reading>>

MSA recently inducted the 2018-2020 Board of Directors, consisting of an Executive Committee, Specialized and Regional Directors, and Past Presidents. They provide not only a wealth of experience but in some cases critical historical perspectives to help make decisions that fulfill the mission of the organization.

 

The elected Executive Committee has expertise in curriculum design, intercultural responsiveness, sustainability, magnet theme implementation, MSAP grant management, leadership development, diversity, and integration. They serve in other organizations such as Human Relations, Civil Rights, Civic Education, Education Excellence and the USDOE. These leaders have advanced degrees in the fields of English, Music, Science, Gifted Education, Theatre, and Education Leadership. They are published authors and have won awards for service, leadership, scholastic activities, and peace efforts.

President - Susan King, a retired magnet administrator and MSAP project manager, advises districts on federal grant evaluation and compliance monitoring. King was the Treasurer of the Consortium of Magnets/Public Choice Schools, the forerunner of the Florida School Choice Consortium.

 

President Elect - Dr. Kim Morrison, Mount Airy City Schools Superintendent, has brought in federal funds and implemented STEAM district wide. Morrison has won two state leadership awards and was a finalist for the AASA national, "Women in School Leadership Award."

 

Immediate Past President - Sara Wheeler, Magnet Director for Lexington District 5, has won state and national awards in law related education. She has been the MSAP project director for four grants in two South Carolina districts.
 

 

Secretary - Dr. Donna Elam has won state, national, and international awards and has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education for her work in Youth Development and Student Achievement .

 

 

Treasurer - Scott Thomas, Principal of Echo Park Elementary School, served as the Educational Equity Coordinator in his district and as the President of Magnet Schools of Minnesota.  

 

 

Parliamentarian - Dr. Robert Strickland,
Administrative Director of School Choice and Parental Options for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, is author of a series of textbooks and won the Founder's Award from the Educational Theatre Association.

 

The Board also includes directors and three previous presidents. The Specialized Directors (three elected and three appointed) include district and school level personnel and an experienced consultant. They have advanced degrees in Arts, Special Education and Education Leadership. They are experts in magnet administration, MSAP implementation, and Montessori and International Baccalaureate programs. 

The Regional Directors were elected by the membership at the national conference and include school and district level personnel as well as an educational consultant. Their degrees include Science, Biology, Sociology, Behavior and Social Sciences, Communication and Journalism, Computer Technology, Applied Arts, and Psychology. The Past Presidents include a former Executive Director, and two consultants.

 

Additional information can be found on the MSA website.

Specialized Directors -

Dr. Beth Cochran	Wake County, NC
Naisha Baidy	Brooklyn, NY
Dr. Maria Hersey	Jupiter, FL
Dr. Michelle Frazier	Chicago, IL
Dr. Monika Wiley	Jonesboro, GA
Prentiss Whitley	Houston, TX

Regional Directors -

Voting Past Presidents -

Doreen Marvin	2014-2016
William Magnotta	2010-2012
Dr. Robert Brooks	1998-2000

In collaboration with Lexington Richland School District 5 and Richland School District 2, we have an impressive line-up of speakers planned and award winning magnet schools to showcase. The conference will feature plenty of networking opportunities to share best practices and a close look at exemplary local magnet programs offered in the host districts during school site visits. 

Throughout the conference magnet school innovation and excellence will be on full display. Here is sample of what the region has to offer.      

• 2018 Magnet School Superintendent of the Year
• 2018 National Magnet School Principal of the Year
• 2018 National Magnet School Teacher of the Year
• 2018 Elementary Magnet School of Merit Award of Excellence
• Five Demonstration Schools
• Twenty-Four Certified Magnet Schools
• Twenty-Five Merit Schools of Excellence
• Forty-One Merit Schools of Distinction

Toshiba America Foundation is accepting grant applications from K-5 grade school teachers for innovative science or math projects in their own classroom. The foundation awards individual grants of up to $1,000 in support of hands-on science or math education projects. Application Deadline: October 1, 2018

Through its Learning and Leadership program, the NEA Foundation awards grants of up to $2,000 to public school teachers, and public education support professionals for participation in high-quality professional development experiences such as summer institutes or action research. It also awards grants of up to $5,000 in support of group projects related to collegial study, including study groups, action research, lesson study, or mentoring experiences for faculty or staff new to an assignment. Application Deadline: October 15, 2018

 "Cyber has an acute shortage of workers around the world, but particularly here in this country, so the more students we can get interested in the high school level, the better the chance we have of getting them through a program while they're still in high school."

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