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Harpeth Middle School (HMS) offers its 400 students the opportunity to explore nearly a dozen different career paths through its robust career and technical education (CTE) program.
From rock band to automotive, 7th and 8th grade HMS students are able to take eight different CTE classes – also known as exploratory related arts – over the course of two years. The 11 different CTE options are designed to allow students to experiment with different career paths and successfully continue in that trajectory when they get to Harpeth High School (HHS).
Last school year, the Cheatham County School District was awarded the Innovative Schools Grant. Each middle school received $500,000 to expand its CTE program, and each high school received one million dollars.
Over the course of nine weeks, HMS students are able to explore one CTE course:
Rock Band;
Family and Consumer Science;
Wellness;
Construction;
Trash to Treasure (Sustainability);
Problem Solving;
Intro to Automotive;
Spanish;
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM);
Woodworking; or
Gardening.
The students take four different CTE courses in one year, allowing them to explore eight different career paths before they head to high school. HMS Principal Audra Williams said the middle and high school work closely to ensure their CTE courses are as relevant to each other as possible. While not always lining up exactly – for example, HMS has “gardening” whereas HHS offers “agriculture” – Williams said the 7th and 8th grade students learn skills they are able to take with them and further build upon at the high school.
Each CTE course at HMS is led by a teacher who already has a deep knowledge of the topic. For example, HMS Librarian, Mrs. Carlton, leads the gardening class. With the Innovative Schools Grant, HMS was able to purchase a greenhouse for the gardening class as well as using hydroponics.
HMS girls basketball Coach Devin Allen teaches the construction class, which learns framing, drywall finishing and house plan reading. The woodworking class is currently partnering with the gardening class to furnish the new greenhouse with shelves. Woodworking – led by Pegram Mayor Charles Morehead – is also partnering with the Town of Pegram to build new benches for Pegram Park.
Several of the courses offer students the opportunity to experiment with modern technology. For example, the automotive class uses virtual reality to teach students how to build an engine. The STEAM class uses a 3D printer to create trinkets they sell to raise money for the school. The rock band class allows students to learn a new instrument as well as the ins and outs of audio engineering.
The CTE program, though similar, is different from HMS’s Related Arts program – woodworking; art; band; music; P.E.; computer; and STEAM – which is required for all students at HMS. Students are also given the opportunity to take jazz band or chorus during RTI.
HMS also boasts a robust afterschool club program for students who wish to participate, offering yoga; unified; FCA; art; legos and chess; and bible club.