Technology Academy Highlights
http://foshaytech.weebly.com
Foshay’s Technology Academy empowers our community to think critically, take initiative, and to use
our skills to make a positive impact in an ever changing world. Our California Partnership Academy
focuses on preparing students to enter the fields of communication and technology. Some majors that
students may pursue in college are graphic design, software developer, web design, computer science
and engineering.
Career Classes in the Technology:
Grade 10: Exploring Computer Science is a yearlong course consisting of 6 units. Assignments and
instruction are contextualized to be socially relevant and meaningful for diverse students. Units utilize a
variety of tools/platforms, and culminate with final projects around the following topics:
Grade 11: Digital Imaging 1A and 1B
During the junior year students conduct an individual job shadow and add to their digital portfolio.
Grade 12: Digital Imaging 2a and2b
Students learn advanced Photoshop skills and create collages to help prepare for college and senior
portfolio personal statements. Students learn video production and create 1 Minute Me videos to add to
their digital portfolio. As the culminating project students create teams where every individual has a
specific job title and assignment. We team with Ignited USA and Light Bringer Project. Students use
production management skills to design ad campaigns through research and collaboration.
Mentoring and Career Building Activities:
 Mock interviews with our partners and advisory board members for all sophomores and juniors
 Off-track job shadow assignment for all incoming Juniors
 Work with mentors in the classroom on digital portfolios (professional mentors and senior
mentors twice during the year)
 Work with mentors on editing resumes and cover letters.
 Guest speakers from various careers and businesses
 Summer and school year field trips to tech related
 Juniors and Seniors write letters of recommendation
 Summer Video Workshop with professional screenwriter/director since 2010
 Summer Personal Statement workshop
Cross-Curricular Projects
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All three career academies at Foshay collaborated on a 10th grade Ethics Project using the IB
model, which was presented at the CPA Annual Conference in Sacramento: Historical Leader
Websites
Genetic Disorder SCRATCH
Scratch History Timelines - February
11th grade AP US History Quiz Apps in conjunction with US History classes
Witness to History – trip to Museum of Tolerance
Flash Chemical Reactions - 11th grade
12th grade - FALL - Press Releases, Cover Letters
College Preparation
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Partnered with Know How to Go. Used their resources to conduct understanding financial aid
workshop, and hosted a FAFSA workshop with an expert to help over 60 students and parents
accurately fill out the form – open to all high school seniors.
Brought in expert from USC’s I AM program to facilitate filling out the CSU college applicationopen to all high school seniors
USC GameLab worked with all juniors and seniors - some on more than one occasion to game
test Mission Admission game about navigating the college application process
Field trip to UCLA for Exploring Computer science students
Guest speakers/mentors discuss educational paths with juniors
Career Panel discuss educational Paths
College Board Big Future research assignment
Service Learning
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10th graders presented their ethic scenarios related to the field of technology to other
classes
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10th graders taught Finance students to create Digital Portfolios
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Social Action through Art - 10th Grade Fall
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11th Graders - healthy eating games, made portfolios with Health Academy seniors
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12th graders presented AD CAMPAIGNS/ schoolwide stunts related to anti-bullying, self
respect, deadlines, budgeting, gossiping, and helping others.
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9th grade and 12th grade mentor 2nd grade and 1st graders with Reading/Literacy
AWARDS/ CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
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Leslie Aaronson - LAUSD Teacher of the Year 2012-2013 and LACOE Teacher of the Year semi
finalist
Leslie Aaronson Fishman Prize Honorable Roll
10th year with the California Partnership Academy grant
Teen Literacy Corps - Koreh project $25000 donation to school Library
Leslie presented at NACAC, Exploring Careers, ICT Education Symposium in Northern and
Southern California
Myra presented at IB conference and CATE
Ann is an AP world history reader since 2009
LEAD BUSINESS PARTNERS
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LAEP – conducts mock interviews, workshops on application and resume writing. Provided
FAFSA workshop assistance. Hired summer interns since 2011
LACC – supplies access for 200 web accounts to their server, access to sample web design and
programming curriculum
LBP – supplies guest speakers and ad design related lesson plans. Liaison between Tech
Academy and ad design companies – Ignited USA and DDBm
Ignited USA provides mentoring and conference room for Ad Campaign presentations
USC Center for Higher Education Policy Analysis – provides access to I AM program, scholarships
for Summertime Writing program, game testing for Mission Admission game, college application
workshops
UCLA/ Exploring Computer Science- provides field trips, curriculum, coach, and professional
developmen;students present at SET Awards -
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Irridescent - provides Fall Internship engineering program; Technovation program for 10 girls
Edlio – internships and mentoring
Net Generation of Yout/ STEM - scholarships to summer leadership conferences and college
programs since 2010
COMMUNICATION
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Tech Academy teachers meet officially once a week but stay connected at all times through
email. Agenda items include student needs, project planning and reflection, budget, concerns,
brainstorms
Tech Academy teachers meet before every semester for 1-3 days to plan for upcoming
semester.
Tech Academy teachers take a day every year for common scoring for the Genetics project
Tech Academy teachers share annotations from the Ethics project and reflect on student writing
and quality of student work to assess and alter the project to grow and meet student needs
Facebook Tech Academy Alumni Page to stay in touch with graduates.