“Discover + Create = Achieve.” 

At the end of our first school year, we’re proud to say that this is more than just a tagline. 

HFA students at the University of Texas.

From the very first week of school, when we visited the University of Texas in Austin and St. Edwards University, our 9th graders began to understand that college is an expectation for all students at Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School for Art + Design. Over the course of the year, they had the opportunity to visit five other college campuses, and started to discover what it takes to become college ready. 

But whether our students realize it yet or not, we are also helping them acquire the skills they’ll need to solve real-world problems.  As a part of our college prep curriculum and “design thinking” approach, our students work together on meaningful, hands-on projects — just like they will in college as they move toward their chosen careers. Our quarterly design challenges integrate what they are learning in core classes with a central question; the students collaborate with their peers and community members to develop possible solutions and their creative confidence.

One of our first design challenges focused on the question, “How might we develop a better carryall for someone?” Student teams worked with a nearby homeless center, Haven for Hope, to develop a backpack design that could enable their clients to keep their most vital belongings at hand.  As with all of our design challenges, they used a design process from the Hasso Plattner Institute of Design at Stanford University that’s adapted specifically for use by middle and high school students.

San Antonio community members gather at the unveiling of a mural painted by HFA students.

One 9^th grade student, Issac Lara, made a really powerful statement about our approach: “When we were designing the backpack, I learned that I can use the design process to create something that helps people in my community.”  We think it helps kids like Issac, too.

By the end of the year, our students were engaged with a broad range of partners in their design challenges.  To address the question, “How might we reduce vandalism in our community?” our students partnered with residents, the police department, city council representatives, San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, a city planner, and internationally renowned muralists to understand of the causes of vandalism in San Antonio and develop a possible response that leverages their artistic talents – a 1600 ft. mural in downtown San Antonio.

There’s a lot of hard work ahead for all of us at Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School for Art + Design — but we think we’re onto the start of something special.  Interested in learning more about Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School for Art + Design?  Watch a video of our recent appearance on Great Day San Antonio, visit www.thealamedaschool.org, call us at 210-226-4031, or “Like” us on Facebook to stay updated!

Jeffrey D. Flores is Superintendent/Principal of Henry Ford Academy: Alameda School for Art + Design, which opened in August 2009.  An administrator, teacher, and technical assistance provider for more than fourteen years, Jeff has been responsible for the development of quality educational opportunities for students in charter, parochial, and traditional public schools across Texas. He earned an undergraduate degree in history, a master’s degree in education from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, and a master’s degree in management from Indiana Wesleyan University.

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 5th, 2010 at 11:08 am and is filed under Voices and Victories. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.