Boonsboro High principal highlights CTE, dual‑credit and attendance programs to boost student engagement

Dr. Mike Kahaneck, principal of Boonsboro High School, told the Washington County Board of Education work session that the school is using career pathways, advanced coursework and an attendance‑linked rewards program to “find a purpose for every student.”

Kahaneck said the school’s approach centers on Career and Technical Education (CTE) “completer” pathways beginning in eighth grade and reinforced through high school, plus dual‑credit and Advanced Placement (AP) courses and a flexible period called FLEX for remediation, make‑up work and student leadership activities.

The strategy matters because it is intended to increase student engagement, lower failure rates and provide clearer post‑graduation options. “We truly believe every child has a genius at Boonsboro High School,” Kahaneck said, adding that programs and certifications give students real‑world options while keeping them connected to school.

Kahaneck said Boonsboro offers 14 CTE completer programs and a broad set of industry certifications; the school’s promotional banners were designed and produced by students in an IMP program. He said about 68% of graduates leave with a CTE completer and some students earn multiple completers. Examples cited included welding (expanding to a double block next year to offer three welding certifications), homeland security (FAA drone certification), CNA/GNA nursing credentials and Microsoft Office certifications.

Kahaneck credited a community college partnership for dual‑credit expansion. Boonsboro offers 28 dual‑credit courses and, as of his presentation, about 249 students were enrolled in dual‑credit classes. He said about 178 students were taking AP classes across 23 AP courses, with an AP pass rate near 65%.

Kahaneck described the school’s Blue Good Standing program (aligned to PBIS principles) that ties eligibility for school events and higher‑tier rewards to attendance, behavior and academic thresholds (C or better in each course to qualify for the Blue tier). He said the school’s highest tier—“Blue”—had reached roughly 63% of students for the most recent marking period. Blue rewards have included off‑site trips to Topgolf, a 4DX movie and Urban Air; Kahaneck said roughly 200 students attended those trips.

Kahaneck credited FLEX—an on‑campus flexible period used Monday and Friday—for enabling on‑the‑spot remediation, tutorials and counseling push‑ins without students missing class time. He said FLEX hosts about 25 co‑curricular clubs and organizations and has driven a measurable drop in the school’s failure rate.

On arts and athletics, Kahaneck said roughly 192 students perform in ensembles and about 305 students participate in visual arts offerings; the school runs about 45 end‑of‑year evaluative performances. Boonsboro has one of the largest varsity sports programs in the county, with more than 650 athletes and roughly 60% of students participating in at least one sport, he said.

Board members asked for additional breakdowns of the roughly 18% of students who were either academically not eligible, chronically absent or had referrals; Kahaneck said chronic absenteeism was the most common cause but did not provide a full numeric breakdown during the presentation.

Kahaneck identified two principal continuing challenges: chronic absenteeism, which he said “is still our nemesis,” and increasing student access to potent THC products and other substance‑use risks. He said student leadership development—identifying and empowering leaders across the school community, including students not usually recognized for academic achievement—is a next priority.

The presentation concluded with Kahaneck distributing a pamphlet summarizing CTE pathways and their aligned advanced study courses and thanking the board for touring the school earlier in the year.

Less critical detail: Board members and staff in attendance included Board President Zentmayer and Superintendent Dr. Savine, who introduced the presentation; several assistant principals and department leaders at Boonsboro were named during Kahaneck’s remarks as contributors to the programs but did not speak in depth.