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Board hears Next Generation Scholars update and Braddock career-field-trip pilot
Summary
Presenters described the Next Generation Scholars grant and a Braddock Middle School Blueprint pilot that staged 12 career-focused field trips; Leonard Webb said parent engagement remains the biggest challenge, and students described hands-on experiences at college and industry sites.
The Allegany County Board of Education heard presentations Dec. 10 on two career-readiness efforts: an MBRT Next Generation Scholars grant update and a Braddock Middle School Blueprint pilot that delivered career-focused field trips to middle-school students.
Leonard Webb of the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education (MBRT) said the Next Generation Scholars program serves seventh- through ninth-graders aimed at college and career readiness. Webb reported that the local effort ran 36 learning engagements that served 946 students, that Allegany County Next Gen graduates reported about $141,250 in financial aid, and that the program’s statewide total was roughly $4,300,000. Webb said the program combines college and career readiness and identified "parent engagement is the biggest challenge" in expanding participation.
Dr. Stewart and staff described Braddock Middle School’s pilot for the Blueprint initiative: a set of coordinated, same-day career field trips so students rotate among four career-cluster sites and, over three years, participate in 12 different trips. Dr. Stewart said the design emphasized "hands-on experience" and logistical steps led by Mr. Mowery to have "12 field trips ready to go by the end of the first marking period." Presenters named community partners including Allegany College of Maryland and Western Maryland Works and said activities included medical-equipment demonstrations, wood-shop and 3-D printing workshops, and tours of local businesses.
Students featured in a short video offered concrete examples. Seventh-grader Anna Hampton said, "My favorite part about the Garrett College field trip was looking around campus." Eighth-grader Demarra Allen said her favorite was "the lavatory and the x-ray machines" at the UMPC visit. Teachers and staff said the trips helped students see realistic local pathways and prompted school staff to strengthen curriculum ties to local careers.
Presenters and board members discussed scaling the model to other middle schools (Washington, Westmar, Mount Savage) and expanding employer and college participation. Webb and district staff urged more parent outreach and larger venues for events to boost engagement.
