Academy of Technology and Innovation at UMW Opens Doors, Opportunity for High-Schoolers

A peek into Room 225 on the first day of classes at the Academy of Technology and Innovation at UMW (ATI-UMW) reveals just a taste of the learning taking place at the lab school, now kicking off its inaugural year.

Inside, Tyler Limbrick challenged students in his global studies class - which rolls the subjects of English and world history into a single curriculum - to draw the world map in five minutes. "Ready, go!" he said, while starting a timer and the theme song from Mission Impossible.

Down the hall, Spanish teacher Michael Arriaza, who does not use desks in his classroom, had students practice the pronunciation of the word profesor. And science teacher William Schlotter, who worked with the FBI in forensics before shifting to education, led an icebreaker based on the popular Scattergories game.

The new school wraps project-based learning experiences around the idea that mastering technology is increasingly important in the workforce no matter what careers students hope to pursue, from cybersecurity and political science to art, hospitality and fashion. Approved by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) late last year, ATI-UMW welcomed more than 80 ninth-graders - selected via lottery in January - from the City of Fredericksburg, as well as Caroline, King George, Orange and Stafford counties.

"ATI-UMW is really focused on helping students explore the reciprocal relationship between computer and data science applied across content areas," said Executive Director Rebecca Towery. "We're helping kids develop the skills to pursue the careers they're most interested in."

Built to put students on personalized pathways with options for dual-enrollment, industry certifications and advanced-placement coursework, the school supports those in special-education and gifted-and-talented programs, English language learners and more. "We have a full spectrum of learners," Towery said. "We really tried to design it to be open to anybody who shows interest."

That's important to James Monroe High School-based student Cameron Kuvinka, who hopes to pursue an associate degree during his high school career. "It's a good opportunity for me," he said. "I like to work as a leader, and we're going to have student-run things."

The past months have been a flurry of action for Towery and the ATI-UMW staff as they reimagined the space inside the South Building at UMW's Stafford Campus and built personnel, including full- and part-time instructors. Buoyed by a two million-dollar start-up grant from the VDOE, investments from Mary Washington and other funding, new carpet, cable, wall wraps and furniture were added to enhance instruction. A food service area was installed, the library was redesigned to maximize communal learning zones, and faculty from UMW's College of Education (COE) provided ideas for a technology-rich maker space for multidisciplinary collaboration and worked with staff to develop curriculum.

A COE faculty member also will help with student engagement and professional development, COE Dean Pete Kelly said. "We are excited for our students to be engaged in the life of the school."

A fully functioning science lab with tables, sinks, hood vents and more is on tap for next summer, Towery said. The goal is to add a grade level for the next three consecutive years, until the school holds a full high-school house of freshmen through seniors.

ATI-UMW students like Colonial Forge high-schooler Gavin Rush, who plans to study cybersecurity, attend full days of classes and return to their respective home schools for athletics and extracurriculars. "I kind of wanted to take my learning to the next level," he said. "I wanted to branch out and do something different."

James Monroe High School student Isabel Hornung said she likes ATI-UMW's tight-knit community and specialized learning. Faith Ramsey, who heads to King George High School for afternoon field hockey practice, was drawn to the college-like setting and hands-on philosophy - each teacher is charged with offering at least one experience aimed at solving a real-world problem per semester.

"It's supposed to be project-based so I don't have to sit there silently doing worksheets all day," she said. "It's a new opportunity, and my mom said it would be great for my career."

Indeed, a first-day question posed by computer and data science teacher Jason Wong, a retired Lockheed Martin systems engineer, could go a long way toward propelling ATI-UMW students like Faith into rewarding professions: "How does data affect the decisions we make every day?"