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December 6, 2006

New Country Charter school recognized as one of best in nation

By Nick Hanson

HENDERSON — Minnesota New Country School doesn’t look much like a regular high school, and it sure doesn’t feel like one, either.

But when it comes to charter schools, New Country is among the best in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

In a report released by the Department today, the small Henderson school is touted as one of eight outstanding charter schools across the United States.

It’s being lauded for closing achievement gaps in student testing, serving underprivileged students (about 25 percent of students classify as special education and receive free and reduced lunch) and setting high expectations through a nontraditional educational platform.

“We’re doing something pretty radical,” said Jim Wartman, an advisor and social studies teacher at New Country.

Instead of classrooms, the school building consists of a large open space with cubicle-like workspaces where each of its nearly 110 students get their own personal computer.

The 6-12 school mixes all of its grades together during instruction, lunch and assemblies. There are no periods, scheduled breaks or structure to the school day.

Students spend the majority of their four-day week working on individualized projects. The tactic is known as project based learning, which makes up for almost the entire school curriculum.

Math is the only subject with direct instruction.

In order for project learning to work, it’s essential for teachers to develop an intimate rapport with students, Wartman said.

“The more time I spend teaching a class, the less I can spend with a student,” he said. “We’re more like the real world. We talk to (students) like co-workers.”

After students devise projects — usually based on their interests — teachers mentor them and make sure their research aligns with state and federal standards.

The goal is to prepare students for the real world and post-secondary endeavors.

That’s why past projects have included a student building a recording studio and another constructing a motorcycle from scratch.

“If it’s real life, it’s valuable to them,” said Dee Thomas, the lead advisor at New Country. “When they create a project around their passion, they see value in it.”

Besides teaching, Thomas is in charge of some of the administrative tasks at New Country.

She helps plan a total of about 15 days equivalent of professional development each year through weekly meetings, day-long events and retreats.

The group of fewer than 20 teachers and paraprofessionals have become tightly knit, and they aren’t afraid to critique and bounce ideas off of each other, Thomas said.

As a former public school administrator, Thomas said the charter school is a good option for parents looking for something different.

“The bureaucracy (at a public school) doesn’t allow the flexibility we have here,” she said.

The project based environment isn’t for every student either, and parents and kids have to buy into the concept in order to succeed, Thomas said.

But kids such as 15-year-old Alexi Floren are right at home.

“You don’t get pushed and shoved to learn something you have no interest in whatsoever,” she said. “It’s more give-and-take, as opposed to the teacher telling you what to do.”

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