Page 17 - TTMNSummer2025

Transportation
Teaching Today Minnesota | Summer/Back to School 2025 Page 17

Building New Skills at Central Middle School

and exploration of what it means
to engineer something.
As part of the Eden Prairie
Schools Inspired Journey, students
from preschool through 12th grade
and above constantly discover,
explore and pursue new pathways of
learning. For sixth graders at CMS,
Exploration courses, like Pathways
to Engineering, give them a chance
to dive deeper into their interests
and begin building skills and curios-
ities. Today, Madisyn has gathered
with the rest of her class to see just
Eden Prairie Schools what their cars can do. It’s a “fun
Crouched in a hallway at Central culmination,” says teacher Ryan Rice, of a class
Middle School (CMS) on March 21, student focused on research, brainstorming, designing,
Madisyn Frank steadies herself for a final test building and testing. He watches the cars as they
of her small, hand-built car. Riding on two race down the hallway, marking their distances
3D-printed wheels in front and two wheels on the floor.
made from CDs in back, Madisyn’s vehicle Students call out to Mr. Rice, wondering
runs on a mousetrap engine. Building up a if their two-person team’s car has gone the far-
store of potential energy, the mousetrap spring thest. Meanwhile, other students are back in the a move. Their car rolls forward, not too quickly, more powerful next time? Who knows. One
releases its power through an attached arm that classroom, refining their construction after a less- but confidently. It keeps rolling, overtaking Por- thing’s for sure, though: This hands-on activity,
rotates forward, pulling on a string wound up than-desirable test run. Then they’re back out tia’s record. 42 feet! done with friends, brought learning to life for
around the axle, which drives the car forward. to the hallway to see if they can take first place. “I was not expecting to win at all,” Isaac some inspired Eagles!
It’s a feat of engineering made possible Sixth grader Portia Baruti is ready to tinker — says after the record breaking run.
through Madisyn’s sixth grade Pathways to but the car doesn’t need much optimization. It Though some cars go further than others,
Engineering class. Over the course of the term, works quite well and is in the lead for a while. ultimately, all students walk away winners with www.edenpr.org
students have designed, built, redesigned and Then, on one of the last runs, student Isaac their curiosity about design sparked. Will they
rebuilt their cars, all in a process of discovery Kamara and his teammate Cruz Rodriguez make build another mousetrap car, even bigger and

EARN A DEGREE IN Career Academy’s Dryburgh Receives
Statewide Teaching Award
TRANSPORTATION Moorhead Area Public Schools can lead to state

certification.
In late February, the month observed as
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Month, “Our CTE
OFFERINGS AVAILABLE: the Minnesota Association for Career and Techni- offerings are con-
cal Education (MnACTE) named Tom Dryburgh, stantly evolving,”
advisor and community outreach coordinator at the added Dryburgh,
Auto Body Collision Moorhead High School Career Academy, the 2025 “as we con-
Technology
Career Guidance Teacher of the Year. tinually evaluate
This award recognizes school counselors partnerships and
Automotive Technology
and career development professionals who courses to put
have demonstrated commitment to connecting together the best
Diesel Maintenance
Technician students with opportunities for success, show possible career and technical education for our
innovation in career exploration and develop- students. The goal is to implement as many new
Truck Driving ment and have advocated for CTE as a viable pathways as possible without losing focus on the
option for all students. most important thing: our students.”
Other trade offerings: “To me, this award is about what a phenom- Dryburgh’s honor marks the second straight
Industrial Technology enal job our district has done over the last few years year that MnACTE has honored a staff member
NEARLY 100% OF OUR GRADUATES FIND CAD to promote the CTE field,” said Dryburgh. “It also at the MHS Career Academy: in 2024, FACS
teacher Johanna Heigaard received the organiza-
A JOB IN THEIR FIELD IN 2 YEARS OR LESS! Machine Tool speaks to how we’re on the right path to continue to
Welding build our career and technical opportunities up for tion’s New Teacher of the Year award.
CALL OR VISIT OUR CAMPUS! Carpentry and more our students.” Businesses and organizations in the Red
MnACTE hailed Dryburgh’s leadership River Valley interested in partnering with the MHS
of Career Academy college fairs, career fairs, Career Academy for career and technical education
sophomore industry tours, junior and senior work opportunities can contact Dryburgh at by phone at
experiences and the freshman work seminar course. 218-284-6544 or via email at tdryburgh@moor-
Additionally, Dryburgh works to create partnerships headschools.org.
877.853.8324 with area businesses and organizations to further the
Red Wing
Winona hands-on opportunities available to MHS students.
www.southeastmn.edu/transport One such partnership that launched this year www.isd152.org
offers Emergency Medical Response training that