Updates from the Collaborative
FEB 20 2025 - VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE
As winter weather moved through the Kansas City region, the RWL team pivoted their plans for an in-person Communities of Practice on February 20th to go virtual. Since schools were taking the brunt of schedule interruptions, the team also decided to shift to two Zoom meetings, rather than the typical full-day meeting so that school leaders could maximize their time at their home sites. One side effect of the decision to go virtual that the team saw was the increase in accessibility to audiences that cannot easily take time to travel to the Foundation for in-person meetings. This increased accessibility via virtual options hearkened back to the Zoom meetings during the pandemic – and how the entire region pivoted to make sure that key updates were delivered and that progress continued
To welcome the attendees, a recap video of the recent Get on the Bus event kicked off the session. The team highlighted upcoming teacher professional development programs, invited the ProX team to communicate upcoming key deadlines, and engaged the participants via a live-survey tool to consider the “ripple effects” of MVA achievement and RWL broadly. The keynote speaker, Brian Crouse – Vice President of Education at the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, discussed the history, current state, and potential future of work-based learning across the state of Missouri. Brian engaged with participants via the chat messenger to share best practices in employer engagement
As the main session concluded, attendees had four options of breakout sessions (all sourced from the network of stakeholders): An Employer Engagement Panel with keynote speaker Brian Crouse; A Missouri-focused panel on navigating state compliance and statewide trends; A Kansas-focused panel of similar themes; and a panel about Building Family and Community Awareness, featuring school leaders and ProX The final added benefits of the virtual format were the increased engagement of audience members via the chat messenger, as well as the capability to record all sessions via Zoom so that participants (and even those who did not attend) could view all sessions later.
Part 2 of the virtual Communities of Practice took place on the morning of March 6th. Since many of the relevant RWL updates were shared on February 20th, this meeting focused primarily on breakout sessions The first session, allowed guests to hear about five different MVA category sessions –College Credit, Client-connected Projects, Internships, IRCs, and Entrepreneurial Experiences. These sessions highlighted programs throughout the region and allowed audience members to dig deep on a particular topic.
VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE
DAY 2
Following this breakout session, the remaining time was exclusive to school-based attendees. Peer Learning Groups united and had time to share pertinent updates with their counterparts and crowdsource possible solutions to obstacles they are facing. Finally, the morning concluded with an Educators of Color session that aims to provide space for the professionals in the KC region to build community and support each other’s development (without an RWL team member presence). The convenings were excellent opportunities for the RWL team to design more virtual conferences for their stakeholders in the future!
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Imagine stepping into a vibrant underwater world, not just observing, but actively participating in its creation and maintenance At Blue Springs South, students aren't just learning about marine life from textbooks; they're immersed in a real-world aquarium project, fostering coral growth and ensuring a thriving ecosystem.
"When I came in, we had like two fish and not very much coral," student Chloe Rennison shared. "Seeing the make grow and watch the ecosystem develop has been really cool." This hands-on approach transforms science from abstract concepts to tangible experiences. Students test water quality, adjust chemical levels, feed marine life, and even research solutions to unexpected challenges.
What's truly remarkable is the collaborative problemsolving When faced with issues like a zoological outbreak, students work together, contributing ideas and learning to navigate complex situations. "Watching the students all contribute ideas to the solution... and then watching them kind of learn to collaborate and work together to figure out the best path... has been amazing," Amber Roberts, Secondary Science Instructional Coach and Biology Teacher, noted.
This project goes beyond technical skills. Students gain insights into marine science, develop critical thinking abilities, and even discover potential career paths they never considered before. As student Chloe Rennison put it, "It can kind of give you a future look at what you want to do through life."
Step into Class Act Coffee, and you'll find more than just a place to grab a latte. This vibrant coffee shop is a student-run enterprise, offering a unique blend of education and real-world business experience. Students manage every aspect of the operation, from crafting beverages to handling marketing and customer service.
"This is a product of all four North Kansas City high schools... and very few in the country have something like this," Teacher and Operator, Mr Zachary Johnson explained Juniors and seniors dedicate half their day to this off-campus program, diving into entrepreneurial studies while running a bustling business. They developed the menu, set price points, and even contributed to designing the interior space, showcasing K through 12 student artwork.
Students learn valuable skills, from operating a professional espresso machine to managing inventory and handling finances "We've got a La Marzocco espresso machine... students can pretty much go get a barista job shortly after high school because they know how the business runs." Class Act Coffee partners with Broadway Roasting, who provided training, guidance on equipment, and, of course, the beans!
Before opening up in February 2024, the entire first semester was spent planning Students created a marketing research survey and received over 500 responses from parents and community members. Answering questions like what are your coffee habits, and what are you looking for in a third space.
Beyond the business aspects, students gain confidence, leadership abilities, and a sense of ownership. "There's not a whole lot of other places where... 16, 17, 18-year-olds can say that I was the marketing director for an active coffee shop that's open and running," Mr Johnson emphasized. Students engaged with Class Act Coffee receive a dual credit from UMKC that fulfills the district’s pathways requirement. The NKC curriculum "dovetailed nicely" with the intro to entrepreneurship class provided by UMKC. The district also pays for each students’ food handlers and food managers permits.
CLASS ACT COFFEE ISN'T JUST SERVING COFFEE; IT'S BREWING SUCCESS FOR THE
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