Ben Barber Students Partner with NASA to Make Packages for Space

Can't see the video? View it here.

Mansfield ISD Ben Barber Innovation Academy students are working with the NASA HUNCH program to create secure packaging that will allow NASA to send objects to outer space.

The NASA program -- HUNCH, which stands for High schools United with NASA to Create Hardware -- is a STEM outreach effort designed to bring students new educational experiences with NASA projects.

“I saw an advertisement through Facebook and I just reached out to them to see if it was something we could get involved with,” said Tim Sherwood, the manufacturing teacher at Ben Barber. “They had us come down and take a look at their facility and here we are making parts for them now.”

The HUNCH partnership requires the students at Ben Barber to make lids for 40 storage boxes each year. Once completed, the boxes will be sent to space stations containing food, supplies and experiments.

“My favorite part of the project is probably just the challenge of doing it,” said Ryan Weisblatt, a Mansfield High School senior. “A lot of people don’t get this opportunity, so this part alone has really made me think and challenge myself.”

In preparation for making the lids, the students learned how to operate drawing files, manual coding and programmed software for machines.

“The students are really enjoying this type of work and to be able to see the parts and put them to real use, it really shows them what they can look forward to after high school,” said Sherwood. “A lot went into it and the kids were able to overcome it all."

After making the boxes, the students are allowed to sign their name onto the fixture.

“My name is going to be in space one day and that’s an amazing accomplishment that I can tell my friends,” said Weisblatt. “It’s an awesome experience all around.”

MISD Students Place in a National Video Competition

Can't see the video? View it here.

Six students from Ben Barber Innovation Academy and Frontier High School placed in the top three for StudentCam, an annual C-SPAN documentary competition.

Students in grades 6-12 were asked to create a five to six minute video documentary on what it means to be American.

“I told them don’t just find something. Make sure it’s something that you believe in,” said Ryan Tuomey, arts and audio/visual teacher at Ben Barber. “All my students hit that note, but there were a couple that stood out that I thought did very well.”

The students competed in groups of three. One group from Ben Barber placed second, receiving a cash prize of $1,500. The other group placed third and received $750.

“They did an amazing job,” said Tuomey. “We’ve done this competition for a few years and each year it gets better and better. They really put thought into it and we tried to make sure the actual message is there and it’s not just coming from a film production aspect. We actually want that message to hit home.”

Jenae Green from C-SPAN awarded the StudentCam winners on April 4 at Ben Barber Invitation Academy and Frontier High School.

“We figured we would do well, but we didn’t think we would do this well,” DJ Elliott, Frontier High School senior. “We’re very proud. It was cool to see that email saying we got third and it was a cool experience.”

When making the documentaries, the students set up interviews to convey the stories they wanted to tell. One team landed an interview with Lupe Valdez, a 2018 democratic nominee for Governor of Texas. The other interviewed the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban.

“Our process was very unconventional to most people,” said Tanner Fenton, Frontier High School senior. “We reached out to many different interviewees and we actually got a response from a politician. That was the biggest surprise that they wanted to talk to us kids.”

The deadline for submissions was on January 20.

“We’d gotten the prompt around the first of December, but the problem is obviously winter break,” said Fenton. “The time constraint hurt, but it also helped because it helped us be efficient and helped us not to sit there and lull around.”

The second place video, “’Til We Reach That Day” will air on C-SPAN throughout the day on April 10.

“I believe that being an American means that you have the opportunity to make a difference,” said Elliott. “You live in a place where if you want to do something, you can go out and have lots of resources available to you to go out a make that possible.”

To see the second place winner, “’Til We Reach That Day” go here. To see the third place video, “America: The Land of Opportunity!” go here.

New MISD Drone Class Begins Spring 2019

Can't see the video? View it here.
The use of drones—also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)—is on the rise, and Mansfield ISD is starting a new class to help students prepare for the booming industry.

Edu-Drone will be offered in January 2019 with a focus on obtaining skills to become a commercial drone pilot for a variety of career pathways.

“It’s just such an exciting adventure for us,” said Christie Alfred, executive director of curriculum and instruction. “It allows students from all different interest areas to come in…and it’s potentially a huge opportunity for employment for them as they graduate high school.”

The classes will take place at Ben Barber Innovation Academy (BBIA) for MISD high school juniors and seniors.

Drones are also incorporated into the curriculum
at the Jerry Knight STEM Academy.

After successfully completing the course, students will be able to take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 107 exam to become a certified drone pilot.

“We have drone clubs at some elementary schools. Also, at our STEM Academy, they’re very involved in the drone program and will soon have competitions. Those types of activities promote the pipeline for students to engage in the Edu-Drone class in the future,” Alfred continued.

Beverly Ver Steeg will be the instructor for Edu-Drone. She currently teaches engineering and aerospace classes at BBIA and is excited to expand the aviation offerings at the school.

“I actually fly drones at home and kind of play with them. It’s a hobby,” said Ver Steeg. “When we knew we were getting a class, I was like, ‘Yeah!’ and sort of pushed to teach the course.”

The 11th- and 12th-graders in Edu-Drone must have passed Algebra I, be at least 16 years old and hold a valid driver’s license.

There is still space in the class. Interested students can visit their counselor for more information on how to get enrolled.

Students Help Pets Displaced by Hurricane Harvey

While Mansfield ISD is conducting a relief drive to help those affected by the destruction of Hurricane Harvey, high schoolers are making sure an often forgotten population is taken care of as well.

Ben Barber Innovation Academy students started a donation drive to collect food and supplies for displaced pets. The students in the agricultural science practicum class saw the need and spread their idea to their home high school campuses.

Through collaboration and the power of social media, the donations started to come in by the dozens.

“The schools were very receptive, and a lot of people were able to post it to their social media pages (using the hashtag #HeartsOutToHarvey). We’ve gotten a lot of shares. It’s been shared all the way into the U.K.,” said agricultural science teacher Kristi Chambliss.

Agricultural science students dropped off the decorated donation
boxes at each MISD high school.

Donation boxes were given to each high school. The items from each campus were carried into a trailer and brought back to the Reed Stewart Agricultural Science Center to store.

“We’ll be working with an organization that is going to take this to areas in the south that need it most,” Chambliss continued, “I’m so proud of these students because it was all their idea. They saw a need and had a heart for giving.”

The MISD rodeo team is also taking feed and hay to the Houston area to assist.

Senior Katelynn Timmerman added that the community has been a great help to their cause. They’ve even received discounts from local businesses to help offset the costs.

“We were using our own money to go help those animals. It feels really good helping,” she explained.

The campus pet drive ends Sept. 1. A community drive will take place on Saturday, Sept. 2 from 7 a.m. to noon at the Reed Stewart Agricultural Science Center, located at 1924 N. Main St., Mansfield, TX 76063. Anyone who would like to donate supplies is welcome.

MISD FFA Students Earn Nearly $57K at Showcase

MISD's FFA team prepared for the competition since January.

A group of 20 Mansfield ISD students who take great pride in their livestock can now say they have some of the best longhorns in the area, and they have the scholarship money to prove it.

The Autobahn Youth Scholarship Tour is an annual event in Fort Worth in which children and teens showcase their longhorn cattle. Organizers give out more than $400,000 in scholarship money to winners.

The five-day competition is much more than making sure the bovines have shiny coats. Contestants can also compete in various categories including public speaking, judging, agricultural mechanics, art and photography.

“I want my students to be really well-rounded individuals, so I tell them that they have to compete in certain categories,” said Kristi Chambliss, agricultural science teacher at Ben Barber Innovation Academy and sponsor for MISD’s FFA club. “If you want to be a pro in this industry, you have to be able to speak and write properly.”

Students from all over the Metroplex
showed off their cattle.

Diversifying the students’ talents paid off. The team raked in a club record of $56,998 in scholarships. In addition, three of the four all-around winners came from Mansfield ISD.

“My favorite part was seeing how happy the kids were when they heard their names being called for the awards,” Chambliss explained. “Our group also won the Herdsman Award for keeping our area the cleanest and working hard behind the scenes. It’s a big deal because showing is only a small part of what we do.”

This is the fourth year for MISD to compete in the Autobahn Youth Scholarship Tour. The students come for the competition, but leave with memories and lasting relationships.

“This is a major networking opportunity as well,” Chambliss continued. “They have common interests with other students and industry professionals. This can open the door to countless possibilities.”

View results of the 2017 Autobahn Youth Scholarship Tour here.

MISD Youth Dive into Future Career Choices

It’s a summer of exploration for dozens of Mansfield ISD students going into grades 6-8. Ben Barber Innovation Academy’s (BBIA) annual Rising Star Discovery Camp is underway.

The camp is a fun introduction to a few courses offered at BBIA. Students are able to receive an interactive overview of topics ranging from culinary arts, video production, graphic design, criminal justice and computer maintenance.

Green helps a student troubleshoot a computer tower.

Instructor Jimmie Green, Sr. said he likes seeing the kids learn, and the learning is a mutual process.

“These kids are smart. I can teach them 1,000 things, and they can teach me 2,000,” he said. “We’re diagnosing, defragging; and by the end of it, we’ll have a race to see who can take a computer apart and put it back together the fastest.”

Camp coordinators work hard to make the courses mimic real-life situations.

In the criminal justice class, the students went outdoors to investigate a staged crime scene. Chris Vasquez, who previously worked with the Houston Police Department for 11 years, said it’s a way to give students a general idea of the policing world while creating positive experiences between the children and law enforcement.

“I went into teaching because I got tired of putting kids in jail and wanted to catch them before they get corrupted in the system,” he said. “They’re learning the steps of an investigation right now, which involves documenting and picking up evidence.”

Vasquez gives instructions on how to correctly document evidence.

The teachers said their goal is to spark an interest in the students that will hopefully have them coming back to BBIA to pursue their respective career paths when they enter high school.

“Once my curiosity was sparked in computer maintenance, there was no turning back for me, so I hope these kids find the same interest in a topic,” Green said.

BBIA’s Rising Star Discovery Camp runs June 12-16 from 8 a.m. to noon. The cost of registration is $65.

MISD Students “Nail It” for Families in Need

A stage usually set up for musicals and performances was transformed into a construction workshop filled with tools and supplies to see which North Texas high school team would be named the best builders in the region.

“We were trying to come up with a fun preliminary contest prior to our SkillsUSA contest,” said Gene Schramme, construction technology teacher at Mansfield ISD’s Ben Barber Innovation Academy. “We brought the ‘Nailed It’ idea to the staff at the MISD Center for the Performing Arts, and they helped it all come together.”

Students used teamwork and skill to build their playhouses.

The teams of four from Ben Barber Innovation Academy, Birdville Center of Technology and Advanced Learning, Stephenville High School and Fort Worth’s Green B. Trimble Technical High School spent hours designing and building a playhouse that would be judged by a panel of industry professionals.

The inaugural contest wasn’t all about hands-on learning, though—it was also a way to give back to the community.

“I didn’t know these houses were going to Habitat for Humanity until two weeks ago,” said Jacob Dawson, high school junior and member of the Ben Barber Innovation Academy team. “It made it that much more important to do that job right.”

“The first thing I told [the teams] was, 'We want you to be safe, and we want you to have fun because we’re building these playhouses for kids.' At the end of the day, there are four families, and their kids are getting a playhouse,” said Schramme.

The MISD team was proud of their finished product.

After six intense hours of work, the judges made their final decision. MISD’s Jacob Dawson, Caleb Padgett, Logan Dawson and Hayden Zawodniak earned the coveted winner’s plaque. They were happy that their talents were recognized, but they were even happier to be helping a greater cause.

“About a month ago, we took a trip, and we helped Habitat for Humanity, and we got to meet a bunch of wonderful people,” said junior Caleb Padgett. “Now that we get to do these, it’s such an honor to be able to give those to families in need.”

DEWALT® Power Tools, Huckabee & Associates, Inc. and Upstage Center, Inc. were major sponsors of the Oct. 12 event.

Organizers hope the competition will expand to include even more area schools next year.

MISD Students Gain National Recognition for Documentary

A call for politicians to make serious changes to the country’s foster care system is what earned two Mansfield ISD high school students national attention.

Makenna Hennegan and Kristen Laurie, from Lake Ridge High School, received an honorable mention by C-SPAN for their documentary “To a Good Home.” The cable network’s StudentCam contest received more than 2,500 entries nationwide.

The junior and sophomore duo entered the contest through a project in their Ben Barber Career and Technology Academy film class. Hennegan said the topic has been dear to her for a long time.

“I always cared about the foster care system,” said the 11th grader. “Some of these children live in deplorable conditions. I’ve heard stories where children are locked away without food.”

Laurie (second to right) and Hennegan (right) received a tour
of the C-SPAN bus that was parked outside of the ceremony.

The students interviewed teenagers and adults who were victims of a flawed foster care system. Counselors were also interviewed in the video to shed more light on the situation.

“I think the most emotional part of the video is when one of the people we interviewed said that every child deserves a good home,” said Laurie.

The two filmmakers received their award at a ceremony at Ben Barber on March 22. A representative from U.S. Congressman Joe Barton’s office presented them with a personal congratulatory letter.

“I would like to commend both of you,” the letter from representative Barton stated. “Issues such as these are often drowned out on the national level, and I salute you for your work to point out where the federal government can change people’s lives for the better in tangible ways.”

Hennegan and Laurie won $250 for their documentary. They said they will use the winnings to start their next creative film project.

MISD Students Create Logo and Website for New Local Business

Students and employees at the ribbon cutting of Bark Out Loud.

When you walk into the Bark Out Loud Doggie Boutique and Café in Mansfield, you don’t have to look far to see the impact of a determined group of Mansfield ISD high School students.

About 35 students in the graphic design club at Ben Barber Career Tech Academy are the masterminds behind the company’s branding.

The Team of Animation and Graphic Design (TAGD) was contacted in February to tackle the logo and website. It was a mission that the first-year club was excited to take on.

“It’s one thing to be teaching it in the classroom, but having an actual client gives the students real-world feedback. They can add this on their resume rather than just getting a grade," said Brandon Buckner, graphics design teacher at Ben Barber.

The students worked on the project for a few hours every week, and were able to see the fruits of their labor at the company’s ribbon-cutting on August 4.

Connie Romano excited to open shop with
the help of MISD students.

“It was fun, and everyone had a hand in it,” said Connie Romano, owner of Bark Out Loud. “I would definitely recommend them. They did a great job, and I was glad to be able to support them.”

Buckner hopes his TAGD students will continue to get opportunities that will add to their portfolio while helping local businesses.

“I encourage them to think global, but act local,” said Buckner. “We would love more clients so that we can get involved in the community as much as possible.”

For more information about Ben Barber’s TAGD club, visit the campus webpage.

MISD Team Gears Up for Solar Car Race

The solar car team's new and improved vehicle, Mark III.

While people are soaking in the summer rays, a Ben Barber Career Tech Academy team is using those rays to power their racecar—and they’ll put it to the test at the Texas Motor Speedway next week.

The high school students will be racing their solar car at the world-famous track as part of The 2015 Solar Car Challenge, which takes place July 18-23.

The Solar Car Challenge started in 1993 to motivate students in science, engineering, and alternative energy. Students learn how to design, engineer, build, and race roadworthy solar cars.

Shine Runners test out the racecar
before the big day at the Solar Car Challenge.

Ben Barber’s team—Shine Runners—will be competing against 29 teams from across the nation. The team’s race is scheduled for Tuesday, July 21 at 9 a.m. Principal Catherine Hudgins said she’s thrilled to be able to wave the flag that day to start the race for each team.

“I am privileged and honored to be a part of the race this year,” said Hudgins. “We have a strong student team of future leaders and teacher sponsors who are willing to go the extra mile. Our solar car has taught our students so much more than any textbook or classroom could ever teach. It is the true meaning of real world application.”

This is the fourth year Shine Runners has competed in the Solar Car Challenge. Last year, the team took part in a cross-country challenge, going from Fort Worth to Austin, and finished fourth place overall.

The team is sponsored by Mansfield ISD, Meter Technology Werks, Lockheed Martin, CSB Battery Technologies, Mouser Electronics, Super ATV, and Raising Cane’s.

Teacher Gains Fame by Telling Story of Home Through Lens of iPhone

For first-year teacher Temi Coker, photography teacher at Ben Barber Career Tech Academy, taking pictures is therapeutic.

“I was just going through a lot when I was in college, so taking pictures was just a way of me allowing the world to see it the way I saw it,” said Coker.

Temi Coker's family in Nigeria
Courtesy: Instagram (@temi.coker)

But he never imagined the visual story he told through social media about a trip to his childhood home would go viral and bring him some unexpected attention.

Coker traveled to Nigeria in December 2014 to celebrate his grandmother’s 70th birthday. His birthday happens to be the day after; so on his birthday, he decided to walk around Lagos, Nigeria and document the city in a new way.

“I wanted people to see Nigeria in a way that the media didn’t show it,” said the Nigerian native. “I wasn’t expecting anything from this. I just wanted to show the people—at least the people who were following me [on Instagram]—my trip and how beautiful Nigeria really is.”

Using the hashtag #TemixNigeria, Coker shared his story, and his artistic photos were noticed by the Instagram community manager. Soon after, Coker’s photos were featured on the Instagram blog.

Self-portrait of Coker
Courtesy: Instagram (@temi.coker)

Since then, Coker’s artwork has been shown on the local news and noticed by several art enthusiasts around the world.

“I was like, ‘Man, are you serious?’ I was almost crying because I didn’t do this for the fame. I did it because I just wanted to document Nigeria in a special way."

He noted that he’s extremely thankful for all the support and recognition he’s been getting.

Ben Barber Program Manufacturing Results

 Advanced Precision Metal Manufacturing Program: (L-R)
Miranda Small, Raquel Frantz, Ethan Welch, Eric Lucas,
Khalil Wines, Dylan Deen, Javier Garcia, Christopher Richards,
Bradley Ivie, Logan Hawkins, Christian Kinnison,
James Ferguson, and Mr. Ron Johnson.

Instructor Ron Johnson had no clue what he was getting himself into when he was asked to lead Ben Barber Tech Career Academy’s new Advanced Precision Metal Manufacturing (APMM) program.

All he knew was that he was committed to the mission: getting students prepared for the real world.

The program partners with five local companies to give students a hands-on experience of the manufacturing industry. Students can even get forklift certified by the end of their internships.

“It really is a cutting-edge program,” said Johnson. “These students are manufacturing things like drills and aerospace parts. They work very hard.”

And now, the hard work is starting to pay off. The APMM program received an award Wednesday from Texas Workforce Solutions of Tarrant County for its economic involvement within the community.

The organization honored Ben Barber Career Tech Academy, Mansfield Economic Development Corporation, Cam-Tech, Drill King, Fluidic Technologies, Klein Tools, and Trinity Forge—all the entities involved in a collaboration that is preparing the future generation.

Javier Garcia, a Frontier High School senior enrolled in APPM, said the program helped him decide what he wanted to do for a living.

“I knew I liked to build things and work with my hands, but I still didn't know what I wanted to do. After taking a few classes in the program, I decided that engineering was going to become my career.”

And for some students, the effects of the class will last beyond their graduation date.

“Companies already want to employ some of my students after they graduate. Not too many people can say that. I’d say it’s been a good first year,” said Johnson.

The APMM program is expected to grow next school year with two more local companies taking part.

Tree Lighting Doubles as Student Project Showcase

The MISD Center for the Performing Arts is home to a variety of annual holiday season events such as the Big Brassy Christmas concert and Toys for Tots. Following last year’s Toys for Tots event, Flo Torres, the Center Director, and her staff decided the holiday season was missing one central item – a one-of-a-kind Christmas tree to display in front of the facility. True to form, Torres found a way to include students in the project.

“Our motto at the Center is ‘Where Education and Celebration become One,’ and we are always searching for ways to showcase student talent through our various programs and events,” said Torres.

After some planning and collaboration, the tree became a class project for students at the Ben Barber Career Tech Academy (BBCTA). It was designed and constructed by students from the Advanced Welding class, with students from the Welding 1 class assisting with the finishing touches. The magnificent tree is approximately 33 feet tall, weighs 900 pounds, and is decked out with 10,000 multicolored lights. A beautiful four-foot golden star shines brightly from the top of the tree.

Students spent about a month constructing the tree under the guidance of BBCTA teachers Rob Goodson (Engineering) and Alex Higgs (Architecture and Welding). Student used saws, cutting torches, grinders, Gas Metal Arc Welding, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, and a CNC Plasma Cutter to build this impressive project.

The project was unveiled at a tree lighting ceremony in front of the Center on the evening of Sunday, December 7. Dr. Jim Vaszauskas, Superintendent of Schools, and David Cook, Mayor of Mansfield, kicked off the event with a warm welcome and a few words about the district and community. Students from the MISD Children’s Center sang a few holiday songs just before Dr. Vaszauskas led the crowd in the final countdown to the tree lighting.

Hats off to these talented and hard-working students:

Advanced Welding Class: Zach Alvarez, Tony Dowd, Chaz Galvan, Will Hager, Devin Holcomb, Zach Lee, Jake Mathis, Mike McGaugh, Ricardo Olivares, Makenna Ruder, Trevor Saltsman, Josh St. Pierre, Sean Vandiver, Kolton Widner.

Welding 1 Class: Sirilo Alegria, Logan Anderson, Zoobie Azam, Kyle Carmichael, Gabe Diaz, Triston Lesley, Aldo Maldonado, Dylan McCallum, Hudson Neal, Tommy, Nguyen, Jacob Proffer, Chandler Shumate, Dajuan Webb, Brock Wilson.