MANSFIELD – Over the summer, educators from Crawford County, Morrow County and Richland County districts had the opportunity to participate in the region’s first Teacher Business Boot Camps.
Attendees gained first-hand experience of the rewarding careers in manufacturing and the skills students need to obtain and retain these local positions.
In addition, Integrated Systems Technologies (IST) in Richland County sponsored a free 3D printer for a Richland County boot camp teacher participant who designed a lesson, unit or project that best illustrates the use of 3D printing in a manufacturing environment.
Gabe McCready, President of Operations at IST, expressed IST’s enthusiasm for the boot camp.
“At IST, we continually advocate for schools and teachers to collaborate more closely with manufacturers in their region,” said McCready.
“It’s so exciting to see a program doing just that, especially here in our community. We want to help in any way we can.”
Denise Benson, a math teacher at Lexington Local Schools, won the IST 3D printer for her “Mathematics and Manufacturing” unit created for her Applied Mathematics course for high school students.
After touring local manufacturing facilities, Benson observed the many applications for mathematics. The unit begins with a discussion of how mathematics is integrated into manufacturing.
The various lessons created include accuracy in measurements, precision in unit conversions, creating scale models, and exploring meshes to develop a 3D model.
“I am honored to be the Teacher Business Boot Camp 3D Printer winner,” said Benson. “I firmly believe that after 32 years as a teacher, I still have a lot to learn to better serve my students.
“I look forward to finding new and meaningful ways to encourage my Lexington High School students to be lifelong learners and embrace new technologies.”
Lexington Local Schools Superintendent Jeremy Secrist praised Denise’s innovative approach to teaching and how it led to her winning the 3D printer at the Teacher Business Boot Camp.
“I am not surprised that Denise Benson not only participated, but that she and her project won the 3D printer,” Secrist said. “Denise is always looking for innovative ways to challenge and motivate her students.
“I would also like to thank Integrated Systems Technologies for donating the printer to the boot camp and for placing the printer in Denise’s room. She is already looking for more ways to use it with her students and I know she will put it to good use.”
Secrist also thanked the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center Business Advisory Council and the Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development for organizing the Teacher Business Boot Camp.
“This was an excellent opportunity for local teachers,” Secrist said.
If you would like to register for the 2024 Richland County Teacher Business Boot Camp, please email Amy Wood at wood.amy@moesc.net.
The 2024 Richland County Boot Camp focuses on technology careers in Richland County and is made possible through a partnership with the Richland Area Chamber and Economic Development and a Microsoft Tech Sparc grant.