FOUR OAKS — South Johnston High School is nestled in the small eastern North Carolina community of Four Oaks. It is a place where families lay down roots and their children dream of becoming teachers, engineers, veterinarians, nurses, and farmers. Household income in Four Oaks is below the state average, but employment is on an upswing and many of the jobs are in agriculture.
At SJHS, the Institute for Development of Environmental and Agriculture Leaders, or IDEAL for short, is a partnership that increases college and career success among high school juniors and seniors, and hopefully encourages their return back to the community once they are ready to enter the workforce.
The basis for IDEAL was launched in the fall of 2015 with the University of Mount Olive (UMO) partnering to bring university level agriculture courses to SJHS. By integrating high school and college coursework, IDEAL also immerses students in a rigorous academic program of study within two agriculture pathways either Ag Production Systems or Agriculture Education. Students enrolled in IDEAL can earn up to 47 college credit hours towards an associate’s degree in agriculture by the time they graduate from high school – free of charge. That is a big benefit for the students and their parents. These students can then continue at UMO and complete their associate’s degree in just one additional semester after graduation or continue into the four year ag programs and complete their bachelor’s degree in two and half years after high school graduation.
The brainchild of some very forward thinking individuals, the purpose of IDEAL is to create a fundamental change in the educational experience, so that more high school students are engaged in rigorous, relevant curriculum that gives them direct experience in college classes, agricultural careers, and work based learning.
“IDEAL could truly be a model for the state of North Carolina,” said SJHS Principal Dr. David Pearce. “It is the first collaboration of its kind that I am aware of between a high school and a private institution. We have been thrilled with our partnership with UMO. Their flexibility and willingness to make it work cannot be compared to any other collaboration that we have. I have nothing but positive things to say about UMO. I know we are in the infancy stage, but I see so much potential for this program to grow and succeed.”
Dr. Sandy Maddox, director of the Lois G. Britt Agribusiness Center at UMO, said, “The North Carolina agriculture industry has become more high tech, specialized, and innovative with job openings that require a higher level of skills and knowledge compared to a decade ago. Meanwhile the pipeline of college graduates in the area of ag education and ag production is too small. Our participation in IDEAL is a step towards bridging that gap.”
IDEAL prepares students for college by immersing them in a structured program of college classes and providing them with intensive support to ensure their success.
SJHS Senior Jessica Autry of Benson, a student in the IDEAL program, said, “I have enjoyed the seated and the online classes. It has been a really good learning experience. It requires responsibility and time management however, the support we have received has been amazing.”
Cindy ,One of the lead instructors, said, “IDEAL is preparing our students for college classes much earlier than usual, and we know they are college-ready, because they are taking and passing the courses. Our students are learning how to adapt and how to problem solve. When they complete the program, they will know the language and the math of agriculture, and of business. They’ll be able to walk into a college classroom or job site and know what people are talking about and be able to contribute.”
Because students are experiencing hands-on learning and being taught engaging and relevant material, rather than just being taught to pass standardized tests, they are able to visualize how their classes can lead to college and career goals. “That makes a difference in terms of motivation and engagement,” Adams added.
Over the next several years, administrators will continue to evaluate the progress and success of IDEAL with the hopes of one day expanding the program to a larger area of Johnston County.
“The sky’s the limit, because there are a lot of different things that we want to do with this program,” said Pearce. “At the end of the day, our largest purpose is to get a whole group of students involved in a college-going culture, which will lead to better completion in college and to work opportunities as well. In return, it will be a win-win for the school, the students, the parents, the community, and everyone around. We are so pleased that UMO is our partner in this endeavor.”
