Giving Kids a Jump on Technology

Innovative Mitchellville Shows Off Its Success

You could see the pride in third-grader Kuron Anderson's eyes as he jumped from his tiny chair to talk about his technology project. He called it "The Many Faces of the Man," a digital photo mosaic that he created to celebrate the election of President Obama.

"I worked hard on it, and I did my best," Kuron said.

He then methodically explained how he used about 1,000 pictures to create his project for the first science and technology fair last month at the Mitchellville School of Math, Science and Technology in Bowie.

"This is the before picture," the 8-year-old said, pointing to the cutout on the cardboard display. "And if you step back, you will see his face on the computer. It is made up of cell images."

This was just the kind of technological confidence and exposure that Brenda J. Travis, a parent and former principal, imagined for the schoolchildren nine years ago when she and a group of parents organized the tiny, independent school. It was a rare breed with its year-round academic calendar, hands-on emphasis on math, science and technology in the early grades, and cultural and social action components. The school continues to expand its offerings, planning to add an engineering program next year.

"What [Travis] did was revolutionary," said Frances Luckett, the head of the school.

The parents who joined Travis learned about her effort in a newspaper. To many of them, who were sending their children to private, independent schools in the District, the Mitchellville School seemed a viable, local alternative. Two years after Travis began the effort, it opened in August 2002 with about 12 families and 18 students. It hasn't gotten much bigger: just 33 students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. But school officials are looking to increase enrollment.

Nancy Folks, who has three children at the school, was among the first parents.

"I can walk through the classrooms and see the wonderful experience that the children are having," she said. "And I can see a student who may come here shy, and by the end of the school year they are standing up and speaking before a crowd."

Luckett said the success of the school can be measured by the high performance of its graduates. They attend Prince George's County public schools as well as such selective private ones as Episcopal High in Alexandria and Sidwell Friends in the District.

One thing that sets the school apart is its year-round academic calendar. Students have mini-breaks throughout the year and about a month off in the summer.

The school also offers small classes, averaging about 16 students, which allows for one-on-one instruction. Field trips are frequent, such as ones to witness the launch of the shuttle Challenger at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida and to join the Jena 6 protests in Jena, La. Students have also participated in food pantry drives and interacted with senior citizens at senior centers. The school also provides an extended day program in which students can learn chess, drama and flag football.

Another program teaches students about finances. Luckett said that all of the students started bank accounts and that some have yet to make a withdrawal. Speakers supplement what the students have learned in class about character building.

This month, Leslie Johnson, a lawyer and the wife of County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D), talked about integrity. She told the students they were blessed to be a part of the Mitchellville School.

"I wish the Mitchellville School was here when my children were young," she said.

The science and technology fair last month featured all 33 children as young as pre-kindergarten making presentations that included robotics, video, photography, animation, programming and Web site design. The judges included a representative from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a neurologist and honors students from Suitland High School.

Curtis L. Smith, who coordinated the fair, said he has been impressed with the students' ability to develop projects that students in high school are just learning.

"The children are like sponges," said Smith, the head of IT Kidz USA, a Charles County-based company that partners with the school. "I've seen the children grasp concepts [above their level]. You have to challenge them, and I believe if you set the expectation, they will rise to it."