– Information courtesy of VCS Chief Communication Officer Aarika Sandlin
Since it first opened in July 2021, Vance County Schools’ Center for Innovation has really lived up to its name: there are innovative schools that call CFI home, as well as innovative spaces like zSpace 3D/VR lab, the audio lab, the video lab Mindsphere MakerSpace and SLICE – Simulation Labs for Interactive Career Education that capture students’ imagination and creativity.
Soon after the CFI opened, the Wayne Adcock Auditorium was unveiled in January 2022 and Gargoyle Garden in April 2022. In August 2022, SLICE Medical was added to the experiences. The opportunities for students continued to grow in 2023 as EnTech and SparkNC joined the mix.
So far this school year, more than 2,000 students have had opportunities for CFI experiences. The campus and its staff are committed to ensuring that innovative opportunities are afforded to students, providing them with cutting-edge possibilities for their future.
Kristin Jeffreys, coordinator for the Center for Innovation, has apassion for the CFI experiences. “Through hands-on STEM integration, we’re fostering confident, creative problem solvers who love to learn and explore,” Jeffreys said. “As active participants in the K-5 Building Engineers cohort and recipients of two NCDPI grants focused on STEM and technology, we are dedicated to amplifying STEM engagement at every level. Together, we’re shaping a future where Vance County Schools is a gateway to innovation.”
Each space within CFI is different by design but works cohesively to maximize the experiences of every student. Learn more about each space below:
zSpace – The zSpace lab hosts 26 mixed-reality computers that provide a life-like, virtual learning experience. Digital Learning Specialist Stephen Jones facilitates programming for students around science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Possibilities include dissection of a frog to seeing the anatomy of a heart! On the campus, there is a primary zSpace lab, as well as other units utilized in other labs. Vance County Schools was able to initially bring zSpace to the district through the Golden Leaf grant. The program continues to flourish as teachers become certified to bring their lessons to life in this space.
Audio Lab – This cutting-edge facility is equipped with two soundproof booths and state-of-the-art editing software. It serves as a studio for students, schools and the community, providing recording opportunities. Students get hands-on experiences across various aspects of audio production, from broadcasting to editing. Students and staff create podcasts, produce professional audition tapes and partake in other engaging audio-related activities.
Khalil Gay, CFI’s Audio Lab facilitator, collaborates closely with students and staff to optimize the use of the studio, leveraging his expertise in managing the recording lab’s software. In addition to overseeing the technical aspects, he spearheads an after-school music production program aimed at nurturing students’ interests and talents, providing them with opportunities to explore and develop their skills.
Video Lab – The video lab features state-of-the-art equipment for both staff and students to develop high-quality video recordings. With the use of a teleprompter, green screen, lighting components, and video production programs, there are limitless possibilities for students and staff. Digital Learning Specialist Patricia Burroughs provides individualized support for video production. Daily, STEM Early High School students utilize this space to stream their morning announcements, giving them hands-on experience and real-world application to the broadcasting field of study.
Wayne Adcock Auditorium – The auditorium holds 600 people, and has held many events for the district and community. From choral performances to honor society inductions to district-wide events and even graduations, this venue is a coveted space to showcase students and provide enrichment opportunities.
Gargoyle Garden – This musical sanctuary is adorned with various instruments which offer students immersive opportunities to explore beats, music, echo, reverberation and beyond. Named for the whimsical gargoyles gracing the school’s façade – remnants of the building’s 1930’s construction – the garden beckons learners into a realm of auditory discovery. The idea was to create an outdoor learning space, affectionately referred to as a harmony park, tailored to educate students on fundamental elements such as beats, reverberation, and sound. Andrew Markoch, director of Fine Arts and Physical Education, provides experiences for students to maximize their understanding of this space as it relates to the curriculum.
SLICE / SLICE Medical – Simulation Labs for Interactive Career Exploration (SLICE) provides career simulations for students in small groups. Students are exposed to a “slice” of the career, which has included areas within public safety, cosmetology, culinary arts, entrepreneurship, phlebotomy, carpentry, and more! As students take part in the experience, they can utilize resources within the station to view courses that align with that specific career, as well as which high school within the district offers those courses. SLICE Medical branched off from the original SLICE lab a year after the original lab launched. Students were increasingly
interested in the medical career that was provided in the lab, which led to the development of SLICE Medical.
Simulation opportunities in this space include x-ray technician, pharmacy, wound care, lab technician, and registration. Additionally, this lab features an Anatomage table, which is a 3D anatomy visualization that is utilized by leading medical schools and institutions. The touch-sensitive interactive display provides students with a hands-on experience like no other.
Mindsphere – Mindsphere is a dynamic STEAM learning lab and MakerSpace featuring 3D printers, a laser printer, a Lego creation station, and robotics facilities. This innovative space provides both students and teachers with opportunities to actively engage in hands-on STEAM learning experiences. This mission is to facilitate interactive learning experiences in Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics, empowering participants to enhance their skills and contribute to the continuous improvement of their projects beyond mere task completion.
Renaissance – The Renaissance space is a multi-use room that provides the perfect location for meetings, professional development, professional learning communities, and more! With flexible seating and multiple screens throughout the room, it is adaptive and flexible for a plethora of needs.
EnTech – EnTech is the newest lab on the CFI campus, with a focus on Engineering and Technology. Jeffreys, Jones, and Burroughs collaboratively develop programming for this space. Home of the Lu interactive playground, which provides a laser projector and movement detection camera, alongside a powerful sound system, provides an immersive experience for students. Additionally, this space is home to the drone cage, eSports opportunities, robotics, and more!
Through the support of the Vance County Public School Foundation, an EnTech mobile learning lab trailer has been purchased. Through grant funding, the trailer will be outfitted with experiences for students that bring the classroom to their campus. The mobile unit will bring STEM experiences, with a focus on STEM careers, through the use of zSpace, laser cutting, drones, and robotics.
Located next to EnTech is the SparkNC lab, which is the high-tech career accelerator program through The Innovation Project. The facilitator for that program is Nicholas Barrett and the program is open to high school students to gain credit. This program is one of seventeen in the state of North Carolina, with students working with Apple, Dell, SAS, and other RTP companies.
Atrium – The Atrium is an event space utilized for a variety of events throughout the year. New teacher orientations, recognition events, district-wide engagement opportunities and more have been hosted in this unique space. It may be a cafeteria by day; however, the opportunities of use are endless to support programming, engagement opportunities, recognitions, and more.
In addition to the aforementioned spaces, the Career and Technical Education program provides opportunities in culinary and entrepreneurship, with both labs located on the Center for Innovation campus. The culinary program, in addition to their lab, hosts off-site catering events, utilizing the culinary mobile trailer, as well as Café de Vance, a bistro for students to serve their culinary creations. The entrepreneurship lab provides opportunities for students to develop plans, design items, and create products inclusive of screen printing.
This hands-on experience allows students to take learning to the next level with real-world application.
CFI has hosted a variety of inter-district field trips for students throughout the year. This has included opportunities based on grade levels and schools. Marvels of Innovation was their themed programming, which provided experiences for students at every elementary school in grades 3-5. Additionally, schools throughout the district coordinated opportunities for subject-based programming that encompassed both elementary and secondary schools. CFI developed programming for English Language Learners (ELL) throughout the year, along with enrichment opportunities through the AIG program.
AIG Coordinator Laura Rigsbee works closely with district staff and community members to provide students with next-level learning with up to 30 students at each of the sessions.
The CFI staff coordinates after-school programming through the audio lab, serving up to 30 students per week. Additional opportunities provided at the Center for Innovation include a district-wide keyboarding competition, podcasting, and digital learning staff sessions. Another key area within CFI is robotics. Stephen Jones serves as the district robotics coach, working with schools across the county to develop their robotics teams and programming. The district will host its annual robotics competition on April 27 at Vance County Middle School. EnTech and Mindsphere are two locations that are set up for activities around robotics. The program continues to expand, as the CFI staff received the Digital Learning Initiative Emerging Technologies Grant providing the district with 3 robotic dogs. The dog that will be housed at CFI made its debut during Arts Alive. The robotic dogs provide opportunities for students to engage in coding and programming that are reflected in the actions of the dog.