Maysville R-1 Accelerated School: Class Act Embroidery

Employment and job skills training are priorities in our society today. It was with this priority in mind that the Maysville faculty in the department of Family and Consumer Sciences created the Class Act Embroidery project. The mission of the Family and Consumer Sciences department is to prepare students for family and work life by providing opportunities to develop the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors needed for success.

Through the Class Act Embroidery project, at-risk students enrolled in Family and Consumer Sciences have the opportunity to learn computerized monogramming and embroidery techniques, as well as entrepreneurship knowledge as it relates to home-based business and technology. The course also promotes participation in technical-preparatory and school-to-work options, which help link education to the workplace and prepare students for successful employment.

Selected at-risk students solicit embroidery projects by speaking to administration, coaches, school organizations, and extracurricular groups, thereby developing communication skills. Students direct their own projects from start to finish, participating in direct hands-on learning as they develop, create, and present their final product.

By the year 2000, forty percent of all employed citizens were involved in some type of home-based business. Along with the need for employment, working citizens also need to have access to child care. The opportunity for students to gain experience and knowledge in establishing a home-based business means that one or both parents may one day be able to stay home with their children. The students enrolled in the Class Act Embroidery project gain confidence in the decision-making and critical thinking skills through faculty encouragement and the success of a resulting project.

The Class Act Embroidery project has proven to be a success. The dropout rate for the district is 3.2%, a decrease of 6.8% since the program was first introduced. The popularity of the course has grown so much that students in the general population are now enrolling. This has proven to be an asset to the class, as the general population students often serve as positive role models for their at-risk counterparts. The business has grown from one embroidery machine to four, and the variety of clients served has also spread to various businesses and individuals. As a result, many community members have complimented the district on the quality of the program and, in some cases, have hired students for independent summer or part-time employment.

For Additional Information on implementing this Proven Practice Award winning program in your school, contact:

 Kathy Kagay
Maysville R-1 Accelerated
Maysville R-1
601 W. Main Street
Maysville, MO 64469
phone: 816-449-9962
e-mail: kkagay@maysville.k12.mo.us