The Benefits of Taking AP Courses

Over the last decade, Dr. Christine Johns has overseen district-wide educational programs in her role as superintendent of Utica Community Schools in Michigan. Throughout her tenure as superintendent, Dr. Christine Johns has aimed to facilitate student success through such avenues as Advance Placement (AP) programs.

Many high school students in their junior and senior years elect to take AP courses that can further their educational opportunities. Encompassing a wide range of subjects, these classes provide a wide range of benefits to students who take them.

Those who achieve high scores from their AP courses have the unique opportunity to earn early credit for college classes. This allows students to complete their undergraduate degrees in fewer semesters, thus helping them save money on tuition. In addition, high AP scores often help students earn scholarships, which further minimizes the cost of higher education.

Not only do AP courses better prepare high school students for a college education, but they also allow them to immediately enroll in the more challenging courses that more directly pertain to their majors. Further, choosing to take AP classes impresses college admissions officers, and excelling at the AP level provides even further evidence that a student is prepared for higher education.

Educational Opportunities with Utica Community Schools

An experienced superintendent from Sterling Heights, Michigan, Dr. Christine Johns plays an instrumental role in facilitating the success of students at Utica Community Schools (UCS). In her role as superintendent of schools, Dr. Christine Johns oversees a number of the district’s educational programs that serve both children and adults.

In addition to standard educational programs for students in elementary, junior high, and high school, UCS holds a number of specialized instructional courses. These programs serve both the district’s schools and the community at large, providing opportunities for all students to pursue an education. The following are a few of the learning opportunities offered through UCS.

-Technical Education. Through UCS’ technical program, students can cultivate practical, career-based skills to benefit their future work. These courses cover expertise across a number of fields, including industrial engineering and business management. Technical education students can also earn college credit through a number of local schools.

-Adult Education. UCS hosts a community education program through which adults can pursue an education and earn their high school diploma or GED. The program’s network of certified teachers offers both standard and personalized classes to best serve the needs of each student.

-English Learner (EL) program. The UCA EL program aims to help non-native speakers learn the English language and gain a strong education in the process. Through this program, students build not only their speaking skills, but also their writing and reading capabilities.                            

The Rotation Model of Blended Learning Theory

The superintendent at Utica Community Schools in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Dr. Christine Johns has spearheaded a number of educational changes at schools in her district. As superintendent, Dr. Christine Johns introduced to kindergarten through second-grade classrooms a blended learning model, which garnered national attention for its focus on personalized instruction for each student.

The term “blended learning” refers to a formal education program involving elements such as student control over pacing, online learning, supervised study away from home, and integrated subject-based learning. Blended learning often adheres to a rotation model, during which students rotate among various activities according to a fixed schedule determined by the instructor.

The rotation model often incorporates physical stations in a classroom or group of rooms, as well as computer labs for online learning components. In the flipped classroom rotation, students conduct their primary learning via online modules and visit a brick-and-mortar location for teacher-guided practice of concepts. The rotation model also includes individual rotation, in which students design their own rotation schedules.