Academy High's Health Science Program Makes Progress with JET Grant Upgrades

Little River Academy, TX (FOX 44) — New technology is making a big impact in the classrooms at one local high school.

One year after receiving a JET Grant, Academy High School's Health Science Program is already seeing the impact. New simulators and lab equipment are giving more than 100 students hands-on experience in real-world medical training.

One of the new pieces of lab equipment, the anatomage table, is a virtual dissection tool that allows users to explore human anatomy in detail – no cadaver required.

"We can show them different anatomy between different people and introduce them to those things in a very interactive way, which they don't typically have in the classroom setting," said Health and Science Teacher Joycelynn Young.

The "Susies," another equipment upgrade thanks to the JET grant, are life-like, programmable mannequins that students can practice on.

They're able to lay eyes on what would be like a human, and they're able to identify wounds and injuries, how to care for patients with ostomies," explained Health and Science Teacher Alyssa Williams. "How to take minimal blood pressure, as you can do all of that with these mannequins.

Senior student Ella Golvin said the new equipment has greatly influenced student education.

We get to just interact with, like, real-life scenarios," senior Ella Golvin said. "Even though they're fake bodies, they can do so many cool things. So I definitely think it's had a big impact on our education.

Alejandro Mendoza, also a senior, hopes to pursue a career in the medical field and has taken every available medical class. He says the new equipment is better preparing him for his future.

They talk to us and I'll tell us how it is, but we have the hands-on experience," Mendoza said. "I think that is what is really going to be beneficial, and it's going to just show me how the real medical field is going to be.

Teachers are also learning alongside their students how to use the new equipment and feel grateful to have these advanced tools for hands-on learning.

We're really blessed to have the mannequins because a lot of high schools don't have them, and some colleges don't even have them," said Health and Science Teacher Jennifer Chaffin. "So they're able to apply the skills they've learned on the mannequins first before a real person.

With the new equipment, Academy High students are building skills and confidence for college and future healthcare careers.

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