School's Magnet Status
Alliance Selling Point

When it comes to the learning process, today’s high school student demands relevancy.

This fall at Benson High School, the incoming classes will get that and more as the institution formally begins its status as a magnet center for academic research and innovation. “Our kids are doing great things, and our magnet designation will allow us to take these things to the next level,” said Lisa Dale, principal of Benson High School.

Benson is the latest Omaha Public Schools (OPS) site and the first high school in more than 20 years to receive magnet status. Dale, who serves as vice chair of the Benson-Ames Alliance Steering Council, views the new designation as a way of attracting not only students, but also families, activity and business to this historic sector of the city.

The Benson-Ames Alliance was formed in September 2005 to plan for and implement the revitalization of the Benson-Ames area. Covering a portion of north-central Omaha roughly six miles in size, it contains more than 800 businesses – including schools as well as civic and religious organizations – and 15,543 households. The Benson-Ames Alliance Steering Council, comprised of community leaders, has formed to guide the revitalization process.

“The alliance has a lot to offer, and we feel Benson’s new status as a magnet high school will help serve as a catalyst for the area’s redevelopment,” Dale noted. 

While the two other OPS magnet high schools are based on a subject theme, such as math or performing arts, the Benson High School magnet theme is based on an approach to teaching. “The district knows from careful study and analysis what leads to student satisfaction at the high school level,” Dale said. “Our eighth-graders want knowledge that can be applied, they want access to the latest technology and they want caring teachers. Our magnet theme addresses each of these factors in a comprehensive way.”

Students will have the opportunity to address community issues of interest to them by applying what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-life scenarios. Pictured above, a student uses a Pocket PC to record housing data in conjunction with the Omaha Neighborhood Scan program.

Learning will be project based, and teachers will serve as facilitators. As a result, all Benson High School teachers will be trained in applied decision sciences through a partnership with Stanford University and the Decision Education Foundation. The training will be conducted over the course of the next three years.

Students will have the opportunity to address community issues of interest to them by applying what they’ve learned in the classroom to real-life scenarios and then developing potential solutions for these scenarios. Design and decision labs will provide students with the latest technology to aid in this process.

Dale said all incoming freshmen will be required to take a freshman research seminar focusing on applied decision sciences, research skills and techniques, and applied technology. Those who wish to continue this training can choose from a series of elective advanced research seminars. In 2007-08, seminars will be offered in civic design; invention; arts, media and culture; and universal perspectives.

In addition to gaining research skills that can be applied to all areas, Benson students will develop skills in collaboration and teamwork, project management, responsibility and independent learning, and oral and written communication – all of which are vital in post-high school life, Dale said.

For more information about Benson High School and to view a video on its magnet designation, visit http://www.ops.org/benson/.


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