A Space to Pursue Ideas, Intuition, and Creativity

The team at Father Ryan High School in Nashville welcomed sophomores, juniors, and seniors into their new, technology-filled SmartLab HQ at a ribbon-cutting earlier this week.

“Here, learners will be engaged in hands-on, practical, project-based opportunities as they explore their interests in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, math),” shares Father Ryan’s CEO and President, Jim McIntyre.

“At Father Ryan, we are always looking for what is next in our curriculum,” Academic Dean Jennifer Anton said. “We ask our department chairs, teachers, and administrators to be very forward-thinking in how our curriculum can grow, not only to meet the needs of our students and families but also to make our students better prepared for the world around them.”

Instead of experiencing math, science, or engineering in isolation, this curriculum allows learners to put all of those things together.

Jennifer Anton, Academic Dean

With SmartLab Learning’s unique approach to project-based learning, students develop and practice real-world skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, project planning, time management, and communication.

Additionally, SmartLab Learning’s standards-aligned, supplemental curriculum helps learners make cross-curricular connections.

“Instead of experiencing math, science, or engineering in isolation,” Anton explains, “this curriculum allows learners to put all of those things together to build, be creative, and solve problems.” 

“With STEAM occupations growing twice as fast as all others in the US, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, educators must provide learners with hands-on, student-led, project-based learning opportunities,” said Ashley Mathis, Creative Learning Systems’ CEO. “Father Ryan High School has an exemplary record of providing students with a holistic academic experience. As developers of SmartLab Learning, we’re excited to support their mission by providing customized learning spaces that facilitate experiential, personalized, and collaborative experiences.”

“The SmartLab will provide fertile soil to inspire new leaders to discover and pursue their ideas, intuition, and creativity,” McIntyre shares.

Read more about the ribbon-cutting event.