Jeffrey Mosher welcomes back Nate Beyer, Principal at NexTech High School of Lansing — nbeyer@lansing.nextechhigh.org.

This time around he is joined by Catt Colbry (they/them), 10th grader at NexTech High School of Lansing

Hear Nate and Catt share with Jeffrey about Nextech and the student-run clubs at the school in the SoundCloud Podcast shared below.

The topic of discussion this time around (heard in the podcast above) is Student-run clubs at NexTech.  In the discussion questions covered:
For Nate:
What makes NexTech High School of Lansing’s program unique?
What does a traditional week at NexTech look like?
How has NexTech pivoted due to the pandemic? Why were those changes made?
For Catt:
How did your educational journey lead to NexTech?
What do you appreciate the most about NexTech?
Who would you recommend checks out NexTech?

Then Nate shares the details of what goes into the Student-run clubs at the school, and how to be in contact with them. Below is more information from the school.

NexTech High School of Lansing empowers students through student-run clubs

OKEMOS, Mich. –  High school is a time to learn and grow through academics, new relationships, and increased awareness of one’s self. One greater Lansing area school strives to be a place where every learner is accepted and empowered to thrive in their life pursuits — and one way they’re accomplishing that is through student-run clubs. NexTech High School of Lansing encourages their students to explore their interests, learn new skills and connect with community through student-founded, student-run clubs.

Any NexTech student can start a club about anything they’d like to. The requirements are simple: clubs must have at least four students, one of whom is the founder and president, and one administrator who oversees the club. The president of the club is responsible for setting meeting dates, communicating with club members, and organizing activities. Through these clubs, students are able to cultivate community and connect with peers.

Alex Edenburn, Catt Colbry, Michael Lawson, Jake Stevens, Jesse Williams, and Connor Pine, founders and members of clubs at NexTech, gathered to chat about some of their favorite parts of their clubs and their overall experiences at the publicly funded charter school.

“As president of your club, you want to make sure you have all your meetings and communication planned out,” said 11th grader Lawson. “You aren’t very babied in that aspect, so it makes it feel like it’s really your club, not the administrator’s club. I like that.” 

Lawson is a member of the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) club, Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) and the Dead Pastry Society.

The Dead Pastry Society, a play on the “Dead Poets Society,” was founded by Pine, who saw a need and an opportunity to provide for his classmates. Lawson and Pine, along with the other members of the Dead Pastry Society, take turns bringing food to NexTech that they either purchase or make so all students have something to eat.

“Sometimes people don’t bring lunch or maybe you’re staying after school for a club and there isn’t any food there,” said Lawson. “We just like helping people who either forgot to bring something to eat or don’t have anything they can bring.”

The D&D club meets every other Thursday. Edenburn, president of the D&D club, said this takes a lot of communication and coordination, which are common skills NexTech students learn by running their own clubs.

“I do like the feeling of having a group of people who all like to do what I like to do,” said Lawson. “I like the feeling of coming together — it kind of feels like you’re in those old 80s movies about school clubs. You can be like, hey man, I’ve got this sick idea — and it feels good when other people like it too. You really get a sense of friendship and camaraderie, and you get to meet a lot of people you may never actually talk to.”

Williams, member of the D&D club, GSA and Dead Pastry Society, agreed with the relational benefits of NexTech student clubs.

“It feels great to be a part of something that could be big — something that helps other people, like the Dead Pastry Society,” said Williams. “In the D&D club, we just got a lot of members and everyone’s loving it — we’re talking, we’re having fun, we’re experiencing new things. We’re creating relationships.”

The D&D club has grown since it started with just five members — now, some weeks the game involves as many as 15 students. Activities in student clubs vary, but a common theme is the safe space for students to bond and be themselves.

“The GSA is a space where no one’s going to call you a name or invalidate your opinions — unless your opinions are harmful, but that doesn’t happen,” said Colbry, president and founder of the GSA and member of the D&D club. “Especially for younger members of the LGBTQ+ community like us, the GSA is one of the few places we can have community. We don’t get a lot of places to be — I really want to find ways to meet more people and create our own spaces when we can’t find them.”

The student-run clubs are just one example of how high schoolers are empowered at NexTech. Many NexTech students transfer into the program after difficult, challenging experiences in traditional school programs. Colbry didn’t feel like they belonged in a traditional program.

“Public school was always really hard for me,” said Colbry. “It’s very cookie-cutter and one-size-fits-all, except, you know, always for people who are neurotypical. They are what I am not — I’m not cookie-cutter, I don’t even feel like I’m part of the dough at some points. I’m just off, in the bag of flour, on my own.”

Colbry recounted their mental health challenges and lack of support in traditional school settings, explaining that they consistently struggled to pass math classes, which only added to their mental health challenges. Then, they heard about NexTech.

“If I didn’t go to NexTech, I would be in a very different place today, emotionally and physically,” said Colbry. “There’s no way I would be okay right now — but I am okay. I’m actually able to do things, and I’m passing algebra with good grades.”

Edenburn experienced similar challenges with math classes in traditional programs. 

“I’ve never been prepared for the math courses I’ve taken,” said Edenburn. “I would just give up if I fell behind because I didn’t understand. At NexTech, it’s more about how much you try than how much you fully get it right. Here, I’m trying my best, so I’m doing great.”

Stevens, member of the D&D club and GSA, agreed that the flexibility of NexTech’s program is one of the biggest benefits.

“It’s a more laid back working style and that’s very good for me,” said Stevens.

The students also spoke about their appreciation for the NexTech staff, saying that they feel comfortable talking to teachers about their struggles and they know the teachers will check in to make sure they’re doing well — academically and emotionally.

“I like NexTech because when you’re here, you don’t feel left out,” said Williams. “You’re treated equally here. You’re not judged like any other school — when you walk in, people don’t look at you funny. And the teachers will make sure you’re safe and you’re okay.” 

For more information about NexTech High School, visit nextechhigh.org. 

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NexTech High School is a public charter school serving students in Grand Rapids and  Lansing. NexTech encourages students to own their future by offering blended learning customized to each student’s individual, personalized learning needs, whether on-campus or studying online. For more information, visit nextechhigh.org.