Local school helps students build confidence and life skills From Tiny Homes to Big Dreams

Tiny homes may be small, but they have a lot to offer. Not only are they cute, practical and environmentally friendly, these petite residences are also the focus of an award-winning Career Technical Education (CTE) pathway called Energy, Environment & Utilities at The Learning Choice Academy (TLC), a local K–12 public hybrid homeschool. During the innovative two-year program, a team of high school students works with instructors, volunteers and industry professionals to design, develop, construct and sell a modular tiny home. Along the way, students develop an entire toolkit of important life skills.

How the Program Works

During the first year of the twoyear pathway, students enroll in a foundational class called Energy, Environment & Design. Coursework covers topics like solar panels, energy efficient lighting design and sustainable options for utilities (gas, electric and water). Although there are informal opportunities to assist in the build process, most of the initial year is spent on design and planning.

The following year, students take Applied Sustainable Construction and build their planned project. The endresult is a real-life tiny home measuring

20 feet x 8.6 feet. After completion, the house is sold by the students, with proceeds going towards the following year’s project.

The program runs both classes concurrently, so a tiny home is produced each year. It is open to all TLC high school students (as space allows), though is generally taken by juniors and seniors.

Why Students Benefit

Participating students develop a wide range of marketable job skills, including engineering, construction, marketing and sales. According to Kacie Desmond, project manager, “These practical skills enable them to make informed decisions about what they want to pursue after high school, and set them up to succeed with some baseline abilities.”

Students also develop key socialemotional skills, such as confidence, adaptability, communication, leadership and teamwork. “Through completing the project as a team, students see what they are capable of, which promotes their willingness to take risks and think big throughout their lives,” says Desmond.

Kayla, a student participant, especially enjoys the team aspect. “My favorite part of the day is working with other students on this project,” she says. “It’s really fun to see how we all come together as students in different grades to work on this project.”

Throughout the program, students are exposed to potential career paths through presentations by professional guest speakers — architects, tradespeople, engineers, executives and educators. These impactful encounters can open doors to post-graduation possibilities, inspiring students to pursue a trade or attend college.

Students also gain a better understanding of certain issues facing their community — for example, the need for affordable housing and the importance of sustainability in our changing world.

Another exciting aspect of the program is that 100 percent of participating seniors have graduated. “Students who otherwise struggle in school, either behaviorally or academically, have found a place to shine in this project,” says Desmond. “Doing something with their hands, of real-world importance, and being part of a team, has shown to be very effective for many students who may otherwise be hard to reach in traditional learning environments.”

What Else to Know

Since the tiny home program’s inception in 2019, over 100 TLC students have participated. The recently expanded program is now available at two TLC sites (Chula Vista and La Mesa), with the goal of building two tiny homes each year. There are 50 students currently enrolled, with two dedicated teachers, Travis Nixon and Jason Foyer, offering guidance and expertise.

“Mr. Nixon and Mr. Foyer taught us that the strength of our team was each individual member but the strength of each member was our team,” says Isabelle, a former participant. “We tried our best to value each person’s abilities and learn from them.”

Who’s Taking Notice

TLC’s tiny home program has received several notable awards and accolades, including:

• Semi-finalist in the Educational Innovation category for the Building Hope IMPACT Awards 2023

• Instructors Travis Nixon and Jason Foyer and Project Manager Kacie Desmond received second place for Voya’s Unsung Heroes Award in October 2023. This award recognizes innovative teaching and projects across the country.

• Winner of Classroom of the Future Foundation’s (CFF) Innovate Award. This will be recognized at the 21st Annual Innovation in Education Awards on May 16 at SeaWorld San Diego.

Where to Learn More or Support the Program

The Learning Choice Academy is planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tiny house warming event in late May/early June, which is open to the public. To learn more about TLC’s tiny home program—or to inquire about purchasing a tiny home or sponsoring any portion of the program—visit https:// sites.google.com/learningchoice.org/ studentbuilttinyhomes/home. v

Lisa Pawlak is an award-winning contributing writer who lives in Encinitas.