In this episode of NTN Unpacked, we sit down with Rebecca Mapes and Melanie Mason, English facilitators and senior capstone leaders at Eagle Tech Academy. They share how their Senior Capstone (or Senior Impact) course empowers students to design passion-driven projects that connect deeply with their local community. NTN School Development coach Jose Garcia also joins host Mark Stolan for Coaches Corner and learn how he’s supporting a long established NTN school in continued growth and development around the NTN model.
From researching authentic community needs to defending their work before panels of civic leaders, students step into real-world problem solving - and often discover that growth comes through struggle, pivots, and persistence. Along the way, Rebecca and Melanie reflect on how the course has evolved, the challenges of procrastination and “senioritis,” and the ways this work is reshaping school culture across grade levels.
✨ You’ll hear reflections on:
- How capstone projects deepen student ownership and agency
- Strategies for supporting seniors through procrastination and “messy middles”
- The role of community partnerships and public presentations in authentic learning
- Lessons learned from evolving and refining the capstone model over time
- How capstone work influences schoolwide culture - even beyond senior year
Whether you’re an educator curious about launching a capstone project or simply looking for ideas to deepen student agency, this conversation offers practical insights and powerful reminders of why authentic learning matters.
💡 We’d love your input! As mentioned in this episode, we’re for new projects and stories to join us in season 2! Nominate yourself or a colleague via our guest suggestion form today!
🔔 Subscribe to NTN Unpacked and follow us on Instagram @NTNUnpacked for more authentic stories from across the New Tech Network - around the country and right next door.
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