Editor's note: Simon Hauger started Philadelphia's "Sustainability Workshop," a program for inner-city high school seniors that's organized around projects rather than traditional curriculum. Students build electric go-karts and solar charging stations. Hauger will be featured on CNN's "The Next List" this Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
By The Next List Staff, CNN
(CNN) – Some call Philadelphia educator Simon Hauger a “revolutionary teacher,” but his students say he’s just “a really, cool guy.” He’s an engineer turned public high school teacher who is inspiring kids to stay in school by offering an innovative approach to learning. “Students need to be engaged in solving real life problems. What we discovered was that when kids are trusted to make real decisions, a ton of learning occurs,” says Hauger, who is 42.
Hauger’s passion was fueled by the highly successful "Hybrid X Team" he formed at West Philadelphia High School thirteen years ago. In this after-school program, inner-city students built hybrid, bio-diesel and electric cars that have won multiple national competitions, beating out cars from prestigious universities like MIT.
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is a huge fan of the hybrid team and Hauger. “It gives these young people not only the academic support that they need, but also the hands on experience, which keeps them interested in school,” says Nutter, who took one of the hybrids for a test drive. The team’s most recent accomplishment, an EVX GT sports car for the Progressive Automotive X PRIZE, earned the group an invitation to the White House.
Fueled by the success of the Hybrid X team, Hauger co-founded The Sustainability Workshop, a full-day program comprised of 27 seniors from three Philadelphia inner-city high schools. The school follows the “project based learning” model, where days are organized around projects instead of class lectures. Students build electric go-karts, solar charging stations, and design energy-efficiency business plans. Hauger says the kids are more engaged, so they learn deeply and retain knowledge longer. One 18-year old student, Stefon Gonzalez, says having options when he graduates is the best part of the Workshop program.
“I now have a wallet full of business cards," he said. "This summer, I’ll be interning for SEPTA, which is the local public transportation company in Philadelphia. I don't know where I'd be if it wasn't for Mr. Hauger."
Hauger says his own personal story is similar to that of many of his students' and he launched the school because of his frustration with public school education.
“Somewhere around 40% of the students are dropping out and as a teacher, that’s not sustainable," he said.
The Workshop school raised their money privately, with a Department of Energy grant enabling them to open the school this year, and continue onto next. Hauger’s dream is to expand the Workshop into a publicly funded charter school by 2013.
“We’re going to touch more children’s lives," he said, "And, ultimately, we’re going to have an impact on urban education in Philadelphia.”
Each week, CNN's "The Next List" profiles innovators, visionaries and agents of change. They’re not household names just yet, but they’re movers and shakers in their own worlds. We’re introducing them to you because these individuals are steadily mapping the course to the future with their new ideas.
WHO: Host Dr. Sanjay Gupta
WHEN: Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. ET - All new time!
WHERE: Only on CNN
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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I just heard this teacher....Simon Hauger.....say they read writings by Van Jones in his school. Van Jones....a communist who has advocated the violent over-throw of the US government. This "teacher" and his "school" are nothing but a Marxist indoctrination tool.....and have ZERO credibilty!
People like you always call persons names and try to define them according to your ignorant white supremacist views. I'm sure you don't know the humans you are attempting to diminish and I doubt that you are doing anything to add to the value in this world while they are.We are used to name-calling , bombing, even destroying persons in other countries by calling them enemies then proceed to kill,steal and destroy pregnant women and their unborn ,children , old people ,youth etc.all because the name callers and gangs like you dehumanize and eliminate them. They don't look and mirror your "ideas" Both of these men and others cited in this story are innovators , achievers and world changers.
Thank you Gloria, with strong people like you and these wonderful teachers and students there is still hope.
How dare you push your fear of knowledge on others. Our children can learn from all sources. What makes your opinion the right opinion. Let them learn from all sources. Thank God we pulled our heads from the sand. The world is not flat, or maybe no one told you.
try not to be a fool all your life ironage, take a break once in a while.
Van Jones describes himself as a Communist. Ironage is not calling him names. To read books and articles written by someone who calls himself a Communist is not something I would encourage my students to do.
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