Page 1 - TTWISpring2026

T TEACHINGEACHING

WISCONSIN’S 4K–12 EDUCATION CONNECTIONTODAYTODAY WI ™
Winter/Spring 2026
WI

Getting Students Prepared for Life Next Level Learning:

After High School La Follette Introduces New

Video Game Design Course

Seymour Community School District community partners together to collaborate Madison Metropolitan School District Freddie Pellien II started the year with three
The Seymour Community School District with school staff on how best to develop the For La Follette senior Cullen Samsa, the full sections and more students than comput-
is proud of their state-of-the-art Technical Edu- local workforce to support our local commu- path from playing his favorite video game — ers. And for Pellien, that enthusiasm speaks
cation facility, which includes learning spaces nities. These discussions helped to create the Resident Evil 4 — at home to building a game to something much bigger happening across
for automotive, wood shop, fab lab, machin- foundation for the Tech Ed curriculum and of his own at school has been nothing short of Madison.
ing, home construction, electricity, welding program development, guided the purchase surreal. In recent years, major game studios
and metal fabrication. It is also the home to of new equipment, and played an instrumen- “It’s been what I’ve wanted to do since have expanded their footprint in the city,
Thunder Manufacturing and the Thunder tal role in the eventual passage of the building the beginning of the decade,” he said. “Now Pellien said. But until now, Madison’s high
Service Center. referendum. This project is a true example of I get to be on the other side of it, actually schools haven’t offered coursework designed
This beautiful facility is the culmination community partnership. making games. It’s so cool.” to prepare students for these fast-growing
of activities that began during the 17/18 School We continue to expand our program- He’s one of nearly 90 students enrolled careers.
Year. Prior to that year, enrollment in the Tech ming to meet the needs of our students. From in La Follette’s brand-new Game Design 1 “We have graphic design, video produc-
Ed programs was floundering and the district creating classes that integrate both math and course — a yearlong class that introduces tion, computer programming . . . but nothing
struggled to hire and retain staff. Staci Sievert, technology standards to increasing our number students to C# coding, 3D game development tailored specifically to game development,”
who was a current staff member at that time in of dual credit classes that our students can using Unity software, physics concepts and Pellien explained. “If these companies are
the Social Studies department, offered to get benefit from, we continue to seek out opportu- even 3D modeling. By the end of the course, coming here, we want our students to be ready
her certification and teach the Tech Ed. classes. students have the skills to create a functional
It was also during the 17/18 school year 3D game entirely from scratch.
that school leaders brought local business and Continued on Page 8 The interest has been so high that teacher Continued on Page 16

THANK YOU TO OUR ADVERTISERS FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT!

UW Milwaukee • UW Stevens Point • UW Oshkosh • IBEW 158 • Bellin College • ABC of Wisconsin

Ironworkers Local 8 • Mount Mary University • Boilermakers #107 • Fox Valley Technical College

AGC Wisconsin • International Wolf Center • eCYBERMISSION • Hamline University • FTIUM