Lennox School District Launches School of Dentistry Program
Lennox School District continues to thrive under the leadership of Superintendent Kent Taylor. Mr. Taylor was the initial state trustee assigned to Inglewood Unified School District (IUSD) after it was taken over by the state. The district currently offers dual language immersion, a School of Engineering and now a School of Dentistry. Inglewood parents with a child in IUSD have the opportunity to move their child due to the district being labeled “program improvement”. [adsenseyu2]
The Lennox School District has announced an innovative new dentistry program that will infuse hands-on science lessons with real-world career applications.
The Lennox School of Dentistry will debut next year at three elementary schools, which will be outfitted with specialized labs. The first of its kind program for K-12 school districts in California features a curriculum that is aligned with California’s Next Generation Science Standards and will be integrated into multiple academic subjects.
In addition to the academic curriculum, students will participate in clinical settings that resemble real-life dental offices. The idea is to prepare students for achieving higher educational goals and promote broader understanding of medicine and science.
“The Lennox School of Dentistry will promote the kind of project based learning that helps learning come alive for our students.” Superintendent Kent Taylor said. “By introducing our students to career pathways and professional mentors while they are young, we hope to expand their college and career goals.”
Establishing the Lennox School of Dentistry, the District has collaborated with Dr. Lynnette Jackson to develop its instructional program. The groundbreaking initiative also includes professional development for teachers and hands-on lessons for students.
“This is an incredible opportunity to teach students in a new way that could inspire them to pursue medical school or a career as a dentist or healthcare professional.” Dr. Jackson, D.D.S. said. “I realize that some kids may actually dread going to the see the dentist. This program will not only demystify the dentist’s office, it will improve the health literacy of students at the same time.”
The Lennox School of Dentistry will launch in January for fourth graders at Huerta, Jefferson and Moffett elementary schools. Students will spend two hours a week in the dentistry school.
Teachers will work with Dr. Jackson and District administrators in the coming months to develop curriculum units, lesson plans and schedules. The District will begin developing lab space at each of the campuses in the fall.
The Lennox School District first began providing public education in 1910. Located in an unincorporated community of 1.3 square miles between Hawthorne and Inglewood, the district serves more than 5,100 students at one middle school, five elementary schools and a preschool in each school site.
Lynnette Jackson D.D.S, M.S. serves as the program director and has a general practice residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. She earned her medical degree from the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington D.C. and holds a Masters of Science Degree in Clinical Research from Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles.
