BELLEVUE, Wash. — Students at Interlake High School, in the Bellevue School District recently built a home now used for housing-insecure residents, as a safe place to live.   

 

Career and Technical Education teacher, William Selset, led his class of students in building and delivering a tiny home to the Low Income Housing Institute, in January, 2022. This project connects the students to the community and provides real-world construction experience. Selset and the students constructed the home using core math, science and engineering skills taught through the CTE program.  

The home was placed in a tiny house village as safe shelter for people experiencing homelessness and is equipped with electricity, heat and access to a kitchen, restrooms and onsite showers, and a secure laundry area.  

Bellevue School District Director of Career and Technical Education Programs, Marilyn Henselman, says, “The program provides 12 different career pathways that all lead to college credit and industry-recognized certifications. Many programs offer exploratory, preparatory and advanced studies, which leads to our two-hour Satellite or three-hour Skill Center programs. These programs provide a true dedicated hands-on experience in the field, such as our Culinary Arts Program, Automotive Technology, Health Careers, CISCO Academy, Building Industry Technology-Core Plus Construction, and many more.”

A spokesperson for the Low Income Housing Institute said, “Through Career and Technical Education, students can explore career opportunities and learn how core school subjects like math, science and English are used in real life by: architects, engineers, green technology experts, health care professionals, building technology experts, and others.

The Bellevue School District, with nearly 20,000 students and 29 schools, is diverse and dynamic in East King County, Washington. Its mission is “To serve every student academically, socially, and emotionally, through a rigorous and relevant education that is innovative and individualized. As a learning community that values one another’s humanity, we strive to provide courageous support for an equitable and exceptional education for all students.”    

The Bellevue School District acknowledges that we learn, work, live and gather on the Indigenous Land of the Coast Salish peoples, specifically the Duwamish and Snoqualmie Tribes. We thank these caretakers of this land, who have lived and continue to live here, since time immemorial.