New Liberty Students Face Real-World Problems, Pressure in BUILD Presentations

New Liberty students present BUILD projects to professional panel
SALEM (Jan. 31, 2025) – A teacher is searching for ways to more effectively educate his students.
A mother of two on a limited income is looking for ways to afford self defense courses while simultaneously eating healthy.
A self defense instructor is struggling with maximizing time management while she runs her classes and seeks to invest in property.
Each is a random, real-world problem to which the students of the New Liberty Innovation School must not only provide a solution, but present them to a panel that has decades of experience in real estate law and estate planning, public relations, marketing and communications, non-profit, teaching and educational leadership.
For any high school student, presenting your solution then defending it through a barrage of questions – Shark Tank style – is intimidating. It is, however, consistent with NLIS’s Portrait of a Graduate: collaboration, communication, creative problem solving, critical thinking, cultural competence, and self awareness.
“I want them to see the connection between the classroom and outside world, which is real world learning,” said NLIS Principal Jamaal Camah. “In addition, I want them to confidently know that they possess the knowledge, skills and capability to bring their creativity to life through entrepreneurship – ultimately, becoming the CEO of their own life.”
Joining the panel at the Jan. 23 event at the City Hall Annex was:
- Robin LoConte, Wellness Teacher/Counselor at New Liberty Innovation School
- Mike Rush, Partner at Boston-based public relations form 360PR+
- Brendan Ward, Managing Partner and Trust & Real Estate Attorney at Cherry Tree Legal
- Jhayr Beta Herrera, a BUILD alumnus studying criminal defense at Salem State
- Jennifer Sprague, a BUILD volunteer
- Dr. Stephen Zrike, Salem Public Schools Superintendent
Though not a panelist, it was notable that Mayor Dominick Pangallo attended the presentations.
BUILD has six core “spark” skills on which students focus throughout their projects and presentations (there are 3 of them). This encourages them to learn about and demonstrate these six skills: collaboration, communication, problem solving, innovation, grit, and self management.
For the teacher in need of better engaging his students, junior Tyrone Manifold and sophomore Nick Mateo, who formed Team Umi Zumiez, proposed introducing lessons through music; specifically, different genres inclusive to each student’s liking.
Mr. Manifold and Mateo particularly emphasized the addition of music while students are engaged in hands-on activities.
“Success would be students more engaged, having fun and learning at the same time,” Mr. Manifold noted.
Perhaps the most meaningful part of their presentation was a malfunction in their power point projection (through no fault of their own), which forced them to explain and support their solution without visuals.
The two adjusted swiftly and seamlessly, exemplifying that sometimes presentations and plans go awry, and how one reacts is crucial.
In the case of the self defense student on a limited income, the cohort of sophomores Shanay Love and Yanil Ortega, juniors Sofia Torres Alvarado and Brennan Connor, and senior Cristal Toribio Collado, uniquely tailored her solution: gardening.
The cohort, which selected the name C&C Gardening, provided her a how-to book for beginner gardeners, encouraged her to grow – and sell – what she grows, and created a dual-platform garden powered by solar energy.
Their collective solution enables the student to learn a new skill, eat healthier and save money.
For the self defense instructor/budding property investor struggling with time management, the team of sophomores Jay Rodriguez and Carolin Duarte Tavares and juniors Jay Thompson and Seniaiah Lites created The Board of Life, a physical white board planner and board game.
The Board of Life, said Mr. Rodriguez, will appeal to those with competitive streaks and an affinity for board games. Each space is a goal – written down on the board – and a requirement to add money for each goal achieved.
Mr. Rodriguez and Mr. Thompson impressed the panel by citing a study supporting their product: Goals are far more likely achievable when written down.
“The main takeaway from these presentations – and the work leading up to them – is a combination of realizing that they’re all worthy of becoming CEOs,” said Ms. LoConte. “They have to put the client’s needs at the center of their innovation and to grow in their spark skills. Of course, making presentations is hard for most people so the more they do it, the better they’ll get.”
Each team will continue honing their products and services in preparation for a final presentation late in the school year in front of a similar panel.
“The BUILD program is designed to support students in becoming the CEOs of their own lives,” Ms. LoConte said. “It encourages them to think and dream bigger, and that not all CEOs are guys with blue suits and white shirts.”
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.