High Road School of Wright City Students Put Detective Skills to the Test

A missing mascot, a list of suspects, and a visit from an experienced detective gave High Road School of Wright City students a mystery to solve this summer.

Students Learn From an Experienced Detective

Recently, students in the school’s Spark 1 and Spark 6 pathways welcomed Detective Dean Jackson for a firsthand look at how investigators gather information, examine evidence and solve cases.

Jackson has served in law enforcement for 12 years, including eight years as a detective and four years with the Department of Homeland Security in the St. Louis area. He discussed the range of cases detectives may investigate and talked about his career with students.

How Detective Skills Connect to Classroom Learning

The visit complemented the students’ summer reading and classroom lessons, which have focused on crime-solving stories, fingerprints, crime scene processing and investigative tools.

Jackson explained that detectives often begin with the same questions students consider while reading: Who? What? When? Where? Why?

“I ask witnesses to tell me a story,” he told the students, demonstrating how careful listening, critical thinking and attention to detail help investigators piece together what happened.

“Detective Jackson gave students a clear example of how the skills they are practicing in class can be used in a career,” said Meaghan Bell, IEP coordinator at High Road School of Wright City. “They were eager to ask questions, examine the details and apply what they learned to their own investigation.”

Jackson also addressed the differences between real investigations and those shown on television. He explained that evidence analysis can require patience, noting that DNA results may take considerable time and examinations of computers or cellphones can take months.

The Mystery of the Missing School Mascot

Students are now putting their investigative skills to work on a case close to home: Lenny, the school mascot, has disappeared. Using clues, close reading, and teamwork, students must determine what happened and locate Lenny before the case goes cold.

The activity gives students an opportunity to apply literacy and problem-solving skills through a hands-on summer project while learning more about careers in law enforcement.