New Burrell High investigative sciences course touts real-world experience

A new class at Burrell High School takes students from crime scenes to the courtroom.

The Investigative Sciences and Literature course, offered to juniors and seniors this year, stems from a growing interest from students looking into careers in law enforcement or forensics, said teacher Amanda Pagnotta.

“It’s not what you think of when you think of a typical elective class,” she said.

The spin-off from a law class at Burrell gives students an exploratory look at forensics and the criminal justice system.

They study and analyze court briefs and filings, apply the science behind fingerprinting, bite marks, mock crime scenes and criminal investigations. They have gotten an opportunity to meet investigators, police officers, lawyers and judges.

“It gives you a real-life look into what policing is going to be like,” said senior Kassidy Ferguson, who aspires to be a K-9 officer.

“The job is more serious than it seems,” she said. “It’s hard — it makes you think a lot.”

Ferguson was part of a group of nine Burrell students who participated in Lower Burrell’s Citizen Police Academy last summer. That proved the genuine interest in supporting such a class at Burrell, and Pagnotta and biology teacher Bryan Mike put their heads together to create the course.

“We wanted it to be more than just an elective,” she said.

Pagnotta said the class also provides an outlet for students to pursue a career in criminal justice or law enforcement that didn’t previously exist.

For example, students interested in an education course can take an aspiring educators course that is new this year, or attend the career and technology center for courses like manufacturing and trades.

Students earn an English and science credit upon completion of the course.

“This gives people an outlet finding success to apply English skills under a different theatrical lens,” Pagnotta said. “They’re still reading and writing things that police officers and lawyers actually read.”

Mike noted the course combines science into other co-curricular courses, such as social studies and literature. Students recently looked into physics and science in a ballistics trajectory lab.

“It’s a great partnership,” he said of co-teaching with Pagnotta.

Currently, students are dissecting a closed criminal case and are preparing a mock investigation and trial, Pagnotta said.

A look into the legal system is especially interesting for junior Jordyn Betts, who says the course has opened her eyes to job opportunities in that field.

“I think it’s so interesting,” she said. “It’s taught me a lot, and it’s a really fun class.

“I feel like I’ve gotten a much better understanding for legal things through this class.”