“We pride ourselves in being what we call a Kids at Hope School District,” says Superintendent Kevin Frank, alongside Assistant Superintendent Steve Peterson and College and Career Academy Director Matt Riney. “On a scale of one to 10, we ask all our staff - from teachers to custodians, bus drivers, and food service workers - how much they believe all children are capable of success. We want everyone to be a 10.” This commitment is celebrated monthly through their “10’s days” initiative, recognizing staff who embody this mindset. The district structures its educational framework around four key destinations: college and career, home and family, hobbies and recreation, and community service. “Within these areas, we’re not trying to add anything to teachers’ plates,” Frank explains.“Instead, we tie everything back to the Kids at Hope framework and make those connections for students.” This approach has proven particularly effective in their elementary schools, where teachers prepare students to think strategically about their futures before entering secondary education.The framework’s success represents a significant shift from 2017 when it was first piloted in an elementary school facing numerous challenges, including high poverty rates and a growing English learner population. STEM EXCELLENCE: FROM ELEMENTARY TO HIGH SCHOOL Washington Community Schools has built a comprehensive STEM education pathway that starts in kindergarten and extends through high school graduation.Their approach, which integrates Project Lead The Way (PLTW) programs across all grade levels, positions students for success in the rapidly evolving technology sector. “We’ve taken a district-wide approach to provide a robust STEM experience,” Peterson explains. “At the high school level, we began with PLTW engineering and have expanded to include biomedical sciences and computer science. We’ve built these programs into the K-8 space, with Gateway at the junior high level and Launch in elementary schools.”The district’s strategic location near Crane Naval Base has sparked unique opportunities in microelectronics education. Their partnership with SCALE K-12, an educational partnership dedicated to preparing students for careers in microelectronic fields, has opened doors to advanced learning experiences. “We work with Purdue University and Indiana University to develop the K-12 microelectronics STEM curriculum,” Peterson notes. “Our teachers receive specialized training at Purdue in microelectronics, bringing cutting-edge knowledge back to our classrooms.”This collaboration has positioned Washington Schools at the forefront of microelectronics education in the 3 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 04 WASHINGTON COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
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