What makes the district’s work especially notable is the way it has built a foundation of support and pathways that connect students to real careers, real skills, and real confidence—particularly in a community where poverty rates can range from 55 to 75 percent. “We want to make sure kids understand there is more out there than what they see every day,” Cline explains. “Education is the leveler. It opens doors, and we have a responsibility to create those opportunities.” With Director of Communications Kris Samick supporting district storytelling and engagement, Spencer-Owen’s recent progress reflects both a strategic approach to long-term planning and a practical focus on what students need right now: safety, belonging, mentorship, and pathways that translate into the real world. A DISTRICT CULTURE GROUNDED IN SOCIALEMOTIONAL SUPPORT For Spencer-Owen, student success starts with wellbeing and relationships. The district has built layered social-emotional supports designed to meet students where they are—whether that means peerled intervention, counseling access, or partnerships with local service agencies. At the student level, a key initiative is Hope Squad, a student-to-student support model that gives students another pathway to reach out when they need help, especially if they are not ready to approach a counselor, teacher, or administrator directly. The district also staffs counselors at the high school and middle school levels, with counseling support embedded at the elementary level as well. In SpencerOwen’s two larger elementary schools, counselors are onsite, while a home-to-school advisor supports students across the district’s smaller elementaries. The district also partners with community providers such as Hamilton Center and Centerstone, which provide counseling services to students and families, with professionals working in and out of school buildings as needed. Social-emotional learning begins early. Samick 305 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 07, ISSUE 01 SPENCER-OWEN COMMUNITY SCHOOLS
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