Civil Municipal Magazine - Nov 2023

168 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 4, ISSUE 11 “We are quite the unique community,” Superintendent Kristie Brooks begins, “we are a small rural, low-wealth community, but we are also located by one of the largest cities in Georgia, Brooks says, referring to the city of Columbus. Because of this unique blend, schools within the district operate with a dual awareness of the smaller, personalized aspects that are necessary for student development without ever forgetting the larger picture of future planning that is necessary for workforce development. Additionally, the Chattahoochee community is home to Fort Moore, which was originally Fort Benning. The unique thing about this is that Fort Moore actually comprises roughly 80% of Chattahoochee County, so the majority of it is federal land that belongs to the base. As a result of all of this, the county is a collection of local rural citizens and federally connected military families who all shop and do business in the nearby metropolitan area of Columbus. The Multi-Path Method of Successful Education Chattahoochee County is home to an incredibly diverse array of people with equally diverse needs and perspectives, and the district has crafted a spectrum of educational pathways to confront the diverse needs of its students. These pathways are tailored to individual interests and abilities and represent its proactive approach to identifying the individual journey of each child, which underscores its dedication to ensuring no one is left behind. Not only are the traditional subjects taught to students, but the district curriculum also places a heavy emphasis on fields directly related to STEM sciences. “In 2020, we initiated our five-year strategic plan, and one of the aspects of teaching and learning for us specifically involved STEM… How [would] STEM actually become part of the day-to-day?” Brooks asks.