Rutland City Public Schools
Every Student, Every Day
Empowering students through collaboration, innovation, and community partnerships
Firmly cementing itself as a leading school district with the student at the forefront, Rutland City Public Schools has much to offer. The district has also proven that it can adapt to what many view as a new economy facing its valued students upon graduation.
At the heart of Rutland City Public Schools’ philosophy is a simple yet powerful vision: Every Student, Every Day. Superintendent Bill Olsen explains, “the district works hard to serve the community in every way possible, meeting the needs of our kids and ensuring they reach their full potential.”
The district’s mission extends beyond academics, striving to cultivate well-rounded citizens through diverse learning opportunities and personalized support. “We guide students from where they are to where they need to go,” says Olsen.
Building Strong Foundations
The district’s commitment to early education is evident in their comprehensive approach. Assistant Superintendent Bianca McKeen highlights their alignment with Vermont’s initiative to ensure all students are proficient readers by grade three. “In our primary buildings, we have a STEAM program to allow students to engage with hands-on activities to support their learning and help develop creative skills at a very young age,” McKeen explains.
The district’s early learning initiatives extend beyond traditional academics. This year, they implemented a motor lab focused on preparing students’ minds and bodies for learning. The district also partners with local pre-K programs, offering special education services to children before they enter kindergarten.
Commitment to Equity and Inclusion and Technology
Rutland City Public Schools takes a proactive approach to equity, embedding inclusivity into every facet of the district’s strategic plan. Pam Reed, Director of Support Services Equity and Inclusion notes, “in November 2023, our school board adopted a Declaration of Inclusion. This commitment to equity ensures all students, regardless of background, have access to meaningful opportunities.”
The district offers tailored programs to meet diverse student needs, including therapeutic environments and hands-on learning options.
“Some students thrive in settings where they can be active and engage with the outdoors,” says McKeen.
Rutland City Public Schools has also integrated equity considerations throughout their strategic initiatives, including ensuring all students have access to co-curricular and extracurricular activities by identifying and addressing potential barriers to participation.
Under the leadership of Patricia Aigner, Director of Technology, Rutland City Public Schools has become a leader in educational technology, with high-speed internet and a city-wide wireless network. “Teachers have classrooms that are set up to access technology very efficiently, they all have smart boards or smart TVs,” Aigner notes. These strategic upgrades across the district, funded by ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund), have transformed teaching and learning into more dynamic, tech-integrated experiences.
Aigner highlights that Vermont has embraced the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) standards for technology education, and has taken a proactive approach to cybersecurity and digital citizenship. “We spend a lot of time talking about student safety on the internet, we’re really trying to keep our kids abreast of security as well as how they behave and relate to others on the internet,” Aigner explains.
Regarding artificial intelligence, the district has taken a thoughtful approach to integration, incorporating AI education into their curriculum while ensuring responsible use. As an early adopter, they’re focused on helping students understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI technology. The district has also collaborated extensively with ISTE, producing educational videos, presentations, and testing AI resources for students during the pandemic.
A Unified Teaching Philosophy
Rutland City Public Schools prioritizes collaboration to ensure consistency and quality across the district. Superintendent Bill Olsen explains, “the district does work to make sure teachers work together, that we work in teams, take a common approach to what we’re instructing, what we’re shooting for in goals, and how we’re assessing.” This teamwork ensures all students receive the same high-quality instruction. To support this philosophy, the district partners with national organizations like Marzano Resources and Solution Tree for professional development.
Despite nationwide teacher shortages, Rutland City Public Schools continues to attract top talent. “I don’t think we’ve been affected as badly as some other parts of the state because we are an attractive place to be, and we pull in a lot of good candidates,” Olsen says. This strength further supports the district’s commitment to a unified and collaborative teaching philosophy.
Supporting Wellness for Students and Staff
In addition to its strong teaching philosophy, Rutland City Public Schools places a significant emphasis on wellness for both students and staff. The challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic provided the district with an opportunity to reinvest in its community, using federal relief funds to support professional development, improve infrastructure, and promote wellness.
These funds also played a critical role in launching the district’s strategic plan, which includes wellness as a key focus area. “We have a team led by Pam [Reed] that is working on promoting wellness and making sure that our staff is doing well and that our kids are doing well,” Olsen explains. This plan, currently in its first year of implementation, is a comprehensive effort to create a healthier and more supportive environment for everyone in the district.
By prioritizing wellness alongside professional growth, Rutland City Public Schools ensures that its educators and students alike have the tools and support they need to succeed. This dual focus on collaboration and care strengthens the district’s ability to meet challenges while fostering a thriving educational community.
Community Engagement: A Two-Way Street
One of the district’s most distinctive features is its deep integration with the community. “Community partners are very essential to the work that we do in our school district,” McKeen emphasizes. This partnership began with extensive community involvement in developing their Portrait of a Graduate and strategic plan, ensuring alignment between education and community needs. “We feel it’s really important that we are staying connected to our community partners to ensure that our students have the skills necessary to be successful post-secondary, no matter what their plans are,” McKeen adds. Monthly assemblies celebrate character traits, featuring community speakers who discuss practical applications of these values and recognize students who exemplify them.
A standout initiative is the PLACE program—Promoting Learning by Activating Community Engagement—which allows students to collaborate with local partners in fields of interest. This program began through the support of the Rowland Foundation. “Students work on skills like creating resumes and interviewing,” explains McKeen. After completing a 60-hour placement, students work with their community partner on a service project to give back.
The district also offers a career experiences class, enabling students to participate in two-week internships that help them explore potential career paths. “Employers in our region tell us, and we’ve identified it in our Portrait of a Graduate, that students need skills like communication, critical thinking, empathy, and interpersonal skills,” McKeen shares. These programs cultivate these traits while encouraging students to contribute to the local community.
McKeen emphasizes that such initiatives are possible thanks to the many local businesses dedicated to supporting students. “They make our community a wonderful place to live,” she adds.
Infrastructure and Investment in the Future
The district has strategically invested a portion of its $17 million in federal ESSER grant money to create outdoor and flexible learning spaces during the pandemic. McKeen notes these spaces, initially for open-air learning, are now multi-use and accessible to the community. Reed adds, “we also invest in tutoring and additional instruction that helps close the gap with the learning loss students experienced during the pandemic.”
“I think this district and this community have supported facilities work through the decades,” Olsen reflects. “We have older buildings, but we keep them updated, safe and healthy.” In terms of facilities, Olsen believes the district is in a good position with a capital improvement plan in progress.
Rutland City Public Schools prioritizes innovation and values feedback from staff to continually enhance student learning experiences. McKeen emphasizes this collaborative approach, stating, “we really believe that our staff and our teachers contribute to informing us around what we need for students to be able to access their learning in the best way possible.” This openness to ideas helps the district identify ways to optimize resources, adapt spaces, and improve access to education. By embracing creative solutions and leveraging resources effectively, Rutland ensures its approach to education remains dynamic and student-centered.
Professional Growth and Lifelong Learning
Rutland City Public Schools’ dedication to excellence includes a strong focus on staff development, ensuring educators stay current with innovative teaching practices. “You have to be a learner,” emphasizes Superintendent Bill Olsen, underscoring the district’s commitment to continuous growth. Teachers are encouraged to pursue advanced degrees, while professional development opportunities are prioritized to enhance instructional strategies.
For McKeen, who was born and raised in Rutland, this investment in education has deep personal meaning. “What’s most rewarding is the work I’m able to do with other individuals and with the children in our community to help them develop skills to be valuable, contributing members of our community who want to make our world a better place.”
Looking Ahead: A Vision for Continued Excellence
As the district implements its new strategic plan and Portrait of a Graduate, the focus remains on continuous improvement. Olsen hopes the next 18 months will ensure that all of the work toward implementing their plan will not fall by the wayside. Reed emphasizes that “the priority is bringing to fruition the vision work that’s been outlined.”
McKeen reflects that even with the district’s many accomplishments, there will always be a focus on future improvements. She adds, “how can we continue to improve and do better and use our resources to support the work we do everyday in schools?”
This forward-thinking approach, combined with strong community partnerships and innovative programs, positions Rutland City Public Schools to continue meeting its commitment to serve every student, every day. This united effort ensures that Rutland’s students are provided with the best possible start to their future, preparing them for success in an ever-evolving world.
AT A GLANCE
Rutland City Public Schools
What: A public school district focused on innovation, community engagement, and student growth
Where: Rutland, Vermont
Website: www.rutlandcitypublicschools.org
PREFERRED VENDORS
Mountain Air Systems, LLC. – www.masvt.com
Meub Associates – www.yourvtlawyer.com
Meub Associates, PLC. is a full-service law firm, representing individuals, organizations, and businesses throughout Vermont. Our firm uses a unique team approach so we can provide all our clients with exceptional legal work and support to meet the many different legal needs of our clients across Vermont.