We’re no strangers to the incredible work happening in Kentucky to better serve learners and create opportunities for educators. The impact of innovative teaching and learning practices on communities throughout the state makes it one to watch – and root for.
Across seven districts, the work to make diplomas more meaningful and to support learners through hands-on, real-world learning experiences is well underway. From the Ignite Institute in Boone County – where “active learning experiences, future-focused work and partnerships with postsecondary education and local businesses come together to open pathways beyond high school” – to partnerships with local businesses in Shelby County, Kentucky students are making connections between what they’re learning and what they want for their futures. Read more about how these efforts are critical for education and economic growth in the state – and hear from learners themselves – in these stories from the Pritchard Institute.
In this video, Edna Schack, community co-lead of the Rowan County Schools L3 Coalition, stresses that school doesn’t look like what it did when she was in school, or when her children were in school. Schack asserts that students are learning not just with paper or pencil or on a computer screen, but “from their experiences.”
The Kentucky Chamber Foundation is actively bridging “the gap between classroom and career” through partnerships that empower students to become “engaged citizens, effective communicators, critical thinkers, empowered learners, creative contributors and productive collaborators.” Their efforts are grounded in the philosophy that building a strong workforce begins in the classroom. Whether it’s creating opportunities for learners to take on leadership roles within their schools and classrooms or providing hands-on and virtual experiences for career exploration through their Bus to Business® program, learners are empowered to imagine and prepare for their futures because of vital partnerships between businesses, the community and their schools. You can read about all the Chamber’s efforts here.
Kentucky’s students aren’t just learning what’s available in the postsecondary world, they’re building critical durable skills to ensure they thrive no matter what they decide to do after graduating.
