COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IS KEY TO INNOVATIVE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
 

We could not do it without you.. The vitality of our public education system in Worthington is in large part due to our involved and supportive community. Speaking for all 768 certified professional staff members, we appreciate the commitment to public education by this community. We are honored to serve the community in our vital role of educator

There are several factors that are keys to the high quality public education offered in Worthington. We have dedicated faculty and staff and financial support from the public. There is a strong community involvement in the educational system and we have several mechanisms in place for innovation. The ability for all stakeholders to communicate is improving daily and the core belief that great public schools are a basic right for every child could not be more evident.

As we celebrate American Education Week, I'd like to focus on some innovative things happening in the Worthington schools. Each innovation involves talented and dedicated faculty and staff, administrative support and community interest through various organizations. They require volunteers, visionaries and a laser-like focus on student learning and application. These are only a sampling of the many exciting things happening in the schools.

* Larry Griffin, the vocal music director at Worthington Kilbourne High School, received a grant from the Worthington Educational Foundation (a private, tax-exempt organization that supports innovative projects in the Worthington Public Schools) to support a collaborative project with the Jazz Arts Group of Columbus. The funds provided will pay for master classes with a guest artist and provide clinics and workshops for the vocal music students at WKHS. This project will also offer the opportunity for students to be exposed to and participate in vocal jazz through attendance at concerts and through active partnerships with Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG.)

* At Kilbourne Middle School, the PTSA has used some of their funds to purchase four new (mobile) SMART boards. These SMART boards on wheels enable students to participate in interactive multimedia lessons. Each of these lessons can be captured as text, saved, and remain accessible to revisit, if needed.

The ability to capture the entire lesson as text helps meet the individual needs of all learners. This application is also helpful in an era where heavy, disorganized backpacks and crumpled papers are rampant and could probably be replaced with PDFs on a flash drive.

* The Granby Elementary School kindergarten classes recently held a "Dark, Dark Wood Night." This evening activity was preceded by students reading and comparing several versions of the folk tale "In a Dark, Dark Wood." Several community groups and organizations participated in the event. The Granby PTA provided funds for the Ohio Wildlife Center, which taught about and brought in several nocturnal animals. The Northwest Library sent representatives to read books related to In a Dark, Dark Wood. Each student created a computer illustration of his or her favorite nocturnal animal using a program called KidPix. Those illustrations were accompanied with a brief oral report and put into a slide show for parents and students to enjoy. Students decorated the classroom to simulate a "Dark, Dark Wood" and read the tale to their families using a flashlight. The night was capped off with a campfire and snacks for students and their families.

* Seniors at Linworth Alternative High School are preparing to go on their Walkabout. The Walkabout is an internship program that is "in the field" where a student may want to pursue a career or explore an area of interest. Some of the locations include: Conservation in Ecuador, Language and Culture study in Spain, Raptor Center in Pennsylvania, Social Work in the Philippines, Orphanage work in Ecuador, Materials Science in Columbus, Special Education in Worthington, Wood Sculpting in California, Organic Farm Studies at North Carolina State and Photography in New York City.

To remain a premier public school system, Worthington community members must be actively involved and supportive of innovation. As you could tell from the few examples, there are many ways to support innovation. Your support may come from being an active member of PTA or a volunteer in the schools, communicating your ideas and thoughts during community engagement sessions, donating money to the Worthington Educational Foundation, or communicating with your School Board members. Regardless of how you participate, what will set us apart is continuing to have an actively engaged community as we move forward.

Pete Scully is a high school science teacher who currently serves as president of the Worthington Education Association.