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A proponent of enterprising new educational models, Dr. Philip Hickman serves as superintendent of Missouri’s Columbus Municipal School District. There, he used digital technologies and open-source educational materials to improve school performance. These changes earned Dr. Philip Hickman’s district a place on Getting Smart’s list of 30 School Districts Worth Watching, which also includes:
1. Reynoldsburg Schools in Ohio. This school system has made STEM learning a priority. It features four innovative academies for high school students, one of which is wholly STEM-centric. An intelligent feeder pattern channels students into the right learning environments, and blended learning lets students learn both online and in classrooms.
2. The Kettle Moraine School District in Wisconsin. This district has made smart use of charter schools at all age levels. Elementary students have access to an open-learning environment where they collaborate on couches instead of listening at desks. High school students have three different flex high schools to choose from, each with a different theme.
3. The Sanborn Regional School District in New Hampshire. Competency-based learning is a priority in this district. At the high school, students participate in a Focused Learning Period. This daily activity gives them 40 minutes to get extra help, expand on classroom learning, and dive deeper into their curriculum with an advisor’s support.
Philip Hickman 