“All means all!”
This slogan captures the belief that every single student deserves a high quality education, opportunities to take college course work at no cost and the appropriate supports to graduate from high school prepared for college, careers, and life. Rutherford County Schools, led by Superintendent Janet Mason, builds on this ideal as the district works to put these words into action.
Mason is a graduate of Rutherford County Schools and has worked in the district as a teacher and principal. She’s passionate about ensuring that all students in her community — every single student — receive a first-class education and graduate from high school prepared to succeed in college and careers. Her commitment to elevating teaching and learning in the district strongly aligns with the vision and mission of NC New Schools/ Breakthrough Learning.
Innovation spreads from early college
Rutherford first partnered with NC New Schools/Breakthrough Learning in 2005, opening Rutherford Early College High School (REaCH) on the campus of Isothermal Community College. Students attending REaCH engaged in innovative learning right away at a school guided by Design Principles focused on powerful teaching and learning. Earning many of their high school credits through dual enrollment in college coursework, students graduated from high school in four or five years with a diploma and an associate degree, while tuition and college textbooks were provided at no cost to students or their families.
District leaders in Rutherford soon realized they wanted to provide this opportunity to all of their students and applied for inclusion in the Rural Innovative Schools initiative in partnership with NC New Schools/Breakthrough Learning. The district joined the initiative beginning with East Rutherford High School in 2012 and Chase High School and R-S Central High School in 2013, extending innovative teaching and increased college access to all high schools in the district. Teachers at the comprehensive high schools worked with instructional coaches to implement learner-centered strategies in daily lessons, while leadership coaches partnered with principals to guide them as leaders of innovative change in their schools.
College readiness expands across district
Through the Rural Innovative Schools initiative, students in Rutherford County’s comprehensive high schools have the opportunity to earn college credits beginning in 10th grade at no cost to their families. The initiative provides for the purchase of college textbooks for students attending classes through Isothermal Community College, East Carolina University’s virtual “Second Life” classes or UNC-G iSchool courses.
To date, students in the district’s comprehensive high schools have earned more than 2,000 college credits, getting a jump on the next step in their lives while learning to handle college coursework in the supportive environment of their local high school. Each comprehensive high school has also hired a college liaison, who works closely with both the high school guidance counselor and the community colleges and universities to assist students in scheduling college courses.
School leaders see the difference
Chase High School Principal Kevin Bradley is enthusiastic about the transformation that has occurred in his school and the opportunities provided to his students. Bradley emphasizes the value of gaining accessibility to college courses for all of his students through the Rural Innovative Schools initiative and notes that the work will continue for several more years through the scale-up grant.
“Our collaborative work with NC New Schools/ Breakthrough Learning unifies our staff towards our goals of instruction,” Bradley says. “Many educational initiatives seem to come and go over the years, but this initiative is being sustained through the development of our own instructional coaches and professional learning for all staff focused on the Design Principles.”
Bringing success to middle schools
Following the success in the district’s high schools, Rutherford County Schools is now taking its “all means all” philosophy to the middle school level. Work began in spring 2015 at Chase, East Rutherford and R-S Central Middle Schools and the Rutherford Opportunity Center (grades 6-12), bringing similar innovation and change fostered by collaboration with NC New Schools/ Breakthrough Learning. Leadership coaches are partnering with each of the middle school principals and instructional coaches collaborate with teachers to increase academic rigor and prepare all students for college and career readiness.
“The process of using educational partners like NC New Schools/Breakthrough Learning provides creative support to continue the innovative work needed to prepare future ready students to be graduating globally competitive,” Chase Middle School Principal La’Ronda Whiteside said.
From a new approach in a single school to a philosophy that includes an entire community, Rutherford County Schools’ commitment to excellence is making a difference for its students. In Rutherford County, the slogan is a reality: ALL truly does mean ALL.
