Over 100 educators from Columbus City Schools (CCS) recently returned from an energizing visit to the Ron Clark Academy (RCA) in Atlanta, where they gathered new teaching strategies to bring more excitement into their classrooms. Funded by Huntington National Bank's Ignite the Classroom initiative, this trip was positioned to pave the way for innovative educational practices back home. South High School Principal Christy Nickerson reflected on the impact of the trip, telling CCS, "This visit to Ron Clark Academy has reignited my belief in the fact that we're doing really good work [at CCS]."
The immersive RCA Experience warmly welcomed CCS staff, aiming to completely revamp their approach to student engagement and learning. Dr. Luther Johnson, an area superintendent, was taken with the real-life dynamic classrooms he witnessed, saying, “The fact that we're going in and seeing actual classrooms, instruction, the teachers working with students, is giving us ideas that we could take back and strengthen what we're already doing in Columbus City Schools with our whole child services.” According to the Columbus City Schools. This approach was to not just align with current strategies but also to set a precedent in how to incorporate varied learning styles that resonate with a generation deeply embedded in the fast-paced digital age.
CCS staff observed RCA's unique teaching style, which catered to the highest achievers while inspiring others to reach new academic heights. Erin Ottobre, a World Language Middle School Teacher, shared the group’s anticipation to implement the new tools back in Columbus. "Our overall goal is to continue to strengthen our climate and culture, while at the same time increasing our academic rigor and successes," Ottobre told CCS. The educators took part as students in RCA’s classes, experiencing firsthand how a burst of physical activity could suddenly seamlessly turn into a part of the learning process.
The theatricality of RCA's environment, complete with music and animatronics, aimed to unlock students' confidence and was seen as an effective tool rather than as a mere distraction. Christy Nickerson praised the approach, acknowledging, in a statement obtained by the Columbus City Schools, "In my 26 years of education, I have never been so excited to see young people taking roles of leadership and being engaged in class." The CCS educators left with valuable insights on cultivating future leaders by empowering the students through dynamic educational experiences.
As CCS educators touched down back in Columbus, they carried more than just fresh experiences from RCA. They brought home a renewed vision for teaching that looks to sprinkle a bit of RCA’s magic into their own classrooms. With a special focus on whole child education and student leadership, these educators stand ready to adapt and evolve in an age where TikTok and AI increasingly influence the landscape of student engagement and learning.
