Local districts host League of Innovative Schools

The group promotes creative use of technology in the classroom.

The League of Innovative Schools held its biannual convening this week, making visits to some Mon Valley schools.

With 13 member districts being visited across the Pittsburgh region — including California Area, Elizabeth Forward and South Allegheny — the goal is to create a group of forward-thinking school districts that are using technology to help teachers and students improve, according to the League website.

It’s also a way to witness and experience the deep regional collaboration evident across Western Pennsylvania through two days of school visits, including tailored learning sessions, opportunities to explore industry partnerships and more.

Director of League of Innovative Schools Jillian Doggett said these meetings are ways for other educators to get a chance to see innovative things that are happening in other schools. She said this week has been “amazing.”

“They can take something back to their own district, and adapt it as well as put it into a different context,” Doggett said. “There is innovation throughout the nation, and going into these schools, seeing what’s happening, taking them back to your district.

“You can go to a conference and listen to people talk, but it’s so different when you are here, talking with students and walking the halls and talking with teachers.”

Ashley Constantine, executive director of elementary education for Fox Chapel School District, said this week is a “big deal” for the region.

Education leaders had a “Welcome to Pittsburgh” event Monday at the Heinz History Center. Tours of schools began the next day.

South Allegheny School District hosted 80-100 education leaders Tuesday, highlighting significant improvements made over the past five years.

“South Allegheny is being recognized as a leader in innovation, with districts from across the U.S. looking to replicate its success,” the district stated in a release. “These visits highlight the district’s groundbreaking programs, the positive impact on students and its role in shaping the future of education.”

California Area and Elizabeth Forward hosted educational leaders Thursday to showcase their accomplishments.

California Area School District featured its science labs, Aqua Ponics program, the Let Me Read to Ewe Literacy program, a four-day work week plan and more.

“But that’s just the beginning! We are incredibly proud of our innovative programs and the dedication of our educators and staff who make these initiatives possible,” California Area School District stated in a social media post. “Thank you for being a part of this amazing journey toward educational excellence!”

Doggett said because California is a tight-knit community, it is beautiful to see different districts with different contexts and what innovation looks like in different spaces.

“It’s pockets of things that culminate into a really impactful culture,” she said. “You can see the culture through the leadership. The students made us feel welcome and included, and it was really inspiring.”

The Mon Valley Independent had the chance to join educational leaders Wednesday at Elizabeth Forward School District, which gave tours of Central Elementary and the middle school to showcase things like kindergarten badging, RIASEC and Beable as well as Prisms VR and World of Work, which have been educational tools for students.

“As a proud member of the League of Innovative Schools, Elizabeth Forward School District is excited to welcome the League back to our community,” said assistant Superintendent Dr. Mary Carole Perry. “We’re looking forward to sharing the amazing things our students are achieving and the creative teaching happening in our classrooms.”

Superintendent Keith Konyk welcomed educators to EF, recognized the accomplishments the district has made, including being an Apple Distinguished School, and emphasized how important the students and educators are to the district.

“Everything that we do, the only reason we can make that happen is because of the amazing kids who are willing to experiment and to do great work,” Konyk said. “We have incredible leaders who do things outside the box and want to do things differently, and embrace the culture of innovation. And then we have other leaders that give these folks the tools to be successful.”

In the middle school gym, the district had displays for elementary schools and the high school. Leaders toured the middle school and Central Elementary after they had food and drinks, goodies from a cookie table and received gifts.

Central Elementary showcased a variety of elements in its curriculum, including a Kindness Club that packs care packages for people in hospitals, as well as digital notebooking, badging through music, where they played ukuleles, and even science, where they are raising chickens, growing plants and trout and more.

Central principal Frank Berdar said the “Brave Bunch” were giving tours around the school showing the different things students are learning.

“Here at Central Elementary, our future-ready theme is leadership and our fifth-grade group through PBIS, they had to apply to be a part of the Brave Bunch, and we use the Brave Bunch for some leadership activities,” Berdar said. “They’ve done a really great job, and they have done some tours before.”

At the middle school, education leaders got to see the middle school’s esports, cybersecurity, Prisms, Beagle, WoW and RIASEC programs as well as a service dog and other programs.

RIASEC is an acronym for six personality types that can help people identify their career interests. The types are Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising and Conventional.

Leaders also watched as teachers used Beable, including in U.S. history, where students were actively exploring the causes of the Civil War through a variety of engaging, interest-based activities aligned to their RIASEC themes.

Middle school principal Dr. Trisha Martell said she is very proud of the students in her school and the programs they are accomplishing in their curriculum.

“We have seen amazing schools in our careers, being a part of the League and we are so grateful to be a part of the League to be able to go out, have an opportunity to see things that are happening,” Perry said. “We are willing to open up our doors if there is something that you saw today that you are interested in. This is about sharing. That’s what education is: it’s not just meant to be in a classroom all by yourself.”