30 miles east of Indianapolis sits the charming little town of Greenfield—a few hundred buildings at the intersection of Highway 40 and State Route 9 including a grain silo converted into a popular local restaurant. Another 15 minutes east between tall rows of corn, you’ll come to the campus of Eastern Hancock Schools where you’ll find remarkably engaged learners.
When Dr. George Philhower joined this small school community four years ago, he found a place where “Each student is able to experience school in a tight-knit school community where nearly everyone knows their name and is able to challenge them to learn, grow, and achieve each day.” He spotted four distinctive benefits of Eastern Hancock Schools and posted them at the top of the website: a place kids want to be, hands-on learning, community involvement, and advanced technology. (It’s an effective website that leads with the benefits of enrolling, one of the reasons 40% of the enrollment comes from out of district).
Joy as a Promise
Philhower came to appreciate the power of joy as a teacher and coach. As a learning leader, he spotted systems that made joy and engagement a priority and implemented these learnings. He was inspired by the Cajon Valley USD Vision: “to develop happy kids, living in healthy relationships on a path to gainful employment.” Philhower also appreciated how Cajon Valley stated their community commitments as 8 promises.
He was inspired by the Highline Public Schools Promise developed about 10 years ago under Dr Susan Enfiled’s leadership: “Every student in Highline Public Schools is known by name, strength and need, and graduates prepared for the future they choose.” He appreciated the commitment to belonging and made it prominent in Promise #2 Connection.
Philhower co-hosted the 2023 World of Work Summit with Cajon Valley superintendent Dr. David Miyashiro. They are two of the best examples of system leaders prioritizing joyful learning in pathways to opportunity—local leaders with a national impact. Their work inspired the Getting Smart Design Principles: accessible, personalized, purposeful, joyful, authentic, and challenging. (For more on leading with joy, watch George on #FutureReady podcast with Tom Murray.)
Leading Real World Learning
All four EHS promises point to the importance of community-connected, real-world learning because it is engaging, connecting, future-focused, and all about growth.
To continue progressing, Philhower has been studying career pathways and work-based learning in Switzerland this year. “The Swiss approach is grounded in the belief that there are three primary purposes of education: self-actualization, equity, and the need for human capital development,” explains Philhower. “In turn, these principles drive three primary pillars—career exploration integration, industry-led credential development, and a permeable education system with no dead ends.”
Eastern Hancock schools have integrated pathways programming that provides students a head-start on their careers, such as vet tech science classes and a future-educator pathway. More than half of Eastern Hancock’s students are enrolled in a hybrid schedule, which allows them to gain real-world experiences. Many attend half-day classes at career centers and engage in work-based learning. An entrepreneurship course provides high school students the opportunity to plan and launch a business
Observations and Leadership Lessons
There are many things to learn from EHS, but below are a few of the lessons that I continue to think about.
Small systems can improve the student experience fast.
Responsive leaders can update small system goals, design principles, culture, community connections, and public profile quickly with the potential for improved student learning experience, teacher satisfaction, higher attendance, and enrollment.
EHS Lesson:
Connect with and serve the community
Market distinct benefits–give families a reason to enroll and engage
Lead with urgency, humility, and joy
Inherited infrastructure is sticky.
Buildings, schedules, systems, budgets, and staffing are all still based on age cohorts and required secondary courses. It’s particularly difficult for a small system to achieve structural innovation alone.
EHS Lesson:
Support state initiatives like Indiana’s new diploma pathway
Support Indiana’s participation in the Carnegie/ETS pilot to create new skill assessments
Change trajectories with new pathways.
EHS gives students opportunities to explore various career paths while still being able to adjust and adapt their learning trajectories.
EHS Lesson:
Pathways to meaningful credentials can be created with intentional leadership and community involvement
Add work-based learning in and out of the schedule