Over 150 Community Members Join Together to Reimagine the High School Experience

Over 150 Community Members Join Together to Reimagine the High School Experience Knox Education Foundation convened over 150 students, parents, community partners, business members, post-secondary institutions, and Knox County Schools employees on October 20th to start a conversation to reimagine the high school experience for all KCS students. For the first five months of 2021, Ford Next Generation Learning, in partnership with Knox Ed, held virtual focus groups with KCS staff, students, and parents to evaluate the strengths and needs of our high schools.

The Knox County Board of Education then voted to move forward with Phase 2 and Phase 3 of this work through funding from Knox Education Foundation. At the October 20th Visioning Session at the Change Center, Ford NGL consultants led the district and community through Phase 2, a day-long process to learn what this reimagining has looked like in other districts, and what it might look like with KCS. The various stakeholders provided input on the “why” for this work for Knoxville and also compiled qualities they would like to see considered in the portrait of a KCS graduate. Phase 3 of this work is to have three Master Planning Sessions. On November 9th, at the first Master Planning Session at the Boys and Girls Club, stakeholders learned more about the Ford NGL academy model and the benefits to students. Sixteen tactical teams were formed to work on the implementation plan for KCS. Stay tuned for updates on the official “Why Statement,” Portrait of a Graduate, and the implementation plan, which will be finalized through the last two Master Planning Sessions on December 7th and January 11th.