Schools That Work
Eminence Independent Schools
Public, Rural
Grades K–12
Eminence, KY
Administration & Leadership
A determined superintendent looks to transform student lives in his rural Kentucky hometown.
Technology Integration
When students have the freedom to tinker and explore, their curiosity leads to perseverance—and the mastery of technical tools and skills.
Collaborative Learning
Getting students up on their feet and solving problems together helps build engagement—and stronger math thinkers.
School Culture
Educators in this small town prioritized innovation, creativity, and wonder in every aspect of their school, and the message to students was clear—dream big, because anything is possible.
Communication Skills
Providing the active listeners in the outer ring of a Socratic circle a way to jump in with their burning questions and comments keeps all students engaged.
Interest-Based Learning
Encouraging students to bring their creativity and imagination to challenging content makes it more accessible—and helps them learn it more deeply.
Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)
By providing middle school students a chance to walk in someone else’s shoes, teachers can help them develop empathy—and a stronger connection to content.
Learning Environments
A community raised $6 million to construct an innovative 30,000-square-foot facility complete with makerspaces and learning labs.
Service Learning
Twice a year, students and teachers in Eminence, Kentucky, collaborate for three days on meaningful projects that serve their community.
College Readiness
Get a look at a dual-enrollment program that prepares high school students to overcome the obstacles on the path to finishing college.
Student Engagement
“Surprise and delight” is a core student engagement strategy at this school—built into both the instruction and the building’s design.
