LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Businesses and schools from across the country are hoping they can learn more about innovative learning strategies from Jefferson County Public Schools. This month’s visit was an opportunity for JCPS to pay it forward.

What You Need To Know

  • Before Jefferson County Publis Schools created its academies model it traveled to see how it worked in other communities

  • JCPS hosted other schools and businesses looking to switch to the academies model

  • Students learn skills employers are looking need by working on actual projects with employers and teachers
  • The Academies of Louisville launched in the fall of 2017 

JCPS created the Academies of Louisville around seven years ago, with the goal of modernizing its high school experience by teaching core career applications. 

But they couldn’t do this without visiting other districts first.

JCPS Director of Career Academies Mary Beth Smith said they have now built sustainable school-business partnerships, while also addressing Louisville’s future workforce needs and are now teaching others too.

“We actually started Ford Next Generation Learning, going to communities that were more experienced than we were. So now it’s kind of full circle that we are coming back and not being the newbie anymore. But now hosting these individuals, coming to see us,” said Smith.

Smith said they are emphasizing what the relationship between the district and community business partners looks like within their schools.

“We want to make sure that they get to see not only the spaces, but the work that goes on in the spaces with not just the employees for the school district, but our community partners that come in routinely and work with our kids,” said Smith.

Jesse Webb from Fort Wayne Community Schools in Indiana was one of the visitors. FWCS is one of largest school districts in the state and is in its second year of implementing the academy model. Webb said he is excited to see what other school districts outside their state are doing.

“Just the passion that, like the teachers have along with your business partners. I want to be able to mirror that in what we do. And getting those business partners engaged as much as they are here,” said Webb.

Visitors toured The Academies of Louisville at Pleasure Ridge Park High School to see computer-aided design classes, welding classes and health science classes. President of Ford Next Generation Learning Cheryl Carrier said the goal is to help transform high schools into small, career-themed learning communities.

“Students are actually learning the skills that the actual employers need because they’re working on authentic projects with the employers and the teachers. They’re working in teams. They’re learning to solve problems. They’re learning to think critically,” said Carrier.

Smith added,“Our students deserve our growth, and the only way we can do that is really to put ourselves to the test and be able to show up and explain to others. Teaching is the best way to learn as from others as much as you teach others.”

Smith said this was their first time hosting but was excited for the shared learning and teaching opportunity.

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