BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Wearing suits and dresses community members boarded the school bus to attend class, leaving their backpacks and lunchboxes at home. 

Warren County Public Schools offered a School Spotlight Tour on Wednesday to increase community leaders’ awareness of the school district’s success. 

 “We have so many children here that are growing up that we hope will stay here and be reinvesting in the community, so it’s important for us as community leaders and those in the community to be reinvesting in our students,” Chris Whitfield, general counsel of South Central Bank said. 

Superintendent Rob Clayton led the community members in a lesson on the school districts’ multiple unique features, including GEO International High School, which is the first International High School in Kentucky. GEO was one of three schools on the field trip. 

“We continue to feel it very important for our community leaders to come in, and see what we are doing within the four walls of our school so that we can partner to provide our students with the opportunities to be successful outside the walls of our schools,” Tracey Young, the director of community outreach for WCPS, said. 

The guests got a chance to meet with the students during class time and were able to see what a school day actually looks like. As professionals are learning from students, Young highlights the importance of having students understand the opportunities to learn outside of the classroom.  

“Education is really what happens in the classroom and what happens outside of the classroom. And in order to give our students experiences outside of the classroom, we have to have community partnerships,” Young said.  

The opportunities can take the form of college campus tours and exposure to various career paths.

Whitfield graduated from a WCPS high school and felt that his high school experience allowed him to explore ideas outside of the four walls. 

I was afforded so many opportunities that they implement different programs for leadership opportunities, extra-curricular activities, college prep courses,” Whitfield said.