Education leaders from across the country toured Davis School District campuses Oct. 21-23, praising Farmington High School and the district's career-focused programs.
The visitors came as part of the AASA Innovation for Transformation Consortium, a program run by The School Superintendents Association (AASA) that brings district leaders together to observe student-centered learning. The site visit included stops at Farmington High School, the Davis Catalyst Center in Kaysville and Sunburst Elementary, one of the district's Teacher Academy schools.
Scott Roe, superintendent of High School District 214 in Illinois, said the relationships between staff and students stood out.
"The people have seemingly real relationships, which at my core, and I think most educators agree, relationships drive learning," Roe said, according to a Davis School District article about the visit.
At Farmington High School, visitors explored what the district described as innovative scheduling and learning opportunities. The district did not detail the specific scheduling model in its account of the visit.
At the Catalyst Center, students and teachers discussed career-focused experiences that help students build technical and professional skills. The Kaysville facility serves seventh- through 12th-grade students across the district with pathways including aviation, where students can work toward a private pilot's license through ground school courses.
At Sunburst Elementary, visitors observed classroom instruction tied to the district's Teacher Academy model.
Jenny Way, executive director of teaching and learning for Kankakee School District in Illinois, said in-person visits offer something virtual meetings cannot. She said being in schools and hearing from students directly is an experience lost through a screen, the district reported.
Zachary Ashley, an elementary principal at Beechwood Independent School District in Kentucky, said the consortium helps educators break out of isolation. He praised Farmington High School specifically, saying the space allows students to find their own pathway and take ownership of their learning, according to the district's account.
The visit included a leadership panel, conversations with principals and school leadership teams, and a student and teacher panel at the Catalyst Center. At each stop, visitors could ask questions and hear from the people running the programs.
The district's account did not include comments from the Davis School District superintendent, any Farmington High School administrators, Catalyst Center staff or Sunburst Elementary teachers.
