In Richland School District Two, we take pride in being the district of choice where every school is an excellent choice. Our top-tier workforce and school board demonstrate a strong commitment to helping all students develop the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate by continuously seeking opportunities for them to maximize their gifts and talents. As students pursue their pathways to purpose, Richland Two provides the resources needed to develop the World Class Skills of creativity and innovation; critical thinking and problem solving; collaboration and teamwork; communication, information, media and technology; and knowing how to learn.
Utilizing the BrightIdea Innovation & Idea Management platform, we are creating a culture of innovation by using crowdsourcing to challenge everyone in the district to bring forward their best thinking. Keep Calm and Take a Sensory Break is an innovative approach to training students who have sensory challenges in the primary grade levels. The Apprentice Workshop creates an authentic “business” where students would run a print shop operation and provide services to other schools. Richland Two joins the ranks of Clorox, Southwest Airlines, General Motors, United Airlines, Ralph Lauren, Dell, Amazon Robotics, Nike and many other companies using this platform to drive creativity and innovation.
Richland Two continues to add cutting-edge magnet programs to its illustrious line-up of offerings. A computer science immersion magnet is currently being implemented and elementary students will have an opportunity to develop coding skills as part of their daily curriculum. The purpose of this new magnet is to prepare students to become effective collaborators and communicators, computational and creative thinkers as well as problem solvers with a global perspective.
Students can choose from 39 magnet programs of which 13 are schoolwide, 22 school-within-a-school, and four are stand-alone centers. Our district is currently home to 16 nationally certified magnets at 11 schools, seven are Demonstration Magnet Schools. These schools have met rigorous Magnet School Standards of Excellence set by the National Institute for Magnet School Leadership. They serve as innovation laboratories for others to learn best practices in theme-based education. Leading the way at one of our high schools is the 2019 National Magnet School Principal of the Year.
Richland Two has its very own student innovation center known as R2i2 where students explore and enhance their critical thinking and problem solving skills. Students from each of our high schools travel to the Institute of Innovation to take courses during the school day in Apple application development, culinary arts, computer forensics, architectural design, clean energy applications, marketing and more. R2i2 students were named a 2018–2019 InvenTeam by the Lemelson-MIT Program for their work on a combined biodigester and solar power system for a school in Sare Bilaly, Senegal, which lacks power. R2i2 students were a national finalist in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest for creating electromagnetic door locks and curtains to quickly secure classrooms in the event of a school shooting.
The achievement gap for girls in STEM classes is closing at two of our high schools. The College Board recognized Blythewood High School and Ridge View High School for closing the achievement gap and expanding access to rigorous science, technology, engineering and math. Both schools achieved high female representation in AP Computer Science.
Being one of only two districts in the state to become a Purple Star School District underscores our commitment to supporting the unique situations facing military students and their families. Collaboration and teamwork are essential for this level of success in providing the necessary resources for military connected students as well as for all 28,400 students entering our classrooms. Nearly, 68 native languages are spoken representing 70 foreign countries and/or territories. Examining data and making data-informed decisions is one of five Principal Practices that provide the foundation for our work. Our data review process is cyclical, occurring on multiple occasions throughout the school year using a variety of data sets.
Richland Two is home to several nationally recognized students, teachers, and schools who demonstrate excellence in communications, information, media and technology. Blythewood High School and R2i2 student achieved an impressive technical designation and raised the bar for future district innovators. The student earned the internationally recognized credential of CATIA v5 Mechanical Surface Designer Specialist, a gold standard for design in the aerospace industry. Journalism students at Richland Northeast High School are producers of award-winning StudentCam documentaries that aired on C-SPAN, Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network. The Convergence Media Program also won the National Scholastic Press Association’s Broadcast Pacemaker award for RNE-Live TV. Jackson Creek Elementary received a Learning by Design Outstanding Project and A4LE merit award. The Class of 2019, consisting of 1,862 graduates, earned $147.4 million in scholarships. That’s a $34 million increase from two years prior.
It is important for teachers, administrators and staff to continuously nurture their talent by engaging in professional development opportunities. Fueling their passion to learn ignites learning in students. We developed an ILEAD model that emphasizes leading and learning from where you are. ILEAD components are: Inspire and develop others, Lead innovation and positive change, Exhibit a sense of urgency, Achieve and deliver premier results each day, Demonstrate integrity and character at all times. All of these are critical to student learning and to the growth of our school district.
I often encourage the entire Richland Two school system to show a relentless and unapologetic desire to become the state’s premier school district. Being premier means much more than high test scores and nice facilities. It’s about achieving what may seem impossible through being innovative, continuously giving your best effort, fostering diversity and inclusion, and developing a premier state of mind. In doing so, our students will continue to leave us knowing how to learn with the World Class Skills of the Profile of the South Carolina Graduate.
Sincerely,
Baron R. Davis, Ph.D.
Superintendent
