LITTLE ROCK -- Cutter Morning Star is one of 15 Arkansas schools to join the Summit Learning Program this year.
More than 300 teachers and leaders from Arkansas, Alabama and North Carolina traveled to Little Rock last month as part of Summit Learning's summer training, held in 13 different cities across the country this month.
Educators aligned on the vision of Summit Learning and, with the help of Summit mentors, dove deep into subject-specific projects to prepare for the school year. Cutter Morning Star High School Principal Nathan Sullivan said he wanted the school to join the Summit Learning Program with a sense of urgency.
Three-quarters of students enrolled in the district live below the poverty line. The district struggles with turnover, with five high school principals in the last six years.
Sullivan said he asked his staff early in the week if they bought in to Summit Learning. He said the teachers unanimously felt it was worth it.
Cutter Morning Star Elementary School Principal Jann Gibson said Summit Learning allows teachers to "multiply ourselves." She said she always longed for a personalized learning system in her classroom, but burned out trying to do it all herself.
The goal-setting aspect of the Summit Learning approach appealed to both Gibson and Sullivan. Students returned to campus on Monday for the 2017-18 school year.
School on 08/20/2017