Student David Eisler-Campbell used to hate school and was absolutely miserable.
“We were at our wits. We didn’t know what to do until a colleague recommended the Corbin School of Innovation (SOI),” his mother, Dr. Heather Eisler-Campbell, told the Corbin Independent Board of Education during its monthly meeting Monday.
“We talked to folks. We knew he loved the Montessori method and we switched him there. It has been a transformational experience for him. He went from a kid, who we were dragging out of the car trying to get him to go to school, to one where he is dragging me out of the house. His little brother does it too.”
Corbin SOI has been offering specialized educational programs since 1994 although it initially didn’t have that name. It differs from traditional schools in that it focuses on individual student needs and developing an educational program that will allow them to accelerate or self-pace as needed.
“We want to make learning a vibrant, engaging experience. Our goal is to foster a learning environment where students feel like their voice is heard, that we provide them with personalized learning, and that through our efforts we can help them not just learn but to become whatever they want to become,” said teacher Cari Calico.
The school has evolved since its creation to include Montessori and virtual instruction that was taking place well before COVID-19 struck, said Corbin SOI Director Mark Daniels.
One of the key differences between traditional classroom settings and Corbin SOI is flexibility, which may mean different things for different students.
For instance, sixth grader Scarlet Stansbury told the board that she has gotten to accelerate her reading and math studies. She is currently doing algebra, and is one of those students, who look forward to classes starting back after summer vacation.
Fifth grader David Eisler-Campbell noted that one of the things he really likes about the school of innovation is being able to do math above his own grade level.
High school student Aiden Mills told the board that he enjoys the flexible schedule, which allows him to participate in wrestling, boxing and hold down a part-time job too. The flex program enables him to learn how he wants when he wants to.
He added that the Montessori system teaches the students real world skills, which has enabled some to start their own business.
Daniels said that the school also enables many students to finish their diplomas while also working if they need to do so.
For instance, some students have to hold down a job because mom and dad aren’t around and they are trying to support themselves and sometimes younger siblings.
“I can tell you a ton of stories, and a lot of those stories evolved into what we are now,” Daniels said.
In addition to the non-traditional instruction, the school also uses a Montessori approach for other students, which is about project based learning.
“Students get out and they apply what they have learned to working in the community and those type of things,” Daniels said.
Board member Paul Taylor said one thing, which really impressed him, is the attendance rate for the school, which is 97.6 percent.
Board member Carcille Burchette said that a common thread she heard from all three students is that they love school.
“I am a firm believer in that if you can get a child to love school, half the battle is that,” she said.
The school of innovation currently has 171 full-time students.
Also during Monday’s meeting, the board appointed Burchette to serve as the board’s representative on the district facilities plan committee.
Every four years school districts are required to put together a district facilities plan, which is essentially a wish list of school district building projects and a ranking of those projects.
Superintendent Dave Cox said that the district is probably going to ask the state to just allow it to use the plan from four years ago as there is very little that needs to be done in terms of building projects.
Over the last four years, the district has done a major renovation of the football stadium, installed turf fields for softball and baseball, constructed the Corbin High School Athletic Commons facility to service tennis, track, cross country and softball needs. This month the new auxiliary gym is expected to go to bid stage.
Cox said that the next significant building project will be some remodeling at the high school, such as partial roof replacement over the freshmen wing and media center and some new HVAC work for part of the building.
“After that, we are in really good shape,” he added.
