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District expands "profile of a learner" and plans student defenses for 5th, 8th and senior classes
Summary
Chief academic officer Amanda Butler told the Spencer County Board of Education the district piloted student defenses this year across grade bands, developed aligned rubrics, and will expand defenses to all fifth graders, eighth graders and seniors next year with earlier preparation and technology support.
Amanda Butler, the district's chief academic officer, told the Spencer County Board of Education on July 22 that Spencer County's pilot of a "profile of a learner" and student defenses showed promising results and will expand next year.
"We really introduced our profile of a learner last year...so this year as we slowly rolled out our profile," Butler said, describing work to create rubrics across elementary, middle and high school and to pilot defenses in classrooms and as public presentations. She said the high school's existing senior project was integrated with the new competency-based rubric rather than replaced.
Butler outlined logistics used by different schools: one fifth-grade teacher carried a full-class pilot at Spencer County Elementary; teams at Taylorville scheduled students in two-admin-office settings with TV screens to make presentations feel formal; the middle school used the library; and the high school staged presentations at the extension office with food and formal scheduling. She said some eighth graders chose to present to panels of strangers and that virtual students were supported with Zoom conferences.
Board members and Butler reflected on lessons learned and next steps. Butler recommended introducing the defenses and evidence-collection earlier in students's careers so they can build portfolios over time, and she urged schools to require students to select at least one academic and one nonacademic competency to demonstrate well-rounded growth. "I think the sooner students learn that you realize there's always places to grow," Butler said.
The presentation also identified supports the district will add: structured rubrics for each grade band, technology assistance for students producing Google Slides or Google Sites, and earlier scheduling so defenses do not conflict with testing. Butler noted the district will bring the rubrics to the board packet in a future distribution.
The board thanked Butler and the principals who led pilots. No formal action was required; Butler's presentation will guide implementation planning for the coming school year, with the district moving to scale defenses for fifth graders, eighth graders and seniors.
The board moved on to other agenda items after the presentation.
