Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Early Learning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board highlights Highland Oaks' play-based TK approach and district scalability
Summary
Board members and Highland Oaks leadership described play-based TK and kindergarten work at Highland Oaks, praised student engagement and intentional instruction, and discussed how the practice might inform district-wide early learning strategies.
Board members described Highland Oaks' 'power of play' learning-walk as showing intentional, research-informed play-based instruction in TK and kindergarten that also connected to later grades. Dr. Forsey framed the visit as an example of how classroom practices "matriculate up through 5th grade," and board members repeatedly praised the cohesion of learning across grade levels.
Principal Champion, who co-presented with Meredith Hawkins and Monique Homan, thanked the board and described students "guiding their own learning alongside their peers," calling the work a result of staff dedication. The board noted specific classroom examples — play-based math activities, gamified writing exercises, and inclusive Special Day classroom practices — and discussed how the district might observe and scale effective practices from Highland Oaks to other sites.
The item was presented as information and elicited several board affirmations; no formal motions or directives were recorded during the meeting.
