CCSD Innovation Definition
/In·no·va·tion/
We tend to think of big ideas (technology, expensive products, etc), but perhaps it's also "Small intentional moves with BIG impacts."
The Office of Innovation, Strategy, and Governance supports schools by coming alongside to navigate the innovation process and to help LSGTeams take bold action on the road to transformation. We work with LSGTeams to assist in realizing their vision and innovative solutions by connecting them with resources, other educators, or other Charter Systems who are doing similar work to transform student learning and success.
Hilsman Health Center
The Hilsman Health Center caters to the physical, dental, and behavioral health needs of all Clarke County School District students, faculty, and staff. Some of the services offered at the health center include providing flu shots and immunizations, granting annual wellness visits, helping set up health insurance, and treating sick students.
The center features a waiting area, lab room, restroom, dentistry office, lounge room for counseling services, exam rooms, and an office.
The Piedmont Athens Regional Foundation contributed $300,000 to help launch Clarke County School District's plan into action. Athens Neighborhood Health Center will provide medical and dental services, and Advantage Behavioral Health Systems will supply mental health professionals.
Clarke Middle Health Center
Clarke Middle Health Center is an extension of the Athens Free Clinic, under the Augusta University/University of Georgia Medical Partnership. CMHC also serves as a service-learning site for medical students. In addition to medical services, the clinic also offers free legal and behavioral health/counseling services through partnerships with the Community Health Law Partnership (Community HeLP) clinic through UGA's School of Law, UGA’s ASPIRE Clinic at the College of Family and Consumer Sciences, La Clínica in LaK’ech at UGA's Mary Frances Early College of Education, and UGA’s School of Social Work.
CMHC is a school-based health center that opened in 2022 and was funded in the initial pilot year (2022-23 school year) by a nearly $100,000 grant through UGA’s Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grant program. The clinic is open daily, Monday-Friday, when schools are in session, though for the most up-to-date hours, please check the calendar below.
While the clinic is currently housed in a modular unit on the school campus, a permanent clinic space will be included in the future Clarke Middle building.
TED-Ed Student Talks
TED-Ed sparks and celebrates the ideas of teachers and students around the world. TED-ED supports learning by helping curious students bring TED to their schools and gain presentation literacy skills. TED-Ed will invite teachers and clubs to connect globally throughout the year. TED-Ed has grown from an idea worth spreading into an award-winning education platform that serves millions of teachers and students worldwide every day.
Leader in Me
Leader in Me is an evidence-based, comprehensive model that builds leadership and life skills in students, creates a high-trust school culture, and lays the foundation for sustained academic achievement. There are over 5,000 Leader in Me schools in all 50 states and over 50 countries. The mission is to unleash the greatness in students, educators, and school communities everywhere.
Flex Forward
FlexForward is a tiered model allowing the district, schools, and Local School Governance Teams (LSGTeam) to request autonomy from many district
policies. The Flex Forward process is meant to allow schools to overcome barriers to student success by allowing them to implement innovative solutions tailored to their local needs.
Get Comfortable Literacy Mentor Program
In pursuit of raising our county’s 3rd grade reading proficiency, we’re conducting a pilot program at H.B. Stroud Elementary, with the aim of achieving a proof of concept that we plan to subsequently roll out district-wide. We’ve locked arms with Books For Keeps—a local agency aimed at reducing literacy loss—to launch our Reading to Learn literacy mentorship program.
Through this partnership, Creature employees and community volunteers are oriented, trained, and paired with select 2nd or 3rd-grade Stroud students for the duration of the school year. As a result, each participating student is exposed to an additional hour of literacy instruction every week.
