Nine years ago, I was given the opportunity to connect with high school seniors during a project called "Helping Hands" by Mrs. Gates.  I can vividly remember being an eight year-old student, eager and nervous to work alongside seniors who I looked up to with admiration. Being guided out of my comfort zone is where empowerment and growth began to sprout within me. I not only gained a sense of empowerment by engaging with students who were significantly more experienced than me, I felt empowered to step outside of my comfort zone more often.

(Kamryn, GHS Senior)

The undeniable growth in social skills I encountered at that time has led me to the opportunity which I am faced today. An opportunity to explore vertical collaboration, not as an elementary student, but as a high school senior. Exploring my strengths has been a common theme of this project - the most prominent being organization, time management, and communication. I am completely new to the realm of conducting a senior project, and being able to complete a project alongside the teachers that guided me through my youth and have impacted who I am today is something I will forever be grateful for.                       

(Kamryn, GHS Senior)

Lastly, the evolution of my academic career has been affected more by vertical collaboration than one could imagine. I have been given opportunities other students dream of, such as visiting the Capitol, renewing a courtyard, and most importantly, ending my high school career with Mrs. Gates, the same mentor who lead me through my elementary career. Looking back, I feel nothing but gratitude for my experiences with vertical collaboration, and I can't wait to see how the skills I gain from this chapter in my life will continue to benefit me during my collegiate education.

(Kamryn, GHS Senior)

For the past thirteen years, I have had the pleasure of teaching for a county that empowers teachers to take the reins on curriculum design and instruction.  As I settled into my role in upper elementary education at Randolph, I quickly realized that my newfound creative freedom didn’t just enable me to design unique and engaging experiences for my classes.  It also empowered my students to speak up and have a voice in how and what they learned. From opportunities like building an outdoor learning space, to raising money for important causes, to collaborating vertically with students a decade apart… I have seen empowered students bring their learning to life AND have a lasting impact on their community.

(Mrs. Jennifer Gates, 5th Grade Teacher)

Students and teachers who are empowered to push beyond the basics of the SOLs are willing to step outside of their comfort zones and reach for growth.  They become comfortable constructing and participating in meaningful and memorable lessons, and thus they are truly allowed to explore.  My favorite quote connected to education is, “Tell me and I forget.  Teach me and I remember.  Involve me and I learn.” (Ben Franklin)  Exploration at any age leads to ownership of new knowledge and new skills, as well as helps us to find ourselves and our place in the world. Curious kids are destined to make a difference...we just have to give them time and the opportunities to discover how they can shine.

(Mrs. Jennifer Gates, 5th Grade Teacher)

As we grow and learn together, we evolve to be stronger and more dynamic humans with a greater sense of self-understanding and purpose.  I am always amazed at how collaborative experiences that synthesize core content and 21st century skills can take a group of students and suddenly transform them into young adults capable of holding their own in the world.  Both children and adults experience an evolution as they are provided diverse opportunities to absorb new knowledge and essential skills.  We adapt, mature, and shift our mindsets to allow us to maximize our potential.  Naturally, as our society evolves, our educational practices must also change and grow.     

(Mrs. Jennifer Gates, 5th Grade Teacher)