R2 Innovates:
R2 Innovates:
Blending Technology, Creativity & Design
Blending Technology, Creativity & Design
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Mission of R2 Innovates:
We surface promising ideas that push the boundaries of what is possible in education. We facilitate opportunities for our partners to develop as designers, creatives, and problem solvers.
Vision for R2 Innovates:
A creative Richland Two community that is actively building solutions through human-centered design.
For the 2025-2026 strategic plan and additional innovation framework components, LINK HERE.
The Story of R2 Innovates:
R2 Innovates, an incubator, lab, and hub for innovation, was created in 2013 to encourage Richland Two staff members to develop innovative practices that support district priorities. We believe teachers and staff members have great ideas that can bring positive change with the right mentoring, resources, and support.
We started small with an innovation space in a portable classroom on the campus of Ridge View High School. In 2014, the portable was damaged by a fire, but we kept on going. We like to say that our ideas really caught fire! Over the years, our innovation initiatives have grown, and we now have a wonderful "Design Playground" in the Student Innovation Center at R2i2.
The 2022-2023 school year marked the 10th year anniversary of the incubator, and after getting through a worldwide pandemic, we were back in full gear. Now in the 2025-2026 school year, we are excited to roll out even more avenues for growing design thinking practices around the district!
R2 Innovates has two full-time employees. The Innovation Program Designer Nathan O'Neill and the Innovation Program Specialist Dr. Kedralyn Folk. There is also an Innovation Coaching Team made up of mentors that support our teams.
In addition to the incubator, Nathan and Kedralyn work with the district, school, and community on passion projects, challenges, and new innovative initiatives, so reach out if you want to work with us.
Check out the Design Playground!
Richland Two Innovation Design Model
We value:
Providing partners the time, space, and resources to solve their own challenges.
Sensemaking as essential to understanding our environment and ensuring the best paths forward.
Problem-solving as a shared experience between all partners around Richland Two.
Moonshot (10X) thinking to help us achieve breakthrough solutions that are viable, feasible, and desirable.
Emerging technologies like AI and how they can be leveraged to make the impossible possible.
New modalities of learning which prepare students with world-class knowledge and skills to embody the Profile of a SC Graduate which help them productively engage in a rapidly evolving time.
Failure and productive conflict as essential parts of innovation, experimentation, and transformation.
Leadership as a must in creating the conditions where true innovative change can flourish.
Restlessness towards and skepticism of the status quo.
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