As a leader in the education sector, Dr. Jill Gildea, Superintendent of the Park City School District in Utah, is committed to prioritizing the needs of students and creating inclusive learning environments. Her focus on equity and personalized learning using technology has positioned her district as a model for others to follow.
Dr. Gildea identifies five leadership priorities that guide her decision-making and approach to education. The first priority is prioritizing student learning. To achieve this, her district has implemented innovative and effective teaching methods that focus on the individual needs of each student.
The second priority is creating inclusive learning environments. This includes creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere in which all students feel valued and included. Diversity and inclusion are central to this priority, and the district ensures that every student feels seen and heard in the classroom.
The district's mission to inspire and support all students equitably to achieve their academic and social potential underpins all its activities. This focus on equity involves a painstaking examination of the disparities that exist within the educational system, especially when it comes to the outcomes that underrepresented groups experience. By prioritizing equitable practices and outcomes for students, the Park City School District is working to bridge these gaps.
The district's vision is centered around the national definition of whole-child education. This means that the district takes a student-centered approach that emphasizes the holistic development of learners. Each student is seen as a whole person, and the district works to ensure that they are safe, supported, engaged, challenged, and healthy.
To enhance its efforts to personalize the learner experience, the Park City School District has embraced technology. The district recognizes that tech-enabled learning can be more engaging, effective, and personalized for learners. This includes the use of online platforms, digital tools, and adaptive programs that can cater to the unique needs and learning styles of individual students.
Finally, Dr. Gildea and her team believe in amplifying learner agency, voice, and choice. They encourage students to take ownership of their learning, enabling them to make choices about their education and be active participants in their own learning journey.
Dr. Jill Gildea's leadership priorities have enabled the Park City School District to become a model for educational excellence. By prioritizing student learning, creating inclusive environments, emphasizing equity, focusing on whole-child education, using technology, and amplifying learner agency, the district is making education more effective, engaging, and personalized for all its students. For educators looking to improve their approach to education, these priorities offer a useful roadmap for success.
