The September luncheon meeting of the Northern Hamilton County Chamber of Commerce, conducted at Hamilton Heights High School’s Anthony “Tony” Cook Media Center, featured a behind-the-scenes look at how Hamilton Heights School Corporation is transforming its learning environment, creating more opportunities for student achievement, and how the collaboration between the corporation and community engagement impacts student success.
Arrowood
Dr. Arrowood, who has been at the helm of the corporation for the past five years, is passionate about Heights, its students, faculty and staff.
Long viewed as a “best kept secret” in Hamilton County, Dr. Arrowood and his leadership team have set out to change that.
“We want people to know as much and be as enthusiastic about the corporation as we are,” said Dr. Arrowood, a graduate of Hamilton Heights, who is also a parent to one Heights graduate and a current student.
Accompanying Dr. Arrowood to the meeting were Public Affairs/Media Relations Officer Peggy Georgi, Hamilton Heights Educational Foundation President Melissa Martin, Primary School Media Center Specialist Karen Jones, Middle School Media Center Specialist Emily Beechler, and High School Industrial Technology and PLTW teacher Eric Fisher.
Georgi’s role is to help give Heights more visibility and help keep district residents connected and engaged with the corporation. Working closely with Heights leadership, educators and staff, she is spearheading a Community Engagement Focus task force designed to help spread the word about the many great things taking place at Hamilton Heights and foster more collaborative partnerships.
Martin shared with the group the role and function of the Heights Education Foundation, which has been investing in the future of Heights students for three decades. She shared recent projects funded through the Foundation and the impact on student learning.
Jones brought three students, one representing each grade level (kindergarten, first and second), to demonstrate their introduction to beginning computer programming skills through the building’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Lab. Foundation money help purchase tools to help change the way kids collaborate, create, think critically and communicate.
Beecher and her daughters, both in middle school, shared the success and impact of the new community bookmobile launched this summer. The bookmobile was well-received with over 500 books checked by both students and adults who don’t have access to books during the summer. She credits a strong team effort and a Foundation grant for bringing the bookmobile to reality.
Fisher brought several of his students to share a live demonstration on the capabilities of drone technology. The presentation also served as a real time exercise in preparation, teamwork, preparation, skill mastery and public speaking in which the students proved successful from beginning to end. The new drones, which also received funding from the Foundation, are being used in architecture, CAD, Civil Engineering and Digital Photography classes at the high school.
Arrowood credits great kids, outstanding educators, involved parents and a supportive community that continues to make Heights a school of choice and draw to the community. This year marks another record year of transfer-in students, which Arrowood noted is a direct result of a corporation that offers great value, opportunity and challenge.
Arrowood summed up that he is excited about the future of the corporation. “We are in good shape from our financial health to student performance … investments in student learning, staff development, facilities, safety and programming.”
Northern Hamilton County Chamber of Commerce President Wade Wiley agreed. Wiley, who works in the community, moved his family to the Heights district, a place he now calls home.