The Carlsbad Unified School District has been chosen as one of 51 recipients of the state’s leading educational honor, the Golden Bell Award. The Golden Bell Awards, now in their 39th year, are sponsored by the California School Boards Association to recognize outstanding public school programs for innovation, sustainability and best practices that facilitate positive student outcomes. Carlsbad Unified School District will receive its award at a recognition reception and ceremony on Thursday, November 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. at CSBA’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show in San Francisco at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis located at 780 Mission Street.
The program selected for this honor is the Sage Creek Genius Project. This a year-long, student-chosen, passion project. Students at Sage Creek High School are invited to choose their projects, execute their plan with assistance from community mentors, and then reflect on their experience in a TED-style talk presented to peers and community members. Students’ projects fulfill three criteria: passion, impact, and challenge. All students at Sage Creek participate in their senior year.
Sage Creek High School English teacher and Senior Lead for the Genius Project, Corrie Myers explained, “Our deepest hope for this project was that our students would realize their potential in ways the standard high school classroom doesn’t offer. Seeing every student in the senior class embark on this journey and reflect on both their failures and successes was a landmark experience for our school. We will go forward with confidence that ALL students are capable of developing a distinct passion that will position them to find purpose in themselves and in the world.”
To learn more about the Sage Creek Genius Project, visit the school’s website at https://sagecreekhs.carlsbadusd.net/geniusproject.
A 17-member judging panel made up of experts from school districts and county offices of education reviewed the written entries and made the initial recommendations for the awards. On-site validators assessed the programs in action. This year’s awards are presented to school districts and county offices of education helping students achieve through after-school programs, mentoring, instructional interventions, use of data and other innovations.
“The Golden Bell recipients exemplify the spirit of innovation and excellence for which all of California’s public schools strive,” said CSBA CEO & Executive Director Vernon M. Billy. “The Golden Bell Awards reflect the depth and breadth of outstanding education offerings in our state, and demonstrate the tenacity, vision and dedication of school leaders across California.” To learn more about the Golden Bell awards, visit the California School Boards Association’s Golden Bell website at https://gb.csba.org/.
