The Bringing Innovative Best Practices to Scale project recently tapped Troup County School System as a district to study as part of their country-wide project initiative. TCSS is the first district to be selected for this honor based on the district’s system-wide dedication to innovative practices focused on student learning and achievement.

The project is a collaboration between the American Association of School Administrators and the Successful Practices Network. It is sponsored by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. As an Innovative Best Practices District, the work in Troup County will be studied by a team from SPN focusing on five domains:

• Foundation Learning

• Stretch Learning

• Learner Engagement

• Personal Skill Development

• Innovation

“This is a great honor to be named as the first district of study for the project. It shows the best practices we are implementing are on track for student learning and achievement,” said Dr. Cole Pugh, Superintendent of TCSS.

One example of the innovative practices on student learning was shared by Troup High School at the National Model Schools Conference in Nashville, TN. With over 5,000 educators from across the country in attendance, five Troup High representatives presented to a standing-room-only crowd on It’s Time to be a Difference Maker. Principal Dennis ‘Chip’ Medders, along with LaToya Woodyard, Tabitha Stephens, Michelle Ashmore, and Kayla Yeargin received the top-rated session from attendee session evaluations.

The identified best practices from TCSS, as well as from other schools and districts from around the United States, will inform a series of case studies and policy recommendations for local, state and national leaders.

“Troup County Schools continue to serve as a national model of innovative approaches to ensuring all students are engaged, stretched and supported in their learning and achievement. That is why we have selected Troup County as our first Innovative Best Practices District,” stated Dr. Bill Daggett, Founder and Chair of SPN. “This impactful project will give educators around the country the opportunity to learn from the great work going on in Troup County, as well as other schools and districts to be named. It is an honor and a privilege to continue to partner with Troup County and to highlight the many successes there.”