BY JASON GARDNER
Today’s world is changing at unprecedented speeds, and today’s schools need to do more than just teach facts. They need to teach students how to take charge of their own success. That’s the main idea behind one of the Mooresville Graded School District’s core values: Empowerment.
What does empowerment mean for MGSD? It means ensuring students, families, and staff have a say in how the schools grow. It also means building a culture where new, innovative ideas are always welcome. MGSD isn’t just talking about this value; we are using key programs to make it happen every day.
The first building block of empowerment is trust, and that’s where Capturing Kids’ Hearts (CKH) comes in. This program helps teachers and students connect on a deeper level. When students feel safe, seen, and respected—when their “hearts are captured”—they are much more likely to speak up, take learning risks, and fully engage. CKH moves classrooms away from just following rules and toward working together as a team, making students genuine partners in their education.
We also foster academic and social empowerment through our in-school student clubs, which are offered at each school. Students have a voice and choice over what clubs are offered and which clubs they want to participate in. This allows our students to explore their passions in an effort to help them determine future pathways. When students have a better understanding of their passions and interests, they can take full advantage of the variety of courses, internships, and other opportunities available at the high school level. This ensures our students are future ready, no matter if that future includes enrollment in a higher education program, employment directly out of high school, or enlistment in the military. Ultimately, clubs create a supportive community where students’ voices are heard and their ideas are valued, transforming them from passive learners into active contributors who are prepared to take initiative.
Our work on the Skills for the Future initiative, in partnership with the Carnegie Foundation and ETS, focuses on life skills that last a lifetime: critical thinking, working with others, communicating clearly, and being adaptable. By prioritizing these skills, MGSD gets students ready not just for the next test, but for the jobs, colleges, and challenges of the future. The students who leave MGSD are prepared to lead and innovate in a world that is always moving.
These programs are a small sampling showing that MGSD’s core value of empowerment is real — not just something written on a wall. They also are working. The growth of our students on state testing is proving what we thought all along – empower students and they will grow both academically and socially/emotionally. MGSD is creating an environment where taking control of your learning and future is the main goal.
For everyone in the community, this is an investment worth celebrating. MGSD’s strategic focus on empowerment is creating students who are resilient, self-aware, and fully prepared to succeed.
Jason Gardner, EdD, is the superintendent of the Mooresville Graded School District.
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