Spartanburg School District Seven Selected to Join the Nation’s League of Innovative Schools

Spartanburg School District Seven has been named one of 11 new members accepted into the League of Innovative Schools, by Digital Promise, a national, independent nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to accelerate innovation in education.

As the only district from South Carolina tapped for membership this fall, District Seven was selected from a competitive and national pool of applicants based on its leadership, evidence of results, innovative vision for learning, and commitment to collaboration. The League now includes 57 districts and education agencies that collectively represent more than 3 million students across 27 states.

“This is a tremendous honor that certainly underscores our goal to be a model School District in the Southeast and one of the most innovative school districts in South Carolina,” said District Seven Superintendent, Dr. Russell Booker. “Our journey to this juncture is directly tied to our dedication to enhance the educational experience of our students. Our one-to-one digital initiative, 7 Ignites, has placed a mobile learning device in the hands of every District 7 student from grades 3 through 12. The result is a level of student engagement that is exciting to see and an opportunity to accelerate our children’s ability to harness the power of technology and digital learning. Equally important, it levels the playing field for our children by eliminating the digital divide.”

In joining the League, members commit to share lessons learned, participate in national and regional forums, and partner with research institutions, technology developers, and one another to deliver better results for students. A vibrant ecosystem working together on shared priorities, the League aims to foster greater innovation in learning and leadership practices.

“Our League of Innovative Schools serves to spotlight the promising practices for realizing the power of technology and innovation,” said Karen Cator, president and chief executive officer of Digital Promise. “We are thrilled to welcome these inspiring school leaders into our network as we join together to improve the opportunity to learn for the nation’s K-12 students.”

As an active member of TransformSC, a statewide initiative in South Carolina supporting innovation in public education, “we’re pleased to see District 7 join four other TransformSC districts in the League of Innovative Schools – Lexington District One, Horry County Schools, Richland Two, and York District Three”, said Mike Brennan, State President of BB&T and Co-Chair of TransformSC. “Dr. Booker has embedded technology into instruction and learning throughout the district and has implemented new models such as early colleges and an elementary leadership academy that truly make a difference to students.”

“Each new district brings an innovative vision and unique perspective that will add to the already rich network in the League,” said Sara Schapiro, director of the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools. “The wealth of experience and expertise these educators bring to the League will help us move the needle on important challenges facing education, ultimately improving outcomes for the most important stakeholders – students.”

New members will be officially welcomed Oct. 5-7, at the National League of Innovative Schools meeting in Washington, D.C. League superintendents will have the opportunity to visit schools within District of Columbia Public Schools and identify shared challenges to pursue with other League members.

For information on the Digital Promise League of Innovative Schools visit: http://www.digitalpromise.org/league