One class of students from Elizabethton High School continue to see their story of “rethinking high school” get shared to a worldwide audience.
Sociology students under the guidance of Mr. Alex Campbell were awarded a $200,000 and additional $1,000 per student scholarship by XQ America last year during the organization’s Super School Project.
Their story is now featured in a special interactive webpage on the USA Today website that documents each various school involved with the project. EHS’ project, deemed the “Bartleby Project,” was one of the 13 schools featured.
“Being able to witness all of the hard work and determination that the students put into this project be rewarded on such a large scale is truly humbling,” Dustin Hensley, EHS library media specialist and journalism adviser, told the Elizabethton Star Tuesday. “It shows how much potential that we have here in Elizabethton and Carter County, and now the rest of the country and even the world can see what amazing students we have here. They deserve every bit of recognition that they receive. I hope that it inspires educators to amplify the importance of student voice.”
Campbell, Hensley and Daniel Proffitt were the instructors involved with the project. XQ visited EHS at the first of the year to receive input from students and community partners. Individuals involved with the meetings included Carter County Tourism Coordinator Kayla Carter, Chandrea Shell with Milligan College and the Youth Leadership Program, Elizabethton Police Chief Jason Shaw and City Director of Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour.
The funding provided by XQ is allowing the school to set up two classes — Bartleby Entrepreneurship and Bartleby Community Improvement — that will be unveiled during the 2017-18 school year.
Along with the meetings with community leaders and students, the film crew with XQ interviewed Jilian Reece with the Carter County Community Advisory Board and Thomas Davis with Edward Jones Investments detailing their excitement and involvement with the two classes.
The students and faculty within the city school system have been going nonstop over the months to make sure these ideas created by the students are fully implemented.
“Since the live stream, I have opened my mind to the fact that even the work I do as a high school student has a broader impact on society than I previously thought possible,” student Cody Dugger said. “My efforts are going to change Elizabethton High School, and it is amazing to see that even this early in my life. I can make a change that will affect generations of students.”
Bartleby also saw the installation of a student liaison position be put in place by the Elizabethton City School Board of Education. This year’s liaison, Cory Fitzsimmons, voted on by students, has been involved with meetings and is part of the board to be a “voice for students.” Each year, the liaison will be voted upon to serve with school officials.
“For the students that were involved in the project, we are expecting great things from them in their futures,” Hensley said. “They have already began changing the conversation about education, and my hope for them is that they continue on this path as future school board members, policy makers and informed citizens that can make a huge influence for years to come.”
Visit usatoday.com/pages/interactives/sponsor-story/xq/ to view the special interactive webpage. EHS’ video can be accessed by scrolling down the page and clicking on the video titled “The Bartleby School”. For updates on the project, visit the Elizabethton City Schools and XQ America Facebook pages online.