Sep 26 2025

Excellence in Motion

A Look Inside the 30-in-30 School Initiative

As the first bells of the 2025-2026 school year rang, district leadership embarked on a mission to connect directly with the heart of our school communities. The 30-in-30 approach saw Superintendent Dr. Crystal Hill visit 30 schools in the first 30 days as an opportunity to listen, learn, and engage with the people who bring our schools to life every day.

24,343 Students Impacted

By walking the hallways, sitting in on classes, and speaking with students, teachers, and staff, Dr. Hill is gathering firsthand insights into the daily triumphs and challenges across the district. This approach underscores a core belief: to lead a school system effectively, one must understand its heartbeat, which is interwoven in the classrooms, playgrounds, and cafeterias of its schools.

228 Miles Traveled County-Wide

The Heart of Educational Impact

This commitment was built on a core philosophy: True educational impact is measured in the endless possibilities we create when we show up, connect authentically, and invest in every single story within our district. This is a shared mission, brought to life through three key actions:

Showing Up: Presence is powerful. When leadership is physically present, it sends a clear message of support and validation. It tells teachers their hard work is seen, it shows students their voices matter, and it assures parents the district's decisions are grounded in the real-world experiences of their children.
Connecting Authentically: An authentic connection happens when a leader listens more than they speak, asks thoughtful questions, and shares in the joy of a student's discovery or a teacher's innovative lesson. These moments build trust and foster a collaborative culture where everyone feels valued.
Investing in Every Story: Our district is a rich tapestry of unique stories. Every student, teacher, and staff member has a set of strengths, challenges, and aspirations. Investing time to listen to these stories communicates that each person is essential. It reinforces that the success of every individual is integral to the collective success of our entire school community.

The Multiplier Effect of Leadership

The true power of this philosophy lies in its multiplier effect—the idea that focused moments of connection can ripple outward, creating widespread and lasting positive change. This is not a simple one-to-one equation; it's an exponential one.

One visit becomes a thousand conversations. A single visit can ignite district-wide conversations about innovation, impact, and student achievement. These school visits create ripple effects throughout the district—teachers discuss fresh perspectives, staff meetings buzz with new ideas, and students proudly share their experiences with family.

One connection becomes a lifetime of possibilities. A five-minute conversation with a student could be the spark that ignites their passion for a new subject or gives them the confidence to pursue a dream. A word of encouragement to a teacher wrestling with a new curriculum could reaffirm their dedication to the profession. These single points of contact can alter the trajectory of a person's life.

One invested moment becomes an endless cycle of positive impact. When students feel seen and teachers feel supported, they invest more of themselves in the educational process. This creates a self-sustaining cycle of positivity. Supported teachers create more engaging lessons, engaged students learn more deeply, and their success inspires the entire school community. The focused time and attention during each visit multiplies across the school community, building a sustainable culture of excellence and innovation that grows long after the day ends.