Sam Dick
Over the last four years, Caverna Independent Superintendent Sam Dick has led the focus on college- and career-readiness at Caverna High School, increasing partnerships with local industry and implementing “The Leader in Me” program at the elementary and middle schools.
In 2010, only two percent of the graduating class was considered college- and career-ready. However, in the 2012-13 school year, 44.8 percent of seniors were deemed college- and career-ready. In 2010, Caverna High School ranked 22nd out of 229 schools in Kentucky in mathematics; after the 2012-13 school year, the high school ranked fifth in the state in mathematics. Superintendent Dick attributes this success to the hard work of the teachers and staff at the high school.
Increasing community partnerships is another exciting initiative that is ongoing in the district. The high school is currently pursuing a grant that would allow them to partner with a local industry to start an industrial maintenance program. The students will benefit by completing the program and have the opportunity to complete nearly half of the credits needed for an associate’s degree in industrial maintenance. This will be one of the only programs of its type in the state.
Caverna Middle School is working on partnering with Dart Container to start an agriculture/gardening program. The students will be building raised beds for flowers, edible berries, and vegetables that will be donated to the community or back to the school lunch program.
“The Leader in Me” program is in full swing at Caverna Elementary School and seeing positive results. Students are goal-setting with the end in mind and working toward reaching those goals. Disciplinary referrals are down, and the program has had a positive impact on the culture of the school. Caverna Middle School will implement the program when school resumes in August and expects the same positive results.
Editor’s Note: Last month Superintendent Sam Dick announced he would retire from the district after 32 years. His replacement has not been announced.
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