TAYLORVILLE, Ill. (WAND) - Students at Taylorville High School welcomed State Superintendent of Education Tony Sanders Tuesday to showcase the programs and innovations shaping their learning experience.Â
"I'm proud of everything that's happening here in Taylorville, but I would say the number one is the culture of this school district. Every student I talked to here today has a sense of purpose," Sanders said.Â
Students at Taylorville High have a variety of enrichment activities both in and outside of the classroom.
"Tommy TV" is the school's student-led broadcast network where athletic games are broadcast live. In addition to the broadcast, principal Matt Hutchison says half of the student body is in the FFA Program. Known as the Future Farmers' Program, the program teaches students about agriculture. Â
"There's so many careers and opportunities for students who are involved in FFA, and does a lot for students and their futures," Hutchison said. Â
The ultimate goal of the school's programming is for students to dream big and be confident.Â
"My after high school plans would be to go to a university to pursue agriculture, communications and hopefully a D-1, [D-2] program. And I think high school has definitely given me the opportunities to pursue that," said senior student Ella Hohenstein. Â
Sanders said there are common priorities for schools across the state. Â
"Most districts are investing more time and energy focusing on student literacy, moving towards the science of reading. The other thing, obviously, is safety and student mental health," Sanders said. Â
Principal Hutchinson says success is measured beyond test scores, but it's the opportunities that are given at the school to prepare students for their future.
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