On Aug. 7, the school district of University City held its opening day celebration themed after a beloved St. Louis institution: the Cardinals. But as fun as Fredbird is, the real star of the event was Learning Reimagined, a modern educational approach being implemented in the district.

Introduced in March, Learning Reimagined strives to adapt education to fit the changing world through its three pillars to humanize, personalize and problematize learning. “Incoming kindergarteners will be the high school graduating class of 2030,” says district superintendent Dr. Sharonica Hardin-Bartley. “The careers they will explore do not exist yet. Their educational experience has to be more innovative.” Learning Reimagined looks to expand the classroom to meet the technological and global changes students will be dealing with after high school graduation.

This means a greater focus on STEM-related topics. “From a pencil to a drone, there is technology in everything we do,” Hardin-Bartley says. “We need to expose students to this in a meaningful way to shape well-rounded individuals who are ready for the world, ready for life.” One way the approach seeks to achieve this is through problematizing learning, which means project-based learning and getting students involved with the community. University City schools have partnerships with institutions like Washington University, COCA, Buck Institute for Education, Alive and Well STL, Santa Fe Center for Transformational School Leadership, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Missouri, FIRST Robotics and The Green Center. “By working together, we can and will accomplish much,” Hardin-Bartley says.

Through Learning Reimagined, Hardin-Bartley hopes to see a heightened level of student engagement and increased performance. “When students are agents of their own learning and have a voice, they own their education,” she says. The pillars of humanizing and personalizing education strive to ensure all students feel they have the means to succeed. The project aims to maximize students’ engagement with their education. Part of this is making students feel comfortable. “We are creating a safe space for learning to happen,” HardinBartley explains. “We are addressing the socioemotional needs of students, families and teachers. There’s a place for every child to find his or her voice.”

While the primary goals are to engage and help students, Hardin-Bartley is confident the new approach will benefit teachers as well. “Learning Reimagined is a chance for teachers to be more innovative outside the classroom,” she says. “It enables them to maximize their strengths as well as those of their students whose different skills can enhance the learning environment.”

For Hardin-Bartley, there is a very personal incentive to implement these changes in the school district: Her daughter will be a member of the graduating class of 2030. “When it gets tough, I think of the 2,800 students I serve,” she says. “One of them is my daughter. I can’t think of a more impactful connection I could have to this work. Learning Reimagined is where education needs to move, and University City is ready to lead.”

Pictured: Superintendent Dr. Sharonica Hardin-Bartley

The School District of University City has been serving the local community for more than 100 years, endeavoring to transform the lives of all students. University City High School’s open house is Oct. 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. at 7401 Balson Ave. For more information, visit ucityschools.org. 

Cover design by Julie Streiler | Cover photos courtesy of The School District of University City