Seminole schools make history as finalist in national high school redesign competition

Seminole County Public Schools’ (SCPS) Super School design submission, PSI (Problem Solving Incubator) High, has advanced to the final stage of the largest open call for public high school redesign in American history. If chosen as a top five winning team, the XQ Super School Project will grant $10 million in funding for SCPS to establish and sustain their PSI High school design right here in Seminole County.   
SCPS Superintendent Dr. Walt Griffin, along with the School Board, spearheaded the initial application for this competition on February 11, 2016 and SCPS has since advanced through as one of 200 qualifying teams from across the nation. "I knew right away that this was an opportunity we couldn't pass up. We've been given the chance to create a revolutionary school that will fulfill the needs of generations to come," said Griffin. Winning this competition would mean big changes and national attention for the Seminole County school district, as well as the surrounding Central Florida area.  
On May 23, 2016, SCPS submitted a detailed proposal for the school as the final portion of the application process. "PSI High is designed to focus on the real-world application of concepts learned in the classroom. Students would partner with local businesses and government agencies to solve actual problems occurring within their own communities," said PSI High Project Manager, Derek Jensen. If selected, this upcoming August, Seminole County will become a pioneer as the nation follows the progressive impact PSI High will have on education as we know it.
For more information on this competition, go to the XQ Super School Project website at https://xqsuperschool.org/.
About XQ: The Super School Project:
XQ: The Super School Project launched in September 2015 as an open call to rethink and redesign the American high school. Thousands of applicants and tens of thousands of supporters from towns and cities across the country have united to take on this important work. Teams of students, teachers, parents, community leaders and many more came together to conceptualize innovative models for 21st century learning and create a pathway to success for students.
Since its launch, XQ has proven to be more than a challenge to create innovative high schools. It is a growing movement to reimagine what is possible for public education in America, and a hub for community voices, cutting edge ideas, and expert resources to make real change possible. For more information, visit www.xqsuperschool.org. Follow us at @XQAmerica.

- Special to the Herald