Leaders of the J.O. Combs Unified School District earned national recognition as winners of the prestigious Infinity Award, a distinction announced at the recent annual Modern Learning Conference in Hershey, Penn. The spotlight Combs received on this national stage also included honoring Kelli Bond, instructional coach at Ellsworth Elementary School, who was selected as an award finalist in the category of Change Agent Instructional Coach of the Year.
The Modern Learning Conference is hosted annually by Modern Teacher to bring together teachers, coaches and leaders dedicated to transforming the student experience with innovative practices and learning models. Attendees from across the nation converge to reimagine K-12 education and experience exemplary personalized learning in action.
Winners of the Infinity Award: Curriculum and Assessment Team, led by Dr. Tim Fountain, director of Leadership and Learning.
This accolade specifically honors districts within the Modern Teacher network operating at stages six or higher, underscoring a commitment to inclusive educational practices. The award recognizes the dedication to fostering a modern learning environment that actively involves all educators in the ongoing development of innovative teaching methods.
The Infinity Award is designed to highlight best practices of districts who:
- Regularly assess and address the ongoing changes and needs of society to create a pathway to update district vision, instructional model and curriculum for modern learning.
- Explore and integrate new technologies into the student experience, seeking to provide the skills needed for the future of work.
- Demonstrate continued evolution of the personalized learning experience for students.
- Develop innovative offerings and approaches for teacher support, professional development and teacher agency.
Finalist for Change Agent Instructional Coach of the Year: Kelli Bond, instructional coach at Ellsworth Elementary School.
This award celebrates the instructional coach who best embodies innovation, fosters a culture of growth among staff, and supports teachers with bringing the instructional model to life. Selection criteria for award finalists include: exercising and modeling a growth mindset, taking risks in the pursuit of personalization, seamlessly adapting to challenges, supporting and empowering teachers to innovate, and facilitating the sharing of emerging strategies among colleagues.
"To be selected as the Infinity Award recipient is a true testament to the collaborative teamwork and dedication that our team has demonstrated throughout our personalized learning journey," said Dr. Tim Fountain, director of Leadership and Learning. "it is an honor to receive recognition from our peers across the country, not just for our innovative teaching practices, but also for our unwavering commitment to creating learning pathways for students and teachers that ensure ultimate success."
Combs has been a member of the Modern Teacher network since 2016 when it first embarked on the #Forward initiative to embrace personalized learning for students. Combs teachers, staff and administrators have been among the nominees recognized by the national network each year, including being named a National District of Distinction.
For more information about the J.O. Combs Unified School District, call 480-987-5300 or visit jocombs.org.
