National group honors local schools

Four Texarkana, Ark., schools recently were recognized by Magnet Schools of America, the national association for magnet and themed schools.

Union da Vinci Magnet and Kilpatrick Bio-Medical Engineering Magnet elementary schools and North Heights Junior High Entrepreneurial Leadership Academy were named National Magnet Schools of Distinction, and College Hill Academy of Design was designated a Magnet School of Excellence.

MSA’s National Merit Awards program honors the top magnet schools in the country—schools that demonstrate commitment to high academic standards, curriculum innovation, successful desegregation and diversity efforts and consistent delivery of high-quality educational services.

Union uses a “culturally rich environment,” authentic arts opportunities, problem-solving and projectlearning to develop 21st-century skills in science, technology, engineering and math, said Genia Bullock, Texarkana, Ark., School District spokeswoman.

Educators at Kilpatrick aim to create a supportive, innovative and challenging experience for students learning about biology, health and food. “Staff and students are focused on creating healthy bodies, which in turn creates healthy minds,” Bullock said.

Learning at North Heights is focused on STEM, supplemented by financial literacy and an entrepreneurial curriculum that emphasizes real-world learning. With technology at their fingertips, students learn skills that prepare them for high school and the future.

At College Hill, students build on the skills they learned in elementary school and are introduced to real-world challenges. Through critical and creative thinking, students learn to solve problems and accomplish learning objectives in original ways.

Principals Lekia Jones of Union, Demarcus Green of Kilpatrick, Theresa Cowling of North Heights and Johnny Arnold of College Hill will be recognized and receive their National Magnet School Merit Awards during a ceremony held April 25-29 at MSA’s 36th National Conference hosted by Chicago Public Schools.

To learn more about TASD, visit tasd7.net. More information on the National Merit Awards program is available at magnet.edu.