Utica Academy for International Studies Promotes Literary Proficiency

For the past 10 years, Dr. Christine Johns has served as superintendent of Utica Community Schools in Michigan. As superintendent, Dr. Christine Johns oversees several specialized programs, such as the Utica Academy for International Studies (UAIS).

The UAIS’s mission is to develop an appreciation for both personal and academic growth. In addition to exploring other nations’ cultures, the school requires advanced participation in the study of Western literary traditions.

UAIS students must complete six credits of English language arts, beginning with Honors English 9. In that course, they develop an appreciation for literary expression by reading such classics as Romeo and Juliet and Of Mice and Men.

As they develop analytical writing skills, students move on to Honors English 10, in which they study foreign authors, focusing on works such as The Kite Runner, Brave New World, and The Prophet.

Speech/Production Teams 9 and 10 facilitate speaking and listening abilities as students give formal presentations and practice informal communication. They also begin to develop research skills for their Extended Essay, which is required for graduation.

Juniors and seniors graders must take IB English HL/SL, which includes material crucial to earning the school’s International Baccalaureate. Works translated from other languages provide insight into cultures of other societies, which students learn to understand by research and oral presentations.

Digital Promise’s League of Innovative Schools

Since 2006, Dr. Christine Johns has served as superintendent of Utica Community Schools in Sterling Heights, Michigan. With Dr. Christine Johns serving as superintendent, Utica Community Schools has worked to accelerate student learning through the use of technology in the classroom. Due to her strong commitment in this area, Dr. Johns was among only 40 educators nationwide to be invited to take part in Digital Promise. 

A nonprofit authorized by Congress, Digital Promise brings together educators, researchers, and entrepreneurs to solve learning challenges through technology and innovative approaches to teaching. As part of these efforts, the organization oversees a number of programs and collaborative groups, including its League of Innovative Schools, a coalition made up of forward-thinking education leaders from across the country. 

In addition to advancing the smart use of learning technologies, League members come together to test new approaches to teaching and learning. The League, which comprises district leaders from 33 states, also uses the insights of entrepreneurs and researchers to identify educational methods and tools that can create positive change in public schools. 

Recently, Digital Promise announced the launch of the Competency-based Education (CBE) Toolkit, which was developed based on the work of the League of Innovative Schools. The toolkit offers actionable advice and shares resources to help administrators implement competency-based education in the districts they serve. 

The CBE Toolkit and accompanying videos are available to every district in the country through Digital Promise’s online portal. For more information, visit www.digitalpromise.org.