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Preparing Students For the 21st Century

Fort Thomas Independent Schools: Rich in Tradition, Focused on the Future.

By Livability on May 4, 2021

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Courtesy of Fort Thomas Independent Schools

Fort Thomas Independent Schools (FTIS) has a rich tradition of accolades in academics, the arts and athletics. 

From the third-winningest football program in the country and consistently earning the most Cappies (Greater Cincinnati theater performance awards) to being Niche.com’s No. 1 school district in Kentucky, the district has excelled. 

Nestled in desirable Fort Thomas, the district has always done extremely well on state and national assessments. This wasn’t enough for FTIS, which launched a Portrait of a Graduate endeavor four years ago. 

Superintendent Dr. Karen Cheser says, “We knew that more could be done to prepare students for the changing world of work, their future. We have an attitude of ‘Yes, and'”¦YES, our students can have high levels of content mastery AND 21st-century skills.”

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Allen Ramsey

By convening thousands of people over a year (industry leaders, students, teachers, staff, community members), visiting sites across the country, and conducting research, the district developed a set of competencies every student should reach before they graduate. These are:

  • A courageous leader who displays high levels of leadership, optimism and hope
  • An empathetic collaborator who knows how to work with others and respects others’ perspectives
  • A global communicator who can communicate effectively in writing, verbally and interpersonally
  • A curious and critical thinker who values inquiry and is always seeking to learn more
  • A creative problem solver who demonstrates creativity and entrepreneurship

“We knew that more could be done to prepare students for the changing world of work, their future.”

Dr. Karen Cheser, Superintendent 

Students of all ages are building these competencies, attaining strong content mastery, while also using the skills that will make them accomplished workers and citizens in a 21st-century global economy.

From a one-of-a-kind student-led broadcasting program and career Flight Paths at Launch (a professional studies center) to 36 robotics teams (from ages 6 up), Fort Thomas students are immersed in the kind of learning and thinking that will propel NKY to continued success.

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