San Diego County schools where reading, writing and arithmetic have been reimagined will be featured as innovators of learning during a four-day summit that Forbes magazine calls “the Davos of education.”
The eight schools opening their campuses to those attending this year’s ASU + GSV Summit are San Diego Met High School, the Altus Schools Resource Center, and e3 Civic High, all part of the San Diego Unified School District; Farm Lab, in the Encinitas Union School District; Del Mar Heights and Pacific Sky schools, both in the Del Mar Union School District; Design39Campus, in the Poway Unified School District; and the Linda Vista Innovation Center, run by the San Diego County Office of Education.
Educators, innovators, investors and entrepreneurs from around the world are invited to see what makes each school innovative during a morning of onsite tours scheduled for April 7.
Since 2010, the ASU + GSV Summit has become a gathering place where thought leaders from around the globe seek to shape the future of education and work. Among those featured at this year’s event are Linda McMahon, Secretary of Education; Andrew Ng, a pioneer in AI; Sal Khan, whose Khan Academy offers free educational videos online; entrepreneur and actress Ayesha Curry; musician will.i.am; and civil rights activist Colin Kaepernick.
The schools chosen for the tour have broken free from traditional classroom settings and provide new ways to put learning in the hands of students, connect them with the world around them, foster business skills, and much more.
e3 Civic High aims for its students — called scholars — to be caring, passionate, life-long learners and civic leaders prepared for college, workforce, and life, said Brett Taylor, chief engagement office at e3. The school uses an interactive learning model with instruction focused on how to engage, educate, and empower scholars in the “learning studio.”
“Scholars are always working on ways to make the world a better place,” he said. “This year, some e3 scholar projects include community economic development, a business focused on environmental sustainability, and a drug prevention and awareness project.”
e3 scholars complete a career and technical education pathway, develop a life plan that includes plans for college, and through partnerships with UCSD, Point Loma Nazarene University, and San Diego City College, participate in college programs. As seniors, they do a professional internship.
“Through frameworks like design thinking, applications in design thinking and computer science, and workforce opportunities, they are able to foresee ways to make their ideas actionable,” he said.
Dr. Robert Caughey, principal of Design39Campus (D39C), said the design thinking process that is used to guide learning — beginning with empathy to understand diverse perspectives and centering education around designing for belonging — is what sets the school apart as an innovator.
“Design39Campus prioritizes a whole-child approach, integrating social-emotional learning, wellness and a growth mindset into daily experiences,” Dr. Caughey said. “We believe in the power of ‘yet,’ continuously exploring new possibilities, and reimaging what school can be.”
He believes the best way to prepare students for the future, is with schools that are reimagined and designed to meet the needs of tomorrow.
“Just because something exists as it is doesn’t mean it has to stay that way,” he said. “While industries and technology are evolving at breakneck speed, with major advancements happening daily, schools have remained largely unchanged for nearly 60 years.”
Those touring the campus are likely to see student achievements soon to be featured in the school’s 39 by Design exhibition — a showcase of student work in a variety of categories including creative expression, builders and innovators, storytellers and thinkers, and market and impact.
“This exhibition will provide a platform for students to demonstrate how their curiosity has fueled their learning and growth,” he said. “Students will illustrate how their exploration of ideas has prepared them to be adaptable, innovative, and forward-thinking.”
In Encinitas, the Farm Lab stands out as an innovator for its use of a 10-acre property where students are inspired to become change-makers through practical, real-world applications of science, technology, and sustainability.
Farm Lab boasts the first regenerative organic farm owned by a school district. It is also home to the award-winning DREAMS (Design, Research, Engineering, Art, Math, and Science) satellite sustainability campus, which provides project- and place-based environmental education to the district’s 4,800 K-6 students. It was honored last year by the California School Board Association with the Golden Bell Award in Climate Change Innovation.
Dr. Andreé Grey, superintendent of the Encinitas Union School District, said the ASU + GSV Innovative School Tour will give participants a hands-on look at how the campus sparks innovative thinking. She describes Farm Lab as a place where hands-on learning connects students to the world around them.
“We want (tour participants) to realize that education doesn’t have to follow a traditional path. Farm Lab is about finding creative, place-based ways to provide students with real-world opportunities that go beyond the classroom,” Dr. Grey said. “By embracing innovative and unexpected approaches, we can provide students with the tools to shape their futures, no matter where their passions take them.”
Recently, sixth-grade students put their business skills to the test while learning about regenerative agriculture. Over the course of a five-day unit, students created their own organic salad dressing companies and developed business pitches to present to a panel of judges. They took on the roles of chefs, event organizers, promotion teams, and copywriters to work together to brainstorm company names, design dressing prototypes, and research the nutritional value of their products.
Along the way, they gained hands-on experience in entrepreneurship while learning about the importance of soil health, biodiversity, and sustainable farming practices.
“The curiosity sparked at Farm Lab gives students the opportunity to learn in new and engaging ways that allow everyone to thrive, including those who might normally shy away from traditional classroom participation,” she said. “As they move forward, they’ll be equipped to navigate complex issues with confidence, creativity, and a strong sense of purpose, preparing them to contribute meaningfully to the world around them.”
Students at San Diego Met School, located at San Diego Mesa College, are eligible to take a wide variety of college courses that help them earn transferrable college credits, including general education credits and coursework connected to specific career pathways — all based on each student’s interests and goals.
Every student participates in an internship two days a week to explore a career, gain real-world work experience, and receive mentorship from a professional in the industry. Principal Robert Fung said he wants those who tour the Met to come away with an understanding of what’s possible when students are given the opportunity to direct their own learning.
“Our students are deeply engaged in their internship projects,” he said. “For most Met students, the internship program is the most transformative part of their learning journey. The true impact of the internships is shown in the way our students develop into young adults who can confidently pursue their personal and professional goals, navigate the complex societal challenges of today and tomorrow, and embrace opportunities to create positive change in their communities.”
The ASU + GSV Summit will be held April 6-9 at the San Diego Convention Center. This year’s theme is “Learning at the Speed of Light.” The event features a lineup of the “world’s foremost leaders driving education innovation.” More than 110 countries will be represented during the four-day event.
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