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Abstract

In 2024, the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) approved revised computer science Standards of Learning (SOL), requiring school divisions to update curricula by 2025. While many faced challenges, Patrick County Public Schools (PCPS) saw this as a chance for innovation. The district aimed to integrate computer science across subjects and use this change to advance broader strategic goals. This essay outlines PCPS’s journey in developing a new curriculum, highlighting the need for creativity and resilience in rural education to turn mandates into opportunities for renewal.

The decision to create a new computer science curriculum was based on distributed leadership principles from Module I, summarized in Appendix I. Bardy (2016) and Goodwin and Cameron (2015) argue leadership should be shared throughout an organization. PCPS applied this by involving teachers, tech specialists, students, and parents in curriculum design. Retired educators and former specialists contributed expertise, while advisory committees and student groups ensured diverse views. This approach aligns with Columbia Business School’s (2020) focus on collective intelligence, showing that true transformation works best when it emerges collaboratively.

Author:

Jason Wood