Hopkins County Schools’ Deeper Learning initiative brings lessons to life for students. 

Fifth-graders at Pride Elementary dressed in colonial attire to simulate a school day from long ago and created a cookbook filled with their own family recipes. Art students at Jesse Stuart Elementary learned about self-portraits through history and then created one, doing it “their own way.” Agri-biology students at Madisonville North Hopkins High plan science and agriculture lessons for second-graders at the annual Fall on the Farm event.

“The purpose of Deeper Learning is to ensure students acquire not only basic academic knowledge but also develop critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills,” said Wendy Mitchell, district director of elementary education. “This initiative seeks to prepare the whole child for success in college, careers, and life by fostering not just an understanding of content, but applying knowledge in the real world.”

In fall 2022, HCS partnered with Western Kentucky Educational Cooperative to integrate Deeper Learning into classrooms, explained Alaina Lancaster, district director of secondary education. A group of teachers were selected to form the district Deeper Learning Team.This effort is now expanding, with original team members training other teachers in the schools.

“Deeper Learning is now a cornerstone of our educational strategy, as we shape Future Ready Graduates – our vision of Portrait of a Learner,” Lancaster said. “By prioritizing these skills, we are equipping our students with the tools they need to be future ready.”

Heather Gordon, who teaches at Pride Elementary, uses Deeper Learning methods to design nontraditional lessons expanding on topics she is already teaching. The Colonial era lessons “provide authentic, real-world connections and experiences that go beyond a worksheet format,” she said. 

This fall, her students conducted a mock election to choose a grade-level president. “Though not able to vote yet,” Gordon said, “they will have a better understanding of the election process, an appreciation of watching current events as history unfolds, and develop a more meaningful insight into being a responsible citizen knowing participation matters.”

The Hopkins County Deeper Learning program asks teachers and students “to create learning experiences that stick,” said Melanie Hofmann, art teacher at Jesse Stuart Elementary. “Think back to when you were in school. Picture your favorite projects you completed as a child. I would bet none of you are thinking about that amazing worksheet you completed that one Tuesday afternoon. You’re picturing the projects you invested your time, your interests and your heart into.”

In the “Self-Portraits, My Way” project in her classroom, students can choose to create a traditional self-portrait or take a different path, such as designing a “Lego” character that looks like them, drawing a picture about themselves, or making a clay sculpture that shows something about themselves.The most popular choice is to write a song about themselves. They write lyrics and select the genre.

“We get to dance and sing to each other’s very non-traditional self-portraits,” Hofmann said. “This is learning that sticks.”

The Deeper Learning initiative ties directly with the Future Ready Graduate program. The six Future Ready characteristics of successful graduates were developed in partnership with local business leaders and public officials. These characteristics are Connecting and Collaborating, Effective Communicator, Responsible and Accountable, Innovator, Contributing Citizen, and Lifelong Learner.

“These are six very meaningful traits we need people to have so they – and Hopkins County – can be successful,” said MNHHS agriculture teacher Brian Welch. 

“Deeper Learning forces students to reflect and make those needed connections to things that are important to them,” he said. “Additionally, we as teachers can guide students to apply specific soft skills to what we do in the classroom as part of our district Future Ready program.”

For example, at Jesse Stuart, when kids draw cards for the Veterans Center, the class discusses being Contributing Citizens. Similarly, when students take care of supplies, the discussion covers being Responsible and Accountable.

“I eagerly anticipate witnessing the students of Hopkins County thrive through this Deeper Learning initiative, growing into more effective citizens who are both responsible and accountable,” Hofmann said. “They will grow to become individuals who connect, collaborate, communicate with ease, and can tackle difficult challenges with innovation. As a county, I hope we all embrace and support our students in this journey.”

This story was published in the Hopkins County Regional Chamber of Commerce 2025 Magazine.