“What the Ideas for Impact Summit made even more evident for me is that there are impressive, hard-working educators all throughout our schools who are doing great things, and their voices need a place to be raised.” -Isaiah Folau, Ecker Hill Middle School Principal
When Ecker Hill Middle School’s new Principal, Isaiah Folau, was a senior at Park City High School, he came to a realization that would set him on a path to a career in education. “I had great teachers and went to great schools, which was such a positive experience growing up here,” he recalls. “And, the capstone of it all was serving as Student Body President of Park City High, a role that allowed me to see the inner workings of schools, and how teachers, principals, and parents all worked together. Reflecting on my senior year, I thought, ‘I’ve had such a great experience; I love this so much; I want to come to school every day!’ And so, I became a teacher.”
“For six years, I had teaching positions in Idaho then in Draper, and when the opportunity to become assistant principal at Treasure Mountain Junior High came about, I was lucky Park City took a chance on bringing me back,” Isaiah said. “I wanted to return for a couple reasons–one was sentimental (there’s no place like home)–and one was from a professional standpoint. Park City School District is truly at the forefront of innovation in education considering, ‘What is the direction of education in today’s world? And once we know that, what is the strategy for teaching? And ultimately, what support do we need to give our teachers and staff so they are aligned with that strategy and what students' needs are to succeed in this world?’ I want to be part of that innovation. I want to continue pushing that reform, and Park City is a community that supports this and is looking toward the future.”
That passion for innovation is what drew Isaiah to PCEF’s Ideas for Impact Summit, a Park City Educator event designed to spark creativity and elevate educator voice across the district. Held in March, the event brings together teachers from every PCSD school and gives them what they so rarely have–dedicated space and time to collaborate in a relaxed, off-site setting. Educators have the opportunity to engage in discussions and demonstrations, share ideas, network, and connect with one another. The result? Favorite programs like the RC Race and Engineering League or the Kinder Academy are showcased, and even expanded to other schools, while new ideas are inspired and workshopped together.
At the year’s Summit, Isaiah presented the Grading for Learning system adopted by the junior high for the past two years, which has been educator-powered since its inception. “It’s a new way to calculate and display grades, centered around achieving proficiency on content-based standards rather than combining points and weights. The idea came from our educators, the rollout is credited to our teachers, and I was able to show the how, what, and whys of the program along with where we go next.” He continued, “There were so many neat things from instructional strategies, to collaborative conversations, to just new connections. It was tough to stand out from Sam Thompson and Mike Holland of McPolin’s presentation who came in their NASCAR racing suits to show off the RC League that is held across each elementary school. You want to see a fun hook with a neat story to tell, and they really sold it!”
Summarizing the event, Isaiah noted, “What Ideas for Impact Summit made even more evident for me is that there are impressive, hard-working educators all throughout our schools who are doing great things, and their voices need a place to be raised.” And, he’s already thinking ahead to how to support teacher growth and leadership in his new role at EHMS.
What Does PCEF Mean to Principal Folau?
Isaiah’s unique perspective on the work of PCEF comes from experiences as a Park City student and now as a school leader. He shared, “Funny enough, I recently was speaking with a former teacher of mine, Mrs. Wanda Taylor, and she brought up a unit she had taught on self-defense and how it was funded by PCEF. I distinctly remember that unit, and had no idea it was supported by PCEF, and I’m certain looking back there are many positive memories and school experiences made possible by The Foundation, and they’re in tandem with educators abilities and interests that simply wouldn’t happen otherwise.”
Your registrations and donations supporting the 16th Annual Running with Education fundraiser ensure PCEF continues to support teacher initiatives in the Classroom through Classroom Grants. Every dollar raised through registrations and donations goes directly back to Park City’s teachers and students, to support innovation in the classroom and beyond.
