When Superintendent Travis Hamby shares what sounds like an unusual ambition—to make “new mistakes”—it’s another way of describing how he is experimenting with new educational models that he believes will lead to greater student success.
It’s also a way of saying change is inevitable, but not happening fast enough in the education system, especially when it comes to assessments and preparing students to lead fulfilling and productive lives after graduation.
“For whatever reason, in education, we keep tinkering with the system rather than wiping the slate clean and opening the door for innovations,” says Hamby, who has led Kentucky’s Allen County Schools since 2019. “We can’t let go of the past, and test scores remain a primary driver.”
Hamby, who was previously superintendent in Trigg County for nine years, has been shifting his focus on student outcomes away from test scores to a broader set of competencies that students will need to prosper in the modern economy.
His urgency for reform increased when, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he asked graduating seniors in the rural district about their plans after high school. Few of the students had a clear answer.
“It has to be our driving mission that every kid knows what they want to do—that, while they’re with us, they find what they’re passionate about,” he notes. “And it’s not just knowing what they want to do, but knowing how to achieve it.”
That led Hamby to work with his team and the community to develop a new vision for the district. The result is Allen County’s “Profile of a Patriot,” a K12 portrait of a graduate model that emphasizes authentic and personalized learning, meaningful assessment, and a mastery-based and equitable educational environment.
One of the key elements was training staff to shift to project-based learning and more hands-on activities, supported by partnerships with local businesses and industry.
Allen County is part of a cohort of Kentucky districts experimenting with greater local accountability. The concept would see districts continue to align with federal education requirements but remove the state from much of the process.
He will design this new model in collaboration with Allen County’s educators, families and the wider community. It’s one of those areas where he expects to “make new mistakes” and hold his district accountable.
“The school district is part of the economic engine and the students we graduate truly matter,” he explains. “We want to produce graduates that business and industry want to employ so the community thrives and excels.”
The district is also building a data dashboard to keep educators and families informed about students’ progress, as measured by traditional assessments and broader career-oriented competencies.
“I think change is inevitable in whatever business you’re in,” Hamby concludes. “For me, it’s still fun.”
