Dear CCS Community,

I’d like to take a moment to share with you my gratitude for our higher education partnerships and the tremendous opportunities they provide for our students. 

With nearly a dozen higher education partners, I’d like to highlight three as I share recent events that truly showcase the power these partnerships hold and what we can accomplish when we come together as one.

It is with the support of our higher education partners that we are making gains in providing equitable opportunities in post-secondary education for all students. Thanks to our partnership with Columbus State Community College, along with the City of Columbus, I Know I Can, and the Columbus Partnership, we are fulfilling a promise to provide free college to our eligible graduating seniors. I am thrilled to share that we have more than 700 CCS seniors who have completed all of the necessary application steps and are “Columbus-Promise Ready.”

It is also with the support of our higher education partners that we are able to provide staff development in our efforts to build Strong Learning Communities in Every Region. In partnership with Ashland University, 24 CCS teachers and staff were recently inducted into an Equity-Centered Leadership Pipeline Initiative. This is just one example of how we are strengthening building-based leadership to best serve our students.

Otterbein University is another long-standing CCS partner providing unique opportunities for our students. The Summer Bridge to College Program for instance, is offered exclusively to CCS and allows students to earn college credit during a four-week summer program. 

As a member of Otterbein’s Board of Trustees, I also recently had the honor and privilege of accepting an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters and delivering the commencement speech for the Graduate Class of 2022.

I spoke to the graduates about pursuing their passion and seeking their purpose, but also the importance of recognizing when change is needed and embracing it. I was reminded of our CCS students and families, and how we as a community have recognized and embraced change over the past couple of years. 

From necessary adjustments due to the pandemic to adopting our new Strategic Plan, the CCS community, along with our higher education partners, stepped up to the plate. We not only welcomed change, we created opportunities to improve and grow.

I look forward to our continued growth - together - as the Power of One. I also look forward to standing at the podium once again in June, this time to commemorate our Columbus City Schools Class of 2022!

Pathway Express and Countdown to Kindergarten

I would also like to remind you of our Pathway Express Final Destination and Countdown to Kindergarten events this weekend. Both events will be held tomorrow, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the campus of Fort Hayes. I look forward to seeing many of our families there!

Sincerely,

Talisa Dixon
Superintendent/CEO, Columbus City Schools