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College Preparation in the Pre-Secondary Grades

A nationally certified superintendent and former principal, Dr. Philip Hickman has provided leadership in under-resourced communities for more than a decade. Dr. Philip Hickman serves as superintendent of the Columbus Municipal School District and is a prominent author and speaker on topics related to educational access.  Even in low-income communities, children do not lack for ambition. Students in the elementary grades often express desires for professional careers, such as those of doctors or teachers. By middle school, 93 percent of students identify college as a goal, yet only 44 percent of students actually make it there. A current trend in education is seeking to address this disconnect by exploring students' ambitions and helping them to understand what they will need to do to reach their goals. It is not a movement that seeks to assign children to a particular career path early in life, but rather one that opens up possibilities and helps to create direction in students&#
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Getting Smart Podcasts from Soundcloud

Currently serving as the superintendent of the Columbus Municipal School District in Columbus, Mississippi, Dr. Philip Hickman manages all areas of the school district and oversees the educational standards of the schools. Dr. Philip Hickman has also been a guest speaker on the Soundcloud Getting Smart Podcast , which introduces educational innovations that help students learn on a more personalized level. Soundcloud is a publishing platform that provides music along with lessons, interviews, and instructional materials. The Getting Smart Podcasts from Soundcloud are available for listeners to learn about developments in education for grades K thru 12, and covers subjects that help students learn entrepreneurship and research skills. The podcasts are based on the most innovative strategies being used today in the educational field. The Soundcloud podcasts are available for download from the App Store and from Google Play, providing listeners with the opportunity to hear podcasts tha

Overcoming the Aspiration Gap - Encouraging Students to Pursue College

Dr. Philip Hickman leads as superintendent of the Columbus Municipal School District in Missouri. This district overwhelmingly educates students from low-income backgrounds, and was operating at a D rating until Dr. Hickman's changes began to drive improvement. Dr. Philip Hickman believes that there are simple ways parents and educators can encourage students to perform better and work toward college, regardless of their background.  In the United States, many children from low-income backgrounds face barriers to education. They tend to score lower than their middle-class and wealthier peers, and enroll in college at a much lower rate. The college enrollment gap has not improved much since 1990, demonstrating decades of stagnation.  This disparity is caused by a number of factors, including an aspiration gap . Children born to parents who did not attend college may not feel that higher education is within their reach, especially if it is not part of the culture at home and at sc

Turn the Page KC - A Reading Proficiency Program

  The current superintendent of Columbus Municipal School District in Columbus, Mississippi, Dr. Philip Hickman is also one of six United States Department of Education National Ambassadors. During his professional career as an educator, Philip Hickman has also served as a board member of Turn the Page KC in Kansas City, Missouri. Founded in 2011, Turn the Page KC is a program that was founded to develop third graders’ reading proficiency, which at the time was at a low of 33 percent. Due to volunteer and community efforts, by 2016 Turn the Page KC saw reading test scores rise to 52 percent. Turn the Page KC focuses on providing early reading opportunities to low-income families, providing literacy-rich environments for children during their early years. Providing children with age-appropriate books to keep at home, the organization also introduces families to literacy programs in the community that can lay the foundation for their child’s education.

American Association of School Administrators Sponsor Conference

As the superintendent of the Columbus Municipal School District in Columbus, Mississippi, since 2014, Dr. Philip Hickman has received national recognition for his focus on technology and instructional transformation. Considered a leading expert in determining best practices for educational uses of technology, Dr. Philip Hickman regularly speaks at a variety of educational meetings, including one in 2016 for the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) . In 1870, the National Association of School Superintendents merged with the National Teachers Association to form the National Education Association. From this merger, the Department of Superintendents was formed, and in the 1930s the administration broke away and became its own entity as the AASA. Today the AASA advocates for school system leaders and serves as a voice reaching the leaders on Capitol Hill. One of the events sponsored by the AASA is the annual National Conference on Education. The 2017 event, scheduled f