Hazen Union High School

Demographics

Percentage of students*

Why Hazen Union High School was nominated

Hazen Union High School continues to expand their course offerings and programs to ensure that all students are empowered with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve their full potential and become successful, responsible, and contributing members of society, both locally and globally. Hazen is committed to heterogenous grouping allowing students to choose an academic path best suited to their learning goals where each student selects a program reflecting their individual interests, abilities, and needs. Hazen Union recently piloted a student-centered driven, student-designed, advanced manufacturing course and makerspace using student personalized learning plans (PLPs) as a tool for students to co-design and co-develop curriculum with teachers and community partners. This pilot expanded upon Hazen�s well-established Work-Based Learning (WBL) Program and Independent Based Learning (IBL) Program. In response to COVID-19, Hazen Union and community partners leveraged the grant funded equipment to print face shields for Vermont doctors treating COVID-19 patients. The community partners worked with the students virtually throughout the process, providing opportunities to engage in design-thinking methods and skill attainment that could be applied across contexts. Upon completion of the pilot, the student cohort presented their curriculum, reflections, and deliverables to OSSU School Board members with recommendations to support the sustainability of this program. Students were empowered to demonstrate their competency in communication, advocacy, and action research in order to maintain this student-centered program for their peers. The success of this program conveys the importance of education and community partnerships and the positive impact student voice has within the school system and the community at large. This year, the program has tripled in size with the support of community partnerships. This unique learning model allows students to develop competency across content areas, technical skills, and transferable skills. Even throughout the pandemic Hazen Union continues to provide students the agency to personalize their learning inclusive of the instructional dispositions and learning models available within their WBL and IBL Programs.

Student experience design

Hazen Union’s Community School philosophy emphasizes student-centered learning, flexibility, and real-world connections. Here’s how this can be expanded in that context: Hazen Union’s Community School approach ensures that all students—whether following a traditional pathway or engaging in more flexible, community-based learning—develop meaningful connections with themselves, their peers, and the broader community. By integrating school experiences with future opportunities, students see education not as an isolated process but as a foundation for lifelong success. For most students, this means engaging in structured coursework while benefiting from enrichment opportunities that deepen their understanding of academic content and career pathways. However, for others, a flexible, experience-based model becomes the centerpiece of their education. These students leverage community partnerships, internships, apprenticeships, and post-secondary programs to gain hands-on learning experiences that directly prepare them for college, careers, and civic engagement. This dual approach allows Hazen Union to support a range of student needs and aspirations, ensuring that all students graduate with the skills, relationships, and confidence needed to thrive beyond high school. It also reinforces the school’s role as a hub of learning and opportunity, connecting young people with local resources, industry mentors, and pathways to success.

Core Practices

Core Practices	Length of Use
College Advising & Support	5+ years
Competency/mastery-based Education	5+ years
Mental Health Services	5+ years
Multi-tiered System Of Support (MTSS) In Academics	5+ years
Universal Design For Learning	5+ years

All Practices

Student Advisories

Assessments For Agency And Self-directed Learning

Assessments For Social-emotional Skills

Blended Learning

Co-leadership

Community And Workforce Partnerships

Family And Community Support Services

Disaggregated Data On Student Participation

Early College High School

Flexible Staffing & Alternative Teaching Roles

Higher Education Partnerships

Interoperable Data From Multiple Technologies

Individual Learner Profiles

Individual Learning Paths

1:1 Mentoring

Multi-age Classrooms

Project-based Learning

High Quality Instructional Materials

Restorative Practices

School-based Enterprises

SEL Curriculum

Service Learning

Student-led Conferences

Self-paced Learning

Trauma-informed Practices

key reasons for innovating