Those of a certain age will remember “Mama Cass” of the folk rock quartet The Mamas & the Papas (and known, simply, as “Cass Elliot” during her solo career). Elliot had a beautiful, clear voice that made her a beloved pop star. One of her hits was “Make Your Own Kind of Music.” The lyrics are lovely and inspiring:
“You’ve gotta make your own kind of music /
Sing your own special song /
Make your own kind of music /
Even if nobody else sings along.”
And that’s precisely what Northern Cass School District Superintendent Dr. Cory Steiner is helping his students, and students across the country do!
As far as we know, there is no connection between Northern Cass and Mama Cass. But the Cass-Cass link provides a timely coincidence that we were reminded of when we joined up with Cory, his team, other Yass Prize awardees, and hundreds of innovative educators from around the country dedicated to personalized learning.
The event was called the Northern Cass Personalized Learning Institute, the fourth annual, where educators and leaders who want to help students learn to “make their own kind of music” were gathered in full force. Joining them were six of our very Yass Prize alumni who traveled to North Dakota to support Dr. Steiner while sharing about their own innovative schools and practices with those gathered in attendance.
While most districts around the country remain wedded to a system that crams all students into the same, small box, Northern Cass makes its own kind of music, providing a personalized competency-based learning system that allows learning outside the school walls for credit in any content area. It’s an approach that made Northern Cass a 2022 Yass Prize finalist, and, we’re happy to report, that keeps them singing their own special song…even if nobody else sings along.
Northern Cass prepares its students to be “choice ready” and learners describe to us how the internship model allows them to explore various jobs and industries during their high school years. A rising junior shared how interning at an HVAC business not only exposed him to learning a trade but also “made me more responsible.”
Given the school’s rural location, internships at businesses are limited but this hasn’t stopped the program. The district has created internship opportunities within its schools – providing great experiences for its learners at a cost-saving to the district. To wit, a rising senior worked as an IT support intern at the district, gaining real world experience and fantastic mentoring from the district’s IT Director.
Northern Cass also uses a 6-week studio model of student-driven learning focusing on the personal interests of individual students. During studio learning, students participate in a collaborative process and hold themselves accountable with milestones.
This unique model provides learners with the freedom to focus on content that piques their curiosity and interest while honing creative and analytical skills. One learner’s passion for automobiles led to an effort centered on the Nissan Skyline and why it’s one of the best street race cars – an experience that required a focus on STEM and extensive research and culminated in the production of a 3-D model of a “street ready” Nissan Skyline.
As Dr. Cory Steiner, Superintendent of Northern Cass School District, has said, “We want to make sure our students have exactly what they need to become who they deserve to be.”
When it comes to supporting students and how they wish to learn, “we embrace a culture of ‘yes’.”
Make your own kind of music. Sing your own special song. Even if nobody else sings along.