Governor Mark Gordon visited two Park County school districts this week to witness firsthand  the impact of his Reimagining and Innovating the Delivery of Education (RIDE) education initiative. The Governor’s visit to the K-12 Meeteetse school and Park County School District #6 in Cody highlighted the transformative impact of RIDE. 

From small, close-knit rural schools to larger, dynamic districts, Wyoming educators and students are embracing bold, forward-thinking approaches to teaching and learning. The visit offered a window into the remarkable achievements and creativity flourishing in Wyoming’s public schools. 

“Wyoming’s educators and students are proving what’s possible with flexible, student-driven learning, Governor Gordon said. “The energy and innovation in our schools are nothing short of inspiring.  Thanks to the State Board of Education, our public schools now have more flexibility to embrace charter school-style innovation.”

In Meeteetse the Governor immersed himself  in the schools’ hands-on learning classrooms. He tested his knowledge against students by playing “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” and even squared off against a student in a welding challenge. Superintendent Shane Ogden shared how ongoing professional development efforts and a collaborative learning vision, designed by students and teachers aligns with Meeteetse’s community values.

In Cody, Governor Gordon toured Livingston Elementary School where he observed  hands-on learning in the school’s library makerspace, group problem solving in the school’s CoLABratory space, and integrated math problem-solving and coding using robotics.

The Governor’s visit to Cody High School (CHS) showcased the district’s strong commitment to career readiness and interdisciplinary learning. The CHS internship program has more than 70 local business partners across every sector of the Cody community, and will have more than 300 internships completed during the 2024-25 school year. 

The visit to CHS was highlighted by a discussion of the CHS Interdisciplinary POD, an innovative class that merges Biology II, Western Literature and Life Sports. Students are applying their learning to real-world environmental challenges such as analyzing aging dams in the Shoshone watershed. Learning activities include conducting stakeholder research, interviews, and engaging in collaborative, interdisciplinary work using the outdoors as the classroom.

"The Governor's visit supports the power of collaboration in advancing education across Wyoming,” Park County School District #6 Superintendent Vernon Orndorff said. “The RIDE initiative was a catalyst for the Park 6 Classroom 2 Careers program, which gives our teachers the support necessary to facilitate innovative learning environments."

Governor Gordon’s visit made one thing clear: Wyoming’s public schools are leading the way in reimagining education, and the future is brighter than ever for students across the state.

Learn more about the RIDE initiative by visiting https://ride.wyo.gov/