FHUHS Administration

Many have heard me speak on the high importance for education moving away from the industrial model and towards personalized, passion-based learning.  While at Fair Haven Union High School we continually strive towards this being the daily norm with all our students, it is tremendous to see one of our student-athletes earn formal recognition for excelling at her passion.  On Monday, November 14, Senior Kaci-Jo O’Rourke signed an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship to attend Oklahoma State University.  Kaci-Jo will be pursuing her passion of equestrian reining while earning her degree in Animal Science at OSU.

Kaci-Jo represents so much of what is working in today’s educational world.  She is a full-time honor roll student who travels the country competing at the highest level of reining.  The rigor of following her passion necessitates her missing schools days.  In the traditional industrial world of education this would have posed huge obstacles with mandated seat time (often referred to as “Carnegie units”) and her making a choice between school attendance and athletic excellence.  Instead, Kaci-Jo has been given flexibility by all her teachers who work to see that accommodations are in place so that academic and athletic excellence may be had.  Kaci is very appreciated of her teachers and acknowledged that “If the school wasn’t flexible with helping me keep up my grades, I wouldn’t be able to go. Teachers have been able to help me keep up my grades and with helping me understand [the material/skills]. “

Kaci-Jo is also a showcase for inquiry-driven, project-based learning as she is starting work on an intensive independent study that has her using today’s modern educational tools to complete a research project examining how best to work and train with horses.  She has been blogging about her experiences and learning to use a variety of internet tools in order to publish her findings.  Kaci-Jo understands that by using modern media tools she can access the latest findings as well as contact the most famous horse trainers no matter where they are located.  She has also been using her on-site experiences at shows in order to improve her writing through blogging.

Beside her teachers, what else have been keys to her success?  “Being able to compete with some really nice people; I was able to enjoy it.  I really developed an interest in it.  I think if you do not have the interest you cannot really do well.  My parents always want me to try my best and it didn’t matter if I won or not as long as I tried and kept up my grades.   My coach is really good, Dan Sanborn.”  While extremely excited about next year, Kaci said she “will definitely miss the high school.  It is bittersweet but I will be back to visit [FHU] as I will really miss it. “

As I have known Kaci-Jo for four years, what likely sets her apart from other competitors is not only her passion but her solid ethical foundation.  When asked why she chose not to contend for the world title this year, her explanation was clear.  “I wanted to more than anything at the beginning of this year as it was all I talked about.  I noticed the toll it was taking on me and my horse and I realized it was not the best thing for either of us.  I came to the point that I needed to decide if I wanted a trophy or if I wanted a healthy horse and high academics.  Looking back I know I definitely made the right decision.” Currently Kaci is ranked fourth in the world despite competing in the fewest shows of any of the top riders.   With offers from other division I universities, why did she elect to sign with OSU?   “I like their morals out there as they are very strict with academics and it is not always about winning but improving.  It appealed to me a lot.  The team shows a lot of sportsmanship. “

It is that passion coupled with a strong moral foundation that drives Kaci to excel.  They are also the traits that will earn her success in whatever field she devotes her considerable talents.  Kaci-Jo O’Rourke is a local example of what results when passion is allowed to drive learning and excellence.   Along with her parents Linda Balestra and Harry O’Rourke, Fair Haven Union High School is proud of Kaci’s accomplishments.

By Brett C. Blanchard, Fair Haven Union High School Principal