The Visionary

Welcome to Fort Wayne Community Schools' community newsletter. Each month we share news from our schools and important District information. Have an idea for a story? Please share it with us!

On a corkboard at the Grile Administrative Center hangs this grainy picture showing a football play that happened years ago. At first glance, it looks like a familiar football moment: a Seattle Seahawks player sprinting down the field, one finger raised in the air, already celebrating what he believes will be a touchdown. Trailing behind him is a Carolina Panthers player, Wayne High School graduate and retired NFL punter Jason Baker.

The picture captures a single moment in time, but it does not tell the full story.

On that play, Baker had already done his job, his one eleventh. He successfully punted the ball to the opposite end of the field. In most cases, his role would have ended there. Ten other players were responsible for stopping the return. Baker could have slowed down, turned toward the sideline and trusted that someone else would finish the play.

But he did not.

Baker understood something that great teammates always do. Even when your assignment is complete, the responsibility to the team is not. As the runner pulled away and the celebration began, Baker kept running. He became the safety net, the last line of defense. With sheer effort and awareness he tracked down the returner and stopped him just short of the goal line.

That moment was not about glory. It was about commitment. About recognizing that success is rarely a solo act and that sometimes the most important contribution happens when no one expects you to still be in the play.

That same mindset is reflected every day in our Schools of Success powered by 3DE. FWCS teachers and staff understand their role but they also understand the student in front of them may need more. They step in, stay engaged and do not stop simply because their part of the lesson plan is complete. They collaborate, support one another and remain focused on the shared goal of student success.

Through this work, FWCS is preparing students with the skills, knowledge and attributes they need to graduate ready for college, the military or the workforce as employees, entrepreneurs and leaders. Students are learning teamwork, collaboration, cultural agility and gracious professionalism. They are learning how individual effort contributes to something larger.

Jason Baker could have let the runner score that day. Instead, he chose effort. He chose responsibility. He chose the team.

That is what FWCS teachers and staff model for students every day. And that is the story we want our students to live, giving their best, understanding their impact and staying in the play until the very end.

An FWCS Career Academy and North Side High School student has earned national recognition for his creative approach to promoting safe driving with a video titled The Last Message.

Gideon Priest won second place and a $1,000 prize in the 12th annual Drive Safe Chicago public service announcement contest, sponsored by the National Road Safety Foundation in partnership with the Chicago Auto Show.

The contest asked students to create compelling video messages encouraging drivers to slow down and respect speed limits. All finalist videos were posted online, where more than 2,300 votes were cast.

Congratulations to Gideon Priest on this outstanding achievement!

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed is a factor in 29 percent of all fatal crashes, resulting in nearly 12,000 deaths and hundreds of thousands of injuries annually.

Jefferson Middle School band director Alex Whitehead has been named one of Yamaha’s 2026 40 Under 40 music educators, an honor recognizing outstanding young music teachers across the country.

Whitehead’s positive, student-centered approach has helped Jefferson’s band program grow by more than 50 percent. Alongside his colleagues, he works closely with feeder elementary schools to build a strong music pathway, contributing to a combined enrollment of more than 350 students in band, orchestra and choir.

“I constantly strive for my students to be the very best version of themselves,” said Whitehead. “They know I care about them as people, not just musicians.”

Seventh graders across FWCS have traded their notebooks for cutting boards and the results are delicious. Part of the Cooking with Confidence program presented by McMillen Health, students learn essential kitchen skills such as safely handling food, using knives correctly, measuring ingredients and practicing other important safety techniques.

From pumpkin pancakes and veggie quesadillas to berry smoothies and Audrey’s salad, students experience the fun and satisfaction of preparing real food together. Whether seasoned cooks or just getting started, this program builds confidence, encourages teamwork and inspires lifelong healthy cooking habits.

Thank you to the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation and MHS for supporting this program.

For the second consecutive year, all five traditional FWCS high schools are competing in the Indiana FIRST Robotics Competition, highlighting student innovation, teamwork and problem-solving.

This video takes viewers behind the scenes to showcase the dedication and creativity of FWCS robotics students. Student representatives share their experiences and growth, offering insight into the confidence, collaboration and problem-solving mindset that define the FWCS Schools of Success graduate profile.

During a recent professional learning day, the counseling staff from Fort Wayne Community Schools visited Indiana University Fort Wayne and Ivy Tech to learn more about program offerings, admissions processes and the unique opportunities available to students.

Experiences like this help FWCS counselors give accurate, practical guidance, making sure students have the support they need as they plan for life after graduation. Seeing the campuses and talking with staff helps them better connect students with programs and pathways that match their interests and goals.

For Zidon Spradling, becoming a teacher was never just a job option. It was a calling shaped by watching his mom pour her heart into her students, first as a teacher and now as principal at Bunche Montessori Early Childhood Center. In their home, education was more than a profession. It was a purpose.

Inspired by the example set at home and the opportunities he experienced at school, Zidon is ready to return to FWCS and make a lasting impact of his own. In this episode of Classroom to Career, he thanks the person who first showed him what that future could look like, his mom.

Liam Gypson discovered how combining his passion with an entrepreneurial mindset could help him identify a problem with the potential to change the climbing industry.

When Liam first arrived at Amp Lab, school was not necessarily his favorite place to be. However, his love for climbing and his job at Summit City Climbing Gym helped him begin to see challenges through a new lens.

At Amp Lab, Liam developed and strengthened his skills in engineering and manufacturing design. As he explored the intersection of his passion and his growing technical skill set, he identified a common problem that affects many climbing gyms and began developing a solution.

The result was Bomber Bolts, an innovative product designed to minimize downtime and increase structural stability when replacing a T-nut or repairing a stripped route hole on a climbing wall. What started as an observation on the job turned into a tangible solution with real industry impact.

As Liam has built his business model, he has embraced the importance of testing multiple iterations and gathering consistent user feedback. Through this process, he has gained valuable insight into product development, customer discovery and achieving product market fit.

Liam’s journey is a powerful reminder that an entrepreneurial spirit can take many forms. His commitment, resilience and willingness to learn will serve him well far beyond this venture. We are excited to see where Bomber Bolts goes next and what opportunities it creates as he continues pursuing his passions.

A student's dependency status on the FAFSA determines whether parent information is required. Dependent students must report parent information while independent students do not. Most students under the age of 24 are considered dependent by default, with a few exceptions for students who are unaccompanied and homeless, or who are unaccompanied, self-supporting and at risk of homelessness.

Important Definitions:

Unaccompanied — A student who is not living in the physical custody of a parent or guardian.

Homeless — Lacking fixed, regular and adequate housing.

At risk of homelessness — A student whose housing may cease to be fixed, regular and adequate, such as a student who is being evicted or has been asked to leave their current residence and has been unable to find stable housing.

Self-supporting — A student who pays for their own living expenses, including fixed, regular and adequate housing.

For questions, please contact Christian Perez Mora at (260) 467-2113.

Adult Ed & Career Training

Our programs continue to support adults in earning career certifications and advancing skills. Be sure to check upcoming training opportunities and waitlists for professional credentials like CCMA, CNA, and more. fwcsadulteducation.us/careers

Learn & Grow Together

Continue to spread the word about all we offer, from English language classes to HSE diploma support and career training pathways. These services are available to help individuals build confidence, community, and a brighter future. Visit fwcsadulteducation.us or call the Continuing Education office at 260-467-1060.

The third annual FWCS Indoor Track Meet will be held on March 21 at the PFW Indoor Track Facility, 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd.

This event is designed to serve student-athletes at every level. Elementary athletes will have the opportunity to experience a real track and field arena for the very first time, while middle school competitors will get the chance to race indoors and build momentum heading into their outdoor season. For high school athletes, this meet will serve as an official qualifier for the Indoor State Meet.

The day will be organized into three separate meets:

Elementary Meet | 9:00–11:30 AM
Pre-K through Grade 5

see attached flyer for registration details

Middle School Meet | 1:00–4:00 PM
Grades 6–8 Team registration through your middle school

High School Meet | 2:30–6:00 PM
High School Indoor SAC Qualifier

We hope to see our student-athletes and families come out to support this wonderful community event.

The wheels on the buses can’t go round and round without you as a Bus Driver. We are actively seeking Bus Drivers and Bus Assistants to grow our dedicated transportation team. No CDL? No problem! We can assist interested applicants with the process of obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License, and we can even pay you as a Bus Assistant during the training period. Performance-based incentives are available! Apply online at www.fwcsjobs.org!

Tell us about the exciting things happening in your school. News to Share!
Website: fortwayneschools.org
Location: 1200 South Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, IN, 46802, USA
Phone: (260) 467-1000
Facebook: facebook.com/FWCommSchools
Twitter: @FWCommSchools