Public school is not what it used to be. Beaufort County School District says that’s a good thing.

The district’s new Changemakers program supports a more holistic approach to education, designed to give students the skills and confidence to succeed.

By LL Partner Studio

Parents need no reminder: school looks different now than it did in their youth. Upended by a global pandemic and the introduction of artificial intelligence, schools have evolved with the world around them. With their new magnet program, Beaufort County School District (BCSD) is creating a change for the better.

In 2025, BCSD earned a federal grant to fund its multi-year Changemakers initiative, a unique magnet program designed to enhance the current curriculum. These programs, including the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, Dual Language Immersion in Spanish or Chinese, STEM-focused education and a college and career-readiness program, were selected to provide K-12 students with a more holistic approach to education.

“It’s more than just a traditional four walls with desks and rows,” says Frank Rodriguez, BCSD superintendent. “It’s designed for creativity within the instructional process, focused on personalized interests, learning needs and, at the same time, academic rigor to prepare students for tomorrow.”

Through Changemakers, BCSD guides students toward their futures with a progressive teaching model, providing them the support, skills and confidence to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

A personalized approach

Before elaborating on specifics of the program, BCSD assures parents that the course material is unchanged. Mary Stratos, BCSD Chief Instructional Services Officer, emphasizes the method, rather than the subject matter, as the focus of Changemakers.

“They’re having the same classes as everyone else, but it’s the approach to how the teacher does their teaching,” she says. 

This reformed approach enables educators to understand their students on a more personalized level. From there, they can address specific needs and goals. Rodriguez says curating education to fit students on an individualized basis is the key to positive, successful learning. 

“We want to offer learning experiences for students [that] tap into their natural curiosity, intellect and desire to continue learning, and we want to do that through the content that interests them,” he says.

Project Lead the Way, one program under the Changemakers umbrella, engages students interested in STEM subjects through interactive, hands-on experiences. In addition to traditional math and science curricula, students have the opportunity to apply their studies to real-world challenges in engineering, robotics and scientific exploration. Like the other Changemakers programs, Project Lead The Way supplements what students learn in the classroom with lived experiences that inspire them. Rodriguez notes this enables students to feel a greater sense of agency and achievement.

“You’re really transitioning students into much more ownership of their learning and their experience,” he says.

Connecting with the community

Another pillar of the Changemakers program is to foster a greater connection with the community. The first step, according to Stratos, is to shift education toward a more holistic understanding of the world. 

“At the core of our [middle and high school program] is giving students global competency through integrating their content,” she says. “When I look at math, [I can answer] how that’s related to science, how that’s related to ecology in Hilton Head, how that’s similar to the savannah in Africa.”

The IB framework is most well-known for its interconnected approach, a model that thrives on discussion and cooperation. BCSD considered those values when designing its new high school, scheduled to open this fall. Collaborative spaces, like a Socratic circle in its main atrium, encourage students to engage with each other both in and out of the classroom. Outdoors, a courtyard surrounded by majestic oaks invites gathering and discussion as peers.

This connection extends to the local community. As part of the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) elective, students develop the skills needed for college and career success. Offered at Hilton Head Island Middle and High Schools, AVID provides students a unique opportunity to learn practical know-how, like how to stay organized and think critically, in addition to industry-specific skills through Career and Technical Education Pathways. BCSD selected which pathways they would offer to educate students on the industries most important to the Lowcountry.

“Hospitality and tourism is the largest industry in Beaufort County, and health care is the third,” says Megan Jarrett, Changemakers Project Director.

Because of this, Hilton Head Island High School currently offers electives in hospitality, event management and tourism, and a new health science pathway will be added within the next year. These electives, in alignment with the program’s emphasis on community, can empower students entering the local workforce.

“Providing a space for students to learn about the industries with the biggest impact on our area and giving them the skills early on to succeed supports the future of our community,” Jarrett says.

Why Changemakers matters

In the effort to support the entire Lowcountry, Changemakers is not limited to Hilton Head Island residents. Students from across Beaufort County can enroll in Changemakers through BCSD’s School Choice option.

“An experience like this helps students get hands-on, collaborative experience with one another. Those are really important 21st-century skills,” Rodriguez says.

To stress the necessity of those skills, Stratos references NASA’s Artemis II lunar mission in early April. 

“Think about the moon mission. It’s tied to a high level of technology, but it’s about teamwork,” she says. “That is what a lot of our industries are looking for. Being able to communicate with each other and building that capacity within our learners is very much needed in contemporary times.”

Parents interested in learning more about Changemakers and how it enhances their child’s education can review digital resources on the BCSD website. For a closer look, Rodriguez invites parents to visit Changemakers schools, such as Hilton Head Island High School, and see the impact for themselves. “They can come in and get a firsthand look at not only what our facility is going to be offering, but they can gain a deeper understanding of the programs we’re already offering to support their child’s experience,” he says.

Though different from the education most parents remember, BCSD’s new approach is designed to take time-honored methods to the next level. Personalizing education to uplift students and connecting them with local and global communities is how Changemakers sets students up for success beyond graduation. To BCSD, it’s not just about a passing grade but inspiring leaders of the next generation.

“We’re preparing students for tomorrow, and everything with it,” Rodriguez says.

This post was created by LL Partner Studio on behalf of Beaufort County School District. Learn more at www.beaufortschools.net.