South Putnam Superintendent takes in Nobel Prize Summit

Friday, October 11, 2024 at 4:58 AM

By Paul Gable

Smith said it was "truly an honor" to represent his district on a prestigious global stage.

For South Putnam Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Corey Smith, attending the Nobel Prize Summit in Sweden recently was the opportunity of a lifetime.

Smith visited Stockholm, Sweden for the summit, which featured discoveries in neuroscience and their potential to transform education. The summit allowed Nobel laureates, scientists, psychologists and educators an opportunity to look at the brain and how it impacts education.

Smith said back in July he learned of an opportunity from Brady Rhodes, Education First Regional Manager.

"After hearing about the opportunity, I inquired further and then went through a series of steps and question and answer sessions to arrive as the delegate from the Midwest, representing small, rural schools," Smith told The Putnam County Post.

Smith said the summit's central theme, Minding the Brain, which referenced brain neuroscience, aligns with his approach to education in that every student is different, every brain is different and educators should modify instruction and educational experiences to meet students where they are developmentally to maximize learning and knowledge acquisition.

"In my doctoral dissertation, I looked at how the learning intervention process known as Response to Intervention could be enhanced through rigorous, targeted and tiered interventions to meet individual student needs, student by student and standard by standard. Therefore, this summit was in direct alignment with how I approach education," Smith said.

Smith said it was "truly an honor" to represent his district on a prestigious global stage.

"The education leaders from around the globe provided an extraordinary approach to learn how different countries and regions approach the education of today's youth. Participating in multiple group discussions and presentations at the Nobel Prize Museum, Stockholm City Hall, Munchenbryggeriet Stockholm, Gamla stan (Stockholm Old Town), and The Royal Armory and field experiences at Ava gymnasium, an International Baccalaureate High School and EF Global Headquarters was inspirational and incredibly informative," Smith said.