SUMTER, S.C., March 21 — Sumter School District is being highlighted in a national case study examining how school systems can thoughtfully implement high-quality science curriculum to improve student learning.
The case study, published by Activate Learning, provides an in-depth look at the district’s strategic rollout of OpenSciEd science curriculum and the collaborative leadership guiding the work.
The deep dive reflects real leadership decisions, real implementation constraints, and a phased rollout designed to build momentum strategically rather than force uniform adoption. The study explores Sumter’s OpenSciEd journey through insights from district leadership, school administrators, and classroom teachers.
Participants featured in the case study include district leadership representative Richard Phillips, principal Maria Dantzler of R.E. Davis College Preparatory Academy, and middle school science teachers Keonia Davis and Michelle Sutton, who are implementing three-dimensional learning in their classrooms each day.
“The goal wasn’t quick wins,” said Richard Phillips of Sumter School District. “We focused on building a thoughtful implementation process that supports teachers, engages students, and allows the work to grow sustainably across the district.”
At the school level, leaders say the curriculum has helped shift classroom instruction toward deeper student engagement.
“OpenSciEd encourages students to think like scientists,” said Maria Dantzler, principal of R.E. Davis College Preparatory Academy. “Students are asking questions, investigating real-world phenomena, and collaborating with one another to develop explanations based on evidence.”
For teachers, the curriculum provides a framework that supports inquiry-based instruction and deeper conceptual learning.
“In our classrooms, students are actively exploring ideas instead of simply memorizing information,” said middle school science teacher Keonia Davis. “They are making connections, analyzing data, and building explanations together.”
Fellow middle school science teacher Michelle Sutton added that the approach helps students see the relevance of science in their everyday lives.
“When students investigate real-world phenomena, science becomes meaningful,” Sutton said. “They begin to see how the concepts we study apply beyond the classroom.”
Rather than focusing on immediate district-wide adoption, the case study highlights Sumter School District’s deliberate approach beginning with a pilot phase, partnering with Activate Learning, supporting teachers through professional learning, and gradually expanding implementation while engaging stakeholders throughout the process.
District leaders say the strategy ensures that teachers have the support and resources they need to successfully implement the curriculum and sustain the work over time.
