About Us
The Gheens Institute for Innovation was established in 2008 with a generous start-up grant from the Gheens Foundation (http://gheensfoundation.org) in order to inspire, support, revitalize, and recognize sustainable, innovative programs and practices within Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS). The Institute builds upon a strong tradition of innovation and leadership within JCPS.
We believe that a spirit of innovation is essential to the quality and vitality of our schools and the future of our students.
The mission of the Gheens Institute for Innovation is to be a catalyst for innovative programs and practices that meet the needs of our students. We seek to encourage and recognize innovation within the district, while drawing upon creative, groundbreaking research and development from around the world. To do so, we promote a culture of risk taking, creativity, and social entrepreneurship. We work to build strong relationships with leading national research and development organizations and collaborate with them on grants and research initiatives that can benefit JCPS. We pursue funding partnerships with major foundations and government agencies to support the district's innovative educational practices and programs.