Would You Fly in a Plane Built by High School Students?

When Classroom Learning Reaches New Heights

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How can educational leaders create a system that meets standards and fosters lasting change and inclusivity?

What steps can they take to balance accountability with the creation of a truly inclusive system?

On the latest episode of The Engaging Leadership Show, I had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Chris Allen, Superintendent of Midway Independent School District, about transformational leadership, the Midway Mindset, and the role of experiential learning in shaping future-ready students. Dr. Allen’s leadership provides a compelling example of how strategic, student-centered leadership can drive meaningful and lasting improvements in education

Redefining the Role of an Educator

Dr. Allen highlights the importance of moving beyond traditional teaching methods, emphasizing critical thinking, mastery, and real-world application. At Midway ISD, the goal is to elevate students to the highest levels of cognitive engagement, assuming they can excel unless proven otherwise.

Education is about unlocking potential. When we set high expectations and provide the right support, students rise to the challenge.

Dr. Chris Allen

Highschool Students of Midway who will be working on the Tango Airplaine with their mentors

Harnessing Experiential Learning for Meaningful Change

Dr. Allen emphasizes the power of hands-on, real-world learning in preparing students for the future. A standout initiative at Midway High School involves students building an actual airplane, integrating STEM education with practical problem-solving and teamwork. With mentorship from local professionals and technical colleges, this project bridges the gap between classroom learning and workforce readiness.

Learning is most effective when students see its real-world relevance. When they build, create, and solve problems, they develop skills that last a lifetime.

Dr. Chris Allen

A Shift from Compliance to Deep Learning

Historically, educational systems have emphasized compliance and standardized testing. Dr. Allen advocates for authentic assessments that measure a student’s ability to apply knowledge in practical settings. In Midway ISD, real-world evaluations, like FAA inspections of student-built projects, replace rote memorization and standardized testing.

We need to shift from measuring memorization to assessing mastery. When students can demonstrate their knowledge in real-world applications, we know they are truly learning.

Dr. Chris Allen

Balancing Systemic Change with Community Engagement

Dr. Allen believes in transformational leadership—one that involves gradual implementation, strong community ties, and adapting structures to support deep learning. By engaging parents, educators, and local businesses, Midway ISD creates a collaborative educational environment where students can excel.

True leadership is about bringing people together. The best educational systems are built on trust, collaboration, and a shared vision for student success.

Dr. Chris Allen

Dr. Allen offers three key takeaways for future leaders in education:

  1. Believe in Every Student – Assume students can think critically and solve complex problems unless proven otherwise.

  2. Build Strong Support Systems – Educational success requires structures that reinforce high expectations and continuous improvement.

  3. Engage Stakeholders – Collaboration with educators, parents, and the community fosters trust and meaningful change.

Dr. Allen’s leadership at Midway ISD offers a model for the future of education—one that balances accountability with growth, structure with innovation, and high expectations with meaningful support. His insights remind us that true educational leadership is about empowerment, transformation, and creating opportunities for every student to succeed.

Would you trust high school students to build an airplane? Dr. Allen’s approach to education shows that with the right guidance, mentorship, and real-world challenges, students can exceed our expectations and achieve greatness.

Listen to the full episode on Spotify below:

Have a great week ahead,

CT

Whenever you’re ready, here are three ways we can help you:

  1. MTSS Coordination Template: If your instructional coaches and support teams have trouble with coordinating student data and tracking intervention progress, use our simple and lightweight toolkit to help. It’s fully customizable, we don’t see any of your data, and uses familiar Google Sheets and Forms. Let us help you set it up here.

  2. Integrated analytics for better decision-making: If you’re spending too much time in spreadsheets and struggling to pull data from different systems, or have just given up integrating your data, I can recommend small tweaks that should help almost immediately without massive changes to your process. This would be a complimentary 25-min consultation session. Book some time here.

  3. Recommend a Podcast Guest: Do you know a superstar superintendent? A lifelong learner leader? Get them the recognition they deserve and feature them on the podcast, and have them join a guest alumni of over 250+ other leaders.

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