Dr. Marty Pollio Reflects on the Academies of Louisville
When Dr. Marty Pollio looks back on his years at Jefferson County Public Schools, one story stands out as the spark for a movement that would transform education across Louisville. In a recent interview, Dr. Pollio recounted a pivotal moment at Jeffersontown High School that helped ignite the vision for the Academies of Louisville and continues to shape the future for thousands of students.
“We had kids that came to J-Town High School that were really passionate about welding, and I remember walking into a classroom, there was a chemistry classroom, where this young man was asleep,” Dr. Pollio recalled. “About an hour later, I happened to walk into the welding lab, and the teacher was talking about the exact same element, and [the student] was into the lesson. That was kind of a start for me to say, we can do this—with all of our pathways and all of our subjects. Every kid in a high school wall-to-wall should have a pathway that they're on and connect their math, English, science, and social studies classes to those pathways.”
This realization—that learning becomes powerful when it’s relevant to students’ passions—laid the groundwork for the Academies of Louisville. What began as a collaboration between a chemistry teacher and a welding instructor soon evolved into a district-wide movement, connecting classroom content to real-world careers and student interests.
Engagement Beyond Third Grade
Dr. Pollio is candid about the challenges of keeping students engaged as they move through school. “Research is clear that student engagement or their love of school peaks in the third grade and goes downhill for the rest of third through twelfth grade,” he noted. But the Academies model, he believes, is changing that trajectory by giving every student a reason to look forward to school.
“The sense of belonging is at least having one class that you really care about and then trying to make more of their day connected to that. If a kid is very passionate about IT, then what we want to do is allow them to have that opportunity—a pathway that takes them to something—and then the rest of their school day, math, English, science, social studies, there are connections so that the kid can see these.”
By aligning academic courses with career pathways and hands-on experiences, the Academies of Louisville are preparing students for graduation and life after.
“For me, it’s more about 2,500 more kids every single year being post-secondary ready with access to a better life, whether it’s college or career once they leave JCPS, and I think that’s the heartbeat of it.”
The Power of Partnerships
A defining feature of the Academies is the active involvement of business and community partners. For Dr. Pollio, this collaboration is essential to the program’s success.
“For years, I’ve been asked, ‘I want to support JCPS. How do I get involved?’ Well, here is a very clear way to get involved in a structured and formatted way. This is first and foremost a way for the community to get involved and support the school district, be inside our schools, see what great things are happening, and really help our kids.”
Business partners not only provide resources and expertise but also help ensure that what students learn matches the needs of the workforce. Whether it’s a large corporation or a small local business, these partners offer job shadows, apprenticeships, and mentorship, giving students a window into their future careers.
“Kids see a connection, and I just think it engages them more. The community, the business partners are getting involved with their education, and I believe kids see that. They say, ‘Wow, this community really cares about me being successful.’”
More Students, More Opportunities
Dr. Pollio’s pride in the Academies of Louisville is rooted in the tangible, life-changing results he’s witnessed. He points to the dramatic increase in post-secondary readiness as a clear indicator of the program’s impact. “Post-secondary readiness went from 50% to about 83% in my seven or eight years in JCPS,” he shared. “That is several thousand more students. We have 7,000 kids graduating right now. Now it’s in excess of 6,000 kids, so 2,500 more kids are walking across the stage with some type of certification, college credit hours, making their scores on the ACT that they need. And I think that is a real credit to the Academies of Louisville.”
For Dr. Pollio, the numbers tell a powerful story, but the true heartbeat of the initiative is the expanded opportunity for every student. “For me, it’s more about 2,500 more kids every single year being post-secondary ready with access to a better life, whether it’s college or career once they leave JCPS, and I think that’s the heartbeat of it,” he reflected.
The Journey Continues
As Dr. Pollio transitions to his new role at Ivy Tech, he remains committed to the core principles that shaped the Academies. His advice for JCPS leadership is clear: “I worked extremely hard over the past six to twelve months to make sure that this is sustainable, that it does not unravel or dissipate. I want this to be about, number one, how impactful we can be on kids’ lives.”
He also sees a direct link between the Academies and his new work in higher education. “When we talk about what the Academies are doing for the city, it’s workforce development. We are developing the future workforce in this city for what we need job-wise a decade from now, and to me, that’s the same thing that a community college system is doing.”
The Academies of Louisville have become a model for districts nationwide, with educators from across the country visiting to learn from Louisville’s success. The impact of the Academies of Louisville is clear, and the journey toward student success is just getting started.