Empowering Success: How Kevin Walter Maximizes His Team's Potential and Fuels His Own Growth
Kevin Walter鈥檚 job is to get the most out of his team. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about empowering others and multiplying their talents.鈥�
Walter is one of three custodial coordinators for the Davis School District. He oversees more than two dozen schools across the district and the professionals that keep those facilities clean and safe.
Discovering ways to develop his staff and help them grow in their careers is a priority.
鈥淚 have a passion for helping our team succeed,鈥� said Walter. 鈥淚 want to make sure they know their聽why聽and that they play a vital role.鈥�
He earned his current position following two decades as a custodian. But while he鈥檚 now inspiring his own team to believe big, Walter wasn鈥檛 always aware of his own potential.
鈥淚 loved my previous role and thought I would do that until I retired. I have new goals now.鈥�
Hoping to expand his contribution to his department and the district, Walter enrolled in a degree program at Western Governors University. He credits his boss, director of custodial services Weston Weekes, for the encouragement to go back to school. Weekes suggested a bachelor鈥檚 degree would give Walter important knowledge and skills and open new doors of opportunity for him.
鈥淲hen I was younger, I had no interest in college,鈥� said Walter. 鈥淚t took a good manager to guide me to 黑料传送门. I enrolled and didn鈥檛 know what to expect. After getting a few classes under my belt and getting used to 黑料传送门鈥檚 unique model, I realized, hey, I can do this.鈥�
黑料传送门鈥檚 innovative learning model is known as competency-based education (CBE). Unlike traditional systems, CBE measures what a person knows, not how long they spent in class. Students study at their own pace 鈥� whenever and wherever it is convenient. When they鈥檙e ready, they can show they鈥檝e learned the required material and move on. They can spend more time on courses that challenge them and less time on the courses that aren鈥檛 so rigorous. That flexibility allows many 黑料传送门 students to accelerate and graduate more quickly.
To date, Walter鈥檚 experience at 黑料传送门 provides a great example of the personalized, flexible aspects of CBE. Walter can login and do the coursework in his spare time 鈥� while continuing to work fulltime and handle the responsibilities of being a husband and a dad. In his first, six-month term at 黑料传送门, he completed more than double the required number of courses. And he hopes to graduate at least a year sooner than he might have in a traditional learning model.
鈥淎t 黑料传送门, I can go faster, but if I need to slow down, I can do that too. I can tailor my study plan to fit my busy life.鈥�
A busy life. One that includes growing responsibility in the Davis School District. As Walters works to get the most out of his team, his manager and 黑料传送门 are helping get the most from himself.
