Building Again
“Education either functions as an instrument which is used to facilitate integration of the younger generation into the logic of the present system and bring about conformity or it becomes the practice of freedom, the means by which men and women deal critically and...
read moreLearning and Leading in a time of Crisis: Can hope prevail?
Alumni from Perrone Sizer Institute for Creative Leadership leading, learning and giving hope during a worldwide pandemic.
read moreLearning on Zoom: Some Lessons from our PSi Three Week Intensive
We learned some “best practices” teaching on Zoom. We share them here. Nothing, however, replaces human interaction.
read moreMagical Moments: PSi graduates
Last Thursday we experienced a magical—if virtual—moment as PSi’s 2019-2020 Cohort “crossed the stage” to receive their diplomas. Tiffany Rice, a member of the cohort who is moving from her position at Windsor School to become the new El Sistema Director at...
read moreRiding the Next Wave
Every now and then it’s important to recommit to why I’m in public education and why I continue to feel hopeful even in such dark times. Yes, funding for public schools continues to be a struggle, particularly for urban schools. After 25 years of high stakes testing,...
read moreLearning to Lean In at the Gardner Pilot Academy in Allston, MA
Eighteen 6th graders work in small groups or pairs scattered around a large rectangular-shaped classroom. Two students are at the front of the room, near the rug, working independently seated in reclining chairs with their feet on the chair and their knees up to their...
read moreLearning about Learning in Mexico
In a world that seems to grow meaner by the minute, I was delighted to find a bright spot last week in the mountains of Tepotzlan, Mexico. There, for two weeks, the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI) held their global convening. Teachers, principals, and...
read moreHaverhill’s Quest for Change
When I think about Haverhill, I think about shoes, and I saw a lot of monuments and statues of shoes around the city. Yes, in the 20th century, Haverhill was a center of shoe production. Haverhill had a 200-300 year history making shoes from the time in 1646 when a...
read moreHope y Esperanza
Esperanza Spalding’s visit to Conservatory Lab was a magical moment for students as well as the adults who teach them music on a daily basis. She met the second grade orchestra named for her. She talked about the trust and freedom she saw in their eyes — something in...
read moreMy Book Talk at the State House Library!
Last week I had the opportunity to give an author talk at the Massachusetts State House Library. When they asked last Fall if I’d be willing, I didn’t hesitate. Even though I didn’t know anything about this author series, I’m a devoted fan of libraries and librarians....
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