Fellows Will Work on Advancing Student-Centered Curricula and Personalized Learning
Boston, MA—Teach Plus, a national non-profit that puts teacher leaders at the center of improvement at all levels of the education system, kicked off its first cohort of Rhode Island Teaching Policy Fellows with 24 outstanding public school teachers from around the state. During the nine-month program, Fellows will focus exclusively on personalized learning, an issue which Rhode Island has been exploring in depth. The Fellows will study the issue and pursue a rigorous course in education policy in order to advocate for personalized learning policies that will better serve students, teachers, and communities in their state.
“Rhode Island is paving the way when it comes to innovation around personalized learning in public education and any long-lasting success in this effort must involve practitioners,” said Teach Plus Massachusetts Executive Director Paul Toner. “Teach Plus’ core expertise is in training and engaging teachers in education policy. We’re looking forward to bringing our new Rhode Island Fellows into discussions with state policy makers, other organizations working on the issue, and fellow practitioners as we consider together how to support educators in the expansion of personalized learning.”
The new Fellows, who represent schools in nine Rhode Island cities, teach a wide range of subjects in middle and high school grades. The incoming teachers have been recognized for their outstanding work and commitment to the teaching profession.
“Teachers know first-hand what our students need and want from school and we must ensure that each and every student is provided with equitable opportunities to learn. Re-designing curricula to be more student-centered is one way to progress towards this goal,” said Elizabeth Smith, math teacher at Mount Pleasant High School in Providence and Teach Plus Rhode Island Teaching Policy Fellow. “Through the Teaching Policy Fellowship, I hope to develop my leadership skills and share my experiences as an educator to enhance education policy in our state and strong implementation of personalized learning.”
The 2017 Rhode Island Teaching Policy Fellows are:
Julio Alicea of Blackstone Academy Charter School in Pawtucket, RI
Jason Appel of Barrington High School in Barrington, RI
Emily Berman of Blackstone Academy Charter School in Pawtucket, RI
Lisa Biswas of Nathan Bishop Middle School in Providence, RI
Brian Brodieri of the Metropolitan Regional Career and Vocational Center in Providence, RI
Alyssa Church of Blackstone Valley Prep Middle School in Central Falls, RI
Brianne Fagan of Mount Pleasant High School in Providence, RI
Diane Feole of Cranston High School West in Cranston, RI
Ellen Foley of 360 High School in Providence, RI
Jacquelyn Greaves of Blackstone Valley Prep Mayoral Academy in Lincoln, RI
Andrea Harrington of Roger Williams Middle School in Providence, RI
Samuel Jean-Baptiste of the Metropolitan Regional Career and Vocational Center in Providence, RI
Brian Kampper of Slater Middle School in Pawtucket, RI
Rhochelle Krawetz of Blackstone Valley Prep Middle School in Central Falls, RI
Amanda Larner of Segue Institute for Learning in Central Falls, RI
Jessica Mathias of Winman Junior High School in Warwick, RI
Elizabeth Noren of Toll Gate High School in Warwick, RI
Donna Perrotta of Nathan Bishop Middle School in Providence, RI
Kristin Re of the Metropolitan Regional Career and Vocational Center in Providence, RI
Harold Robinson of the Metropolitan Regional Career and Vocational Center in Providence, RI
Elizabeth Smith of Mount Pleasant High School in Providence, RI
Christopher Stanley of Ponaganset High School in North Scituate, RI
Allison Strumolo of Founders Academy at Beacon Charter School for the Arts in Woonsocket, RI
Rebecca Willner of Beacon Charter High School for the Arts in Woonsocket, RI
In addition to Rhode Island, Teach Plus runs highly-selective Policy Fellowships for teachers in seven states, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico, Massachusetts, and Texas. Fellows participate in an intensive course of study and learn to develop their voice in policy and advocacy. They engage directly with key education stakeholders and policy makers, and work to shape and advocate for policies that meet the needs of their students and the teaching profession.
About Teach Plus
Teach Plus empowers excellent, experienced teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. Teach Plus programs are designed to place highly effective teachers at the center of improvements in schools as leaders of their peers and outside schools influencing policy decisions that affect their classrooms. The programs develop excellent teachers into leaders who achieve change and mobilize others in their school, district, state, and across the nation to bring change to scale. Since its inception in August 2007, Teach Plus has grown to a network of more than 23,000 solutions-oriented teachers across the country.
www.teachplus.org
