In a previous blog, we shared how the RISE Network Convening put students in the spotlight, involving them and centering their voices throughout the day. Here, we look at the significant contributions of partner educators in creating a successful learning environment at the event, both through leading breakout sessions and actively participating in cross-school collaboration to share challenges and promising practices.
At RISE, we believe in the power of networks of educators working together across schools and districts to advance shared goals. Our annual Convening – this year, held on April 1 – presented an ideal opportunity to bring together educators from dozens of schools to do just that.
The Convening featured a cross-network collaboration session – an important annual staple – where educators sat at tables made up of colleagues from various schools in like roles (APs, counselors, teachers, etc.) and used this time to learn from each other and brainstorm strategies for wraparound student support.
And many educators at the Convening were not only active participants but also served as leaders. Afternoon breakout sessions offering practical solutions to improve student engagement were facilitated by educators from across RISE’s network of schools:
- Bulkeley High School: “Beyond Traditional Conferences: How Family On-Track Conferences Foster Real Engagement,” presented by Brooke Lafreniere, Grade 9 Assistant Principal.
- Manchester High School: “Designing School-Wide Systems: Ensuring Individual Student Postsecondary Achievement,” presented by Dr. Kaitlin Levesque, Director of Counseling; Dr. Amaka Fennimore, Ed.D., Assistant Principal; and Markeith Cirinna, School Counselor.
- Westhill High School: “Bridging Connections: The Power of Peer Mentoring and Leadership,” presented by Khanisha Moore, RISE Senior On-Track Coach; Valerie, Grade 11 student; and Juviana, Grade 12 student.
- Naugatuck High School: “Every Voice Valued: Amplifying Student Voices: Building Belonging and Engagement Through Collaboration,” presented by Eileen Mezzo, Associate Principal; Maeghann Vitti, School Counselor; Eleanor Jimemez-Franck, School Counselor; Jen Stone, Physical Education Teacher; and Nicholas Varanelli, Social Studies Teacher, as well as Grade 11 students Giselle, Kerone, Lillian, Kayla, and Taryn.
- Platt High School: “Empowering Multilingual Learners: Everyone’s Role in Success,” presented by (staff): Joanna DeJesus, School Counselor; Daniel Morisse-Corsetti, Principal; Jordan, Grade 10 student; and Madelyne, Grade 12 student.
Following Platt’s session, one attendee – Colin Ng, a social studies teacher from Westhill – said that, “Supporting [English language learners] is our job, and seeing how much Platt has, it shows more of a need for Stamford as a whole to step up their game.” He shared how he was inspired by Platt’s strategies, such as leveraging community partners, and that he was excited to bring this idea back to his school to try.
One of Platt’s presenters, School Counselor Joanna DeJesus, shared what the session meant to her in the context of the larger RISE Network. “You can’t do this in isolation in a building, let alone in education as a whole,” she said. “So being able to present and share some of the work that we’ve done… hopefully somebody can connect with that and then connect with us, and we can all continue to grow and make sure that the next generation [of students] is supported and prepared for after high school or any grade level.”
Reflecting on Naugatuck’s session and the student engagement strategy they shared, Associate Principal Eileen Mezzo said, “We are working really hard to elevate student voices… So a lot of what we’ve done is provide opportunities for them to become leaders and then turn to their peers and elicit feedback about what they love about Naugatuck, what they would like to see changed, and their ideas. Through that process, we’ve created protocols that allow us to see what the students have to say and create steps for action.” By sharing this approach, educators at other schools can learn from their challenges and successes, and adapt this framework to their own schools, thus demonstrating the power of networks.
Further illustrating this point, LaShante James, Assistant Principal at Brien McMahon High School, shared that she was grateful for the opportunity to collaborate across schools throughout the network during the Convening. “I got to speak about similar challenges with other administrators across the region, to problem solve together, and to share ideas that might be working – things that I probably didn’t think of – and to address some of the challenges, specifically around family engagement,” she said. “I found a wonderful strategy that I’m looking forward to implementing as soon as I get back.”
Ed Walker, who serves as Dean of Students at Worcester Tech, explained his view of the value of the network, noting that in addition to having a RISE coach to turn to for advice, he can also reach out to fellow educators from the network for thought partnership. “Being in the room with 200-plus educators, I get excited about the possibility of learning something new,” he said. “Being in the network itself is a privilege and a blessing.”
This sentiment was echoed by Dr. Dawn Brooks, Principal at Middletown High School, who shared that, “Every time I step away from a professional learning experience with RISE, I always feel so inspired to go back and find solutions to problems that we face every day. Being in the network is such a valuable part of the work that I do every day because I don’t feel alone in finding innovative solutions to new problems. Being a part of this network, being able to collaborate with people within my same role, and hearing what other schools that are similar to my own are doing to best serve students is extremely inspiring.”
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