Chancellor touts success of Kennedy collaboration

Posted

“If you have this many schools individually, how do they talk to one another?” Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña asked during a visit to the John F. Kennedy Educational Campus on Oct. 9. 

It was an important question for educators at the site, where seven schools share a single building. 

For Ms. Fariña, one answer could be the Learning Partners Program, an initiative that the Department of Education (DOE) launched as a pilot program in the spring. Through the initiative, schools applied to partner with other sites throughout New York City to share and discuss innovative educational ideas.  

On the Kennedy campus, Marble Hill High School for International Studies, Bronx Engineering and Technology Academy (BETA) and Bronx School of Law and Finance have formed a triad, with Marble Hill acting as the “host” school. 

“These are three schools that each have different strengths, but want to research the same problem and make it better,” Ms. Fariña explained. “It’s really more of a conversation.” 

After 21 schools participated in the original pilot program, the DOE hopes to expand the program to include 72 schools within the coming year. 

Marble Hill Principal Kirsten Larson said for the three Kennedy campus schools, the goal is to develop a more personal approach to education and emphasize positivity. There is also a particular focus on special-needs students. 

During the schools chancellor’s visit, several teachers presented their thoughts on the program so far. They discussed a case where BETA tested an approach already employed at Marble Hill, specifically, the practice of assigning students long-term projects. 

Freshmen in BETA’s summer program participated in a project that combined English, technology and science into a single environmental studies program. They took trips to the Bronx and Hudson rivers and documented their journeys. 

They also went to five different locations to pick up trash — noting how socioeconomics contributed to what was thrown out — before the summer was over.  

John F. Kennedy Campus, Kennedy campus, Carmen Fariña, Learning Partners Program, BETA, Marble Hill High School, Bronx School of Law and Finance, Maya Rajamani
Page 1 / 3

Comments