A Successful Pandemic Intervention Lives On

An item from a K-12 blended learning organization.

The Hechinger Report chronicles learning pod project success

 

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Join the conversation as we partner with communities to design and implement culturally responsive school change.

In This Week’s Issue

• We’re halfway there! Support our Annual Appeal goal by donating or spreading the word
• Central Falls Learning Pods initiative featured in an article in The Hechinger Report

We’re hoping to raise $12,500 by end-of-year to continue building momentum with our work in 2023. We are excited to share that we’re now over halfway to this goal! If you’re in a position to give, please consider making a donation on our website. Thank you for your support!

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Photo credits: Nancy Walser for The Hechinger Report

Pods Live On: Learning Pods Partnership Featured in The Hechinger Report

When we launched our learning pods in the winter of 2021 we did it in response to COVID disengagement, but what we created in partnership with Freedom Dreams and the Central Falls School District was an essential student-centered support model that both families and students are craving.

100% of families rated learning pods as ‘extremely helpful in supporting their child’. We saw unbelievable rates of growth from the beginning to the end of the year around key indicators like student engagement (85% growth) and sense of belonging (55% growth), and these results were even more powerful for certain student populations.

Connecting community educators with students who share identities, experiences, and languages seems to be a critical factor for us to explore further as we work to support our students and families through COVID recovery.

“People talk all the time about not going back to the system that didn’t work for all kids. I think this model brings hope.”

Whitney Oakley, Guilford, North Carolina, Superintendent

This is why we’re grateful that our ongoing learning pod initiative received national recognition by reporter Nancy Walser in an article featured this week in The Hechinger Report.

Thank you to the dedicated Central Falls project team behind this program’s success, including Stephanie Downey-Toledo, Lesdin Salazar, Karla Arevalo, Tatiana Baena, Jay Midwood, Denise Debarros, Patricia Martinez, Janelle Haire, and all of the incredible Learning Pod Leaders. We’d also like to extend a special shout out to Simona Simpson-Thomas (Freedom Dreams) and Malika Ali (Highlander Institute) for their intensive curriculum, design, facilitation, and training work that have made this partnership possible.

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Highlander Institute www.highlanderinstitute.org Providence, RI Please feel free to contact us directly, visit our website, or connect with us on social media!