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Election 2020 and Education: What the Outcome Means for Students, Schools, and Districts

On December 8th, 2020, we held a virtual Ed Newsmakers event featuring a panel discussion with three outstanding national experts in education policy who shared their insights on how the results of the election will influence education in DC, the states, and local school districts in 2021 and beyond. Our featured panelists for this event were: Celine Coggins, Executive Director of Grantmakers for Education; Rick Hess, Director…

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An Interview with Felicia Prass

We spoke with Felicia Prass, an AP teacher at Excel High School in Boston, about her experiences and her involvement in Mass Insight’s new AP Teachers of Color Advisory Council.

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An Interview with Dr. Kimberly Frazier-Booth

We spoke with Dr. Kimberly Frazier-Booth, an AP teacher at the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers in Boston, about her experiences and her involvement in Mass Insight’s new AP Teachers of Color Advisory Council.

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Science from Home: An Interview with Leslie Prudhomme and Ivyrose Likis

We spoke with Mi AP Sciences Senior Content Director Leslie Prudhomme and Boston AP Biology Teacher Ivyrose Likis about the development of Mass Insight’s Science from Home program and how it’s going so far in the classroom. The program is made possible through the work of miniPCR and funded by the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center…

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An Interview with Paula Nassif

Paula Nassif is the global society program & partnership manager at Wolters Kluwer Health. She has served on Mass Insight’s board of directors since 2019 and came to us through Latinos for Education’s Latino Board Fellowship. We talked to Paula about her experiences in the education system, her career path, and how she came to be…

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Ready, Set, Go Virtual!

Our partner school districts are spread across the country: some started school in late July; others are opening this week. Many are facilitating instruction remotely, many are offering a hybrid option, and some are beginning to resume school in person.   A superintendent preparing for a remote start asked me earlier this week: what can the districts that…

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Summer Lessons: School Improvement Planning in the Pandemic

This summer we’ve provided remote support for improvement planning in a number of schools. We’ve learned six lessons that we think are worth sharing.  School improvement planning is more important than ever. No matter the mode of instruction (virtual, hybrid, in classrooms), families and students are counting on schools to facilitate learning. Given all the…

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An Interview with Gary Evee

Gary Evee is the Founder and CEO of Evee Security Consulting Group. He has served on Mass Insight’s Board of Directors since 2019. He was recently elected Vice Chair and will take on the role of Board Chair beginning in July 2021. We talked to Gary about his experiences as a student in the Boston…

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An Interview with Dr. Pia Durkin

Dr. Pia Durkin is the author of a new book, “The Superintendent’s Work with Principals, Improving Instruction and Achieving Results,” available at http://www.rbteach.com/store.  A former superintendent, Dr. Durkin is currently a leadership consultant and executive for senior school leaders.  Dr. Durkin and I talked about her book recently on Zoom.

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The Humanities and STEM

In a recent New York Times editorial, David Brooks asserts that despite the current need for science and technology, “the humanities are in crisis at the exact moment history is revealing how vital moral formation really is.” He suggests that while science is “producing the vaccines, the humanities [are] stocking leaders and citizens with capacities of…

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A Statement from the Mass Insight Team

We are living through heartbreaking, horrific, and deeply troubling times.  We are struggling to understand the violent killing of George Floyd at the hands of those sworn to serve and protect.  His death is emblematic of countless other killings, and systemic racism pervades every aspect of our nation.  All of this as we struggle through a…

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Rob Jentsch

The Pivot Point: Scenario Planning for Student Learning in SY20-21

School systems across the country are starting to pivot from what has been very necessary reactive crisis management to more proactive scenario planning with an eye towards SY20-21. As state education agencies, school districts, and schools start to lay out all of the possibilities, many are feeling overwhelmed.   There’s a lot we don’t know about…

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Our blog features commentary and insights from our staff and, from time-to-time, special guest bloggers about school improvement practices and policies that are changing student lives and changing schools. Contact jschneider@massinsight.org for more information.