Portledge teams with Harvard University

The Island Now

Portledge School has teamed up with the Harvard Graduate School of Education for a couple of projects.  First, the Harvard Principals’ Center Advisory Board visits schools each spring.  Four innovative schools and principals are selected.  

During their visit to New York City, the Board visited Portledge School (Locust Valley).  Portledge was the only private school chosen.  They spent the day touring the school, meeting teachers, and talking to students on Tuesday, May 7.

The Principals’ Center at the Harvard Graduate School provides aspiring and experienced school leaders from across the country and around the world with exemplary professional development to meet personal and professional challenges.  

The Principals’ Center has dedicated itself to the support, development, and improvement of school principals and other school leaders who influence the character and quality of a school.  

The Principals’ Advisory Board focuses on important issues in the field and the future directions for the Institute and other programs, and acts as the ambassadors for the Principals’ Center and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  

Board members unanimously sang the praises of the Portledge School for its Curriculum design, and innovative approaches to 21st Century learning.  Board member, Sanna Nasser, called the visit inspirational.  Alan D. Cohen, Lower School Head, is a Board Member of the Principals’ Center.  Second, Portledge School is also collaborating with the Making Caring Common Initiative at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.  

As part of a data-driven improvement effort, students at Portledge participated in an anonymous survey designed to help school leaders better understand how students’ perceive their school environment.  

By collecting this important information, Portledge will have the opportunity to brainstorm effective responses and strengthen their ability to support the development of children’s ethical and social capacities, including caring, respect and responsibility for others.

Simon Owen-Williams, Portledge Head of School, said “It is a great honor for Portledge to have been selected from among the leading schools in the area to be visited by the team from Harvard and to work with their Making Caring Common Initiative. Their insights into the nature of 21st century education were particularly insightful. Some of our teachers who will be trained at Harvard again this summer now have a meaningful connection with leaders from that community which is always a good thing when developing productive relationships.”

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