Educational Innovation Archives - 91��

Three Ways to Teach Your Child Self-Advocacy

Erin Lynch — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 09:07:33 +0000

Your child needs to learn to self-advocate to communicate with others, become independent, and grow into a self-sufficient young person. Self-advocacy includes taking responsibility for speaking up for yourself, knowing how to seek help when needed, and listening to others. Helping your child learn how to express their needs and desires will build the foundation for confidence and self-awareness as they grow older. Here are three ways to help your child develop this important skill:

Learn How to Ask

Often, children have a hard time identifying what is wrong or what they need. Teach your child to express why they want or need something. If they ask for something, prompt them to express why they are asking. That way, you are guiding them to first consider, and then communicate, their needs in a given situation. Encourage them to express their needs both inside and outside of the house. For young children, it can be helpful to offer them scripted words or phrases to use.

Take Responsibility

When children have tasks they can successfully complete, their confidence grows. Try giving your child regular chores or a short list of responsibilities to complete daily. Learning how to handle and practice responsibility positively will build your child’s self-esteem.

Talk About Strengths and Weaknesses

One thing that can help young people self-advocate is knowing their own strengths and weaknesses. Consider different kinds of strengths, and point these out to your child regularly. Take note of their successes! Likewise, being aware of areas for growth is helpful for children. If they are aware of their weaknesses, they can better communicate with teachers and other adults about challenges. Always frame discussions of weaknesses with a “growth mindset”—encouragement will help build your child’s confidence!

Above all, observe and communicate! Learning to self-advocate depends on conversations with parents and role models, as well as consistent encouragement. Give your child the language and the confidence to ask for what they need—and watch their self-advocacy grow.

Originally published on December 3, 2018. Updated on January 30, 2026.��

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Educational Innovator: Graland Country Day School

Hannah Grandine — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 22:05:00 +0000

As an educational technology company, 91�� believes in the power of education to shape the future of our society. Our Educational Innovator series highlights a program, school, or individual that is contributing to the advancement of education in a unique way, whether through groundbreaking curriculum, technological innovation, or other revolutionary projects.

This week we spoke with Andy Dodge, Program Co-Director of the Gates Invention and Innovation program at Graland Country Day School.

The Gates Invention and Innovation program at Graland Country Day School in Denver, Colorado, provides�� motivated students in grades 5-8 the opportunity to solve real-world problems through the invention of original products, potentially earning themselves U.S. patents in the process. Each year, 100-130 student participants identify a problem, conduct market research, design and develop a prototype, and test their product and subsequent iterations until they have a final product.

“Every year I’m always blown away by the things they come up with,” said Andy Dodge, fifth grade teacher and co-director of the program.

Students’ work culminates in the two-day Gates Expo, attended by the entire school and members of the community. Inventions are judged by a panel of industry leaders, who choose 10-15 inventions whose creators will be invited to return the next day to give a more formal presentation. Winners are then chosen from the smaller group, and if an idea has patent and mass marketing potential, the judges can also recommend additional support and funding for the idea to pursue product development and a U.S. patent. Over 12 patents have been awarded to 19 Graland Country Day School students.

However, the learning benefits that the program provides do not always align with the winners or the products that end up receiving patents. “A lot of the real successes have little to do with whether the student won,” Dodge said. “The success is often that�� kids learn to rely upon themselves, to take a risk, and learn the value of failure.”

The Gates Invention and Innovation program was originally developed by Graland alumnus Charles C. Gates, who graduated from GCDS in 1934 and went on to study at MIT and Stanford. He subsequently enjoyed�� a successful career managing the Gates Corporation, a manufacturer of power transmission belts and fluid power products based out of Denver. Gates believed that all children are natural inventors, and his experience at Graland inspired him to fund the program and competition through a large endowment in 1998. His daughter, Diane Wallach, continues the family’s generous financial commitment to the Gates program.

Over the past 20 years, the program has continued developing. Today, director Dodge finds himself most impressed by student projects that integrate empathy, a necessary skill in invention and design thinking, as it helps students identify real-world problems that might not be part of their personal experience. In recent years, the program has placed increasing emphasis on developing empathy. “Ultimately, empathy is something that needs to be taught,” Dodge said. “We’ve taught students how to interview with empathy and ask the right kinds of questions… It’s a skill that is important for kids to learn and understand no matter what they go into.”

Beyond the emphasis on teaching empathy, the Gates program impacts other aspects of education at Graland, including the overall structure of learning. “Over the years, a lot of the instruction [at Graland Country Day] has begun to more closely model the process of going through the Gates program,” Dodge said. “It’s completely inquiry-based, student-driven learning.”

Since the birth of the Gates program, the school has also hired a director of innovation (the Charles C. Gates Director of Innovative Learning) and developed an entire department of innovation, which finds ways to collaborate with teachers and develop innovative ways of teaching.

In 2007, the Gates program was also adopted by Cardigan Mountain School, a boarding and day school for boys in grades 6-9 in Canaan, New Hampshire. In both programs, students benefit greatly from the learning that happens through tinkering, taking risks, and not losing motivation when original ideas do not always come together as planned. “They learn to fail early, and fail often. That is the quickest way to success,” Dodge said. “Some kids begin and are a little allergic to failure, but through the program they learn that they need to take risks, dive in, get messy and dirty, try things… They begin to really learn to rely on themselves.”

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Originally published on February 11, 2018. Updated on January 12, 2026.

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Technology in Education

Joshua Dolim — Thu, 08 Jan 2026 03:40:00 +0000

We’ve come a long way from the overhead slide projector and the typewriter, and as technology evolves so does education. Here are six technological advancements that we’ve found are making waves in education:��

Smartboards

Smartboards are already pervasive in many schools across the country, and we’ve witnessed first-hand the power that they have to help make learning more interactive, more engaging, and more fun. According to the Global Education Census, conducted by Cambridge Assessment International Education, nearly 60% of classrooms in the US are using interactive whiteboards. Smartboard technology allows educators to give more dynamic lectures and presentations because they can easily and intuitively interact with what’s on screen. The technology allows students to engage more with increased access to tactile interaction and support of diverse learning styles. Smartboards also introduce opportunities for different types of collaboration and participation, with polls, live quizzes, and other group activities where students work together and get real-time results.

One of the more challenging aspects of being a teacher is managing the classroom. When a teacher turns their back to the room, students are more likely to disengage, get rowdy, or otherwise disrupt the learning environment. Smartboards help minimize the amount of time that teachers have their attention away from the class, which not only means that they can manage their classroom better, but more importantly it means that they spend more time engaging with students. Many resources, like ready-made maps, gamified quizzes, and lesson templates are readily available for an educator to bring up on screen and interact with, which results in educators spending less time preparing and setting up, and more time teaching.

Online Schools

Oftentimes when moving or deciding whether or not they’ll take a job in a new city, a parent’s first thought is about the schools in the area they’re looking at. Sometimes it’s hard to find a well-rounded school, or the types of schools in your area don’t cater well to your student’s particular needs. So you either have to move somewhere out of your price range, accept the reality of your�� student attending whichever school serves your new home, or find another alternative like costly private schools or homeschooling.

With the rise of the internet, online schools have become much more�� prominent and provide accessible options to families who are looking for different K-12 schooling methods. According to the NCSE, more than 75% of all US school districts offer online education choices, so digital learning options are most likely available in your area.

Online schools don’t only provide alternatives to traditional school but can be used to supplement traditional education, providing resources that a local school may not be able to offer. You can also choose between private online schools like Stanford Online High School, or publicly funded schools that are just like your local offerings but translated to a virtual platform.

Messaging

When students go home at the end of the day, it’s up to them to remember everything that was covered in class and what assignments they should be focusing on. As soon as a student leaves a classroom or tutoring session, the interaction with the educator ends until the next session. In addition to the lack of communication with students, parents don’t usually have a regular or open line of communication with educators either. This can leave parents in the dark and mean that they lack the resources to best support their students.��

Messaging services that tap into SMS, MMS, and other digital communication platforms can help educators stay in touch with students and their families without crossing personal boundaries. Services that allow for one-to-many messaging allow educators to send reminders and/or updates to keep students in the loop if things change and can be used to keep parents apprised of what’s going on in the classroom on a regular basis. This means fewer parent-teacher conferences are needed and parents can be more involved in their student’s education, all while helping students stay more connected to their lesson plans than ever before.��

Virtual Reality

Among current technology trends, Virtual Reality is one of the fastest growing. This technology presents some of the most novel ways to enhance student engagement and provide individualized learning opportunities to students. VR transforms learning by offering immersive, interactive environments for virtual field trips (The Great Pyramid of Giza or Outer Space), complex concept visualization (atomic structures or geometric shapes), and safe skills practice (lab experiments such as dissections).With VR, you can tailor an educational experience to suit a student’s strengths rather than trying to get a student to conform to a generalized program. VR isn’t just about playing games anymore!

Augmented Reality

Similar to Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality introduces some very interesting concepts for students to participate in ways that might differ from a traditionally equipped classroom. Augmented Reality, like the Microsoft Hololens and the technology in advanced smartphones and tablets, provides the ability to overlay digital experiences on top of real world objects. This means that students can potentially touch and feel objects that aren’t actually there, conduct experiments that might be too dangerous for a school laboratory (like some of the more interesting chemistry experiments), or engage with custom materials tailored to each student while still easily and naturally interacting with classmates and educators.

3D modeling, physically interacting with digital objects, and quick access to additional information are all examples of how Augmented Reality can be used to enhance students’ educational experiences. And with 95% of all teenagers having ready access to a smartphone (according to Pew Research) Augmented Reality might be closer to the classroom than you think!

Artificial Intelligence

The number one thing that educators don’t have enough of is almost always time. School-teachers in particular volunteer an enormous amount of time for tasks like grading tests and developing curriculums in addition to the enormous amount of time and support that each student needs. Ask any teacher when the last time they took their student’s work home to grade and they’ll probably say ‘yesterday’.

Artificial Intelligence offers opportunities for educators to automate routine tasks such as grading tests, adjusting lesson plans, and developing individualized curriculums for students. This allows educators to spend more time working directly with those students, creating a more efficient and tailored learning environment. As technology continues to progress, innovation in education will continue. It’s easy to get lost in the mire of how it’s always been done, and what was successful in the past; but as we advance as a society we’ll need to keep thinking forward and stretching our imagination for how we can leverage cutting edge technology to improve education. Some of the ideas in this list were fantasies just a few years ago, and the technological advances that are going to come in the next few years will change the face of education even more.

Originally published on January 28, 2019. Updated on January 7, 2026.

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School Profile: Eastside Catholic School

Geoff Dennis — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 01:46:00 +0000

We spoke with Karen Hatch, the current Marketing & Communications Director at�� Eastside Catholic School, about what makes EC special.��

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Grades Served:��6 through 12

Student Body: Approximately 850 students total with ~70 per grade in the middle school and ~170 per grade in the high school.

What makes your school unique?

Eastside Catholic is known for our strong community—many students view EC as their home away from home. Our school offers grade-level retreats and a school-wide Mentor Program, award winning performing arts and athletic programs, and more than 30 AP, honors and collegiate level courses in the high school. With administrative approval, middle school students can take advanced courses in the high school. We care about the whole student—social and emotional, not just academics—while encouraging and supporting each student academically.

What makes your students unique?

Almost all of our students develop a great balance between our three Touchstones: Academic Excellence, Relationships, and Servant Leadership. Our students are appreciative and thank teachers at the end of class. Students learn to be strong collaborators and do so in and out of the classroom. Our students are also active volunteers in our neighboring communities.

What makes your faculty and staff unique?

Our faculty continuously work above and beyond the regular school day, including optional evening events, lunch meetings, acting as club advisers, meeting with students before and after school, and more. They are dedicated to EC and our mission and strive to encourage academic excellence, nurture relationships, and inspire a life of leadership and service to others. Currently, nine teachers are Nationally Board Certified, and 68% of EC’s faculty members hold advanced degrees.

What should students keep in mind when applying to your school?

During the application process, we work hard to develop an accurate picture of each potential student through academic evaluation, interviews, and written applications to assess what is best for them as a student and as a person and to ensure that they will succeed at Eastside Catholic. We encourage all students to visit EC and experience what it’s like to be a Crusader for a Day!

Which program or recent change are you most excited about at your school?

We are especially proud of the expansion of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) resources for middle school and high school, a new school-wide Mentor Program curriculum for all grades, and the Amplify Middle School Science curriculum. We are also excited about the addition of new programs to support school community cohesiveness through all-school activities like our parent-student sponsored “Spring Fling,” Field Day, and EC Way Awards.

Describe an impactful program that your school runs.

Eastside Catholic is home to the Options Program which provides individualized academic and life skills development for high school students with diagnosed intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.

Describe what a class at your school looks like.

Students are greeted at the door and class begins with prayer. Each minute provides students the opportunity to learn and grow as young adults. Teaching styles and methods are varied throughout each lesson to accommodate multiple learning styles and maximize each student’s academic success and help them fulfill their true potential.

Originally published on November 7, 2018. Updated on January 4, 2026.

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Educational Innovator: The Wight Foundation

Hannah Grandine — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 19:33:27 +0000

91�� believes in the power of education to shape the future of our society. Our Educational Innovator series highlights a program, school, or individual that is contributing to the advancement of education in a unique way, whether through groundbreaking curriculum, technological innovation, or other revolutionary projects. This week, we spoke with Thalia Brownridge-Smith, Director of the Scholars Training and Enrichment Program (STEP) at The Wight Foundation in Newark, New Jersey.

The Wight Foundation is an educational access organization founded in 1986 by real estate entrepreneur Russell B. Wight, Jr. The organization’s mission is “making a world of difference,” which it accomplishes by providing grants for socioeconomically disadvantaged students to attend prestigious boarding schools. This effectively allows these students’ voices to become part of a global exchange of ideas, and provides them with greater access to educational opportunities throughout their lives. Academically motivated students are recruited from local middle schools in the Greater Newark area and encouraged to apply for the foundation’s STEP initiative.

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“Our mission is to find capable students who may be in schools that aren’t as attentive to their needs because they are at the higher end of the class,” said Thalia Brownridge-Smith, Director of the STEP program. “[These students] may serve as tutors or helpers, but aren’t really challenged. Their potential is phenomenal, and we look to identify curriculum that will tap into their strengths and allow them to see great success.”

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Acceptance into the STEP program is highly competitive: many years, the program sees as many as a thousand applicants for only 54 available spots. The 54 accepted students participate in a full year of academics, starting in the summer after their seventh-grade year, in order to prepare them for the admissions tests they’ll need to take and the rigorous coursework of a boarding school environment.

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“Our primary focus is to get our voices into independent boarding schools,” said Brownridge-Smith, an alum of the STEP program herself.��

The organization sends students to boarding schools specifically because of these schools’ global perspective, with students attending from all over the country and the world. Thus, students at boarding schools become exposed to ideas and perspectives that stretch their thinking. Being in this environment supports Wight Foundation scholars in two ways: they learn from their peers from different backgrounds, and also contribute their own experiences to conversations, representing a demographic that has not historically been represented at boarding schools in the United States.�� “A lot of our students go into careers where it behooves them to know with whom they are speaking and to know how to approach different people,” Brownridge-Smith said. “And we want our students’ voices to be heard across the country as well.”

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For many students, however, the boarding school experience is unfamiliar and can bring new challenges along with it, especially if students’ families aren’t familiar with the process either. Brownridge-Smith, an alum of the program herself, was the first in her family to attend boarding school, college, and graduate school, which made these spaces difficult to navigate at first.�� “My parents didn’t necessarily have the experience to guide me as they didn’t have that experience themselves,” Brownridge-Smith said. However, the Wight Foundation provided support and knowledge to her throughout her educational journey. “Having people know you and support you in those communities, to have somebody advocating for you… our students know that we are 100% for them.”

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In addition to families’ unfamiliarity with the overall experience, boarding school is an environment that can be culturally alienating for new students. “We are kind of the outliers,” Brownridge-Smith said. “Teachers treated us like they’ve never had a student like us… It is important for [students] to feel that they belong on campus.”�� Having mentors in the organization who have gone through the entire process themselves can help alleviate some of these feelings. Wight Foundation support is extremely hands-on. “We visit every student at least two times per year,” Brownridge-Smith said. “We meet with their advisors, sit in classes, take them out to dinner…There’s always support—someone that you can speak with, a network that is there for you, people that you can call on at any point.”

Beyond the STEP program, the Wight Foundation also helps students through their college admissions process, and checks in with students regularly throughout their undergraduate experience. Many Wight Foundation Scholars actually return to work for the organization after college. “Our entire recruitment team, we are all Wight Foundation Scholars,” Brownridge-Smith said. “It’s starting to come full circle for us. Essentially, it’s because there’s so much love and support for the organization, and so much that we give back and really hold true to the ideals of making a world of difference, and knowing that we have a responsibility in [students’] lives.”

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You can learn more about the Wight Foundation at .

Originally published on March 14, 2018. Updated on January 4, 2026.��

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Educational Innovator: Phillips Academy’s (�ѳ�)² Program

Hannah Grandine — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 22:20:00 +0000

91�� believes in the power of education to shape the future of our society. Our Educational Innovator series highlights a program, school, or individual that is contributing to the advancement of education in a unique way, whether through groundbreaking curriculum, technological innovation, or other revolutionary projects. This week, we spoke with Dianne Domenech-Burgos, director of the (�ѳ�)² program at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.

Andover’s longest-running educational outreach program, Mathematics and Science for Minority Students-–(�ѳ�)², for short—advances diversity in math and science fields by developing the competencies and self-confidence of outstanding high school students of color.

The ongoing lack of diversity in STEM is a problem that permeates workplaces and institutions of higher education across the country. Though Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities make up around 35% of the U.S. population, they are consistently marginalized in the science and engineering workforce. “The majority of the reason for the gap is that students are not prepared,” Dianne Domenech-Burgos, director of the (�ѳ�)² program, said. “If they’re coming from the urban public school system, they don’t always get the skills that they need–and the math and science knowledge that they need–to do well in a STEM field.”

To help bridge this gap, the program seeks out underrepresented public school students in targeted areas of the country, including New York, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, Baltimore, Memphis, Louisville, Cleveland, Fort Worth, Washington, D.C., and nearby Lawrence, Massachusetts, as well as Native American reservations across the country. Over the course of three summers, selected scholars live on campus at Andover and are challenged intellectually and exposed to peers and educators with diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and aspirations. Students take math and science enrichment courses, English courses to develop sound writing skills, and a college counseling course to help them with the college application process. After high school graduation, many students go on to attend Ivy League schools and prestigious liberal arts colleges across the country.

(�ѳ�)² was founded in 1977 by lifelong educational reformer and Andover’s Head of School at the time, Theodore Sizer, who collaborated with other faculty members to address the issue of inadequate representation of marginalized individuals in science fields. Forty years later, the program has helped over 1,200 Black, Indigenous, Latinx public high school students develop STEM skills, and has inspired a movement of similar programs, such as the .

To Domenech-Burgos, the most inspiring part of her work is seeing the individual transformation that can take place through the program. “We’re taking kids from New York City Public Schools, from Native American reservations, some who have never left their home before or gotten on an airplane,” Domenech-Burgos said. “After the program, they’re at schools like Yale, Brown, Stanford, Bates College, and Bowdoin… It is an amazingly transformative experience for these students. On top of that, the nation is privileged because they are going into STEM fields!”

Even after the three-year program is completed, (�ѳ�)² keeps in touch with students to ensure their continued success through their college experience and beyond. Domenech-Burgos tells the story of one student who came from a public school in Washington, D.C. and was accepted to Brown University on a full scholarship after completing the program. “During his summers, I made sure he did internships,” Domenech-Burgos said. “He interned at Facebook, he interned at Google, he interned at Twitter, and he is a senior now graduating–all three companies have offered him a job. He is graduating from Brown and getting three of the best job offers you could possibly get for a STEM professional. Those are the types of stories that keep me going every day. It’s not just one story, there are countless stories of (�ѳ�)² alums who are now doing well.”

Participation in the (�ѳ�)² program is free for all selected students. You can learn more about the program at .

Originally published on February 15, 2018. Updated on December 23, 2025.��

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School Profile: St. Bernard’s School

Geoff Dennis — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 03:12:00 +0000

We talked with Kaley Bell, Secondary School Advisor at St. Bernard’s School, about what sets the school apart.��

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Location: New York, New York

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Grades Served: K-9

Student Body: Roughly 375 students; about 40 students per grade in K-8 and 4 students in 9th grade

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What makes your school unique?

St. Bernard’s offers academic rigor, strength in the humanities, and opportunities for students to discover public speaking and performance. Additionally, every student takes Latin.

What makes your students unique?

Their general knowledge and the breadth of their knowledge and interests.

What makes your faculty and staff unique?

Like our students, our faculty have a diversity of specialties and passions. Many faculty members have had other careers besides teaching; everyone has a wide range and depth of knowledge, interesting hobbies, and skills

What should students keep in mind when applying to your school?

Students at St. Bernard’s must be able to handle academic rigor, juggling two languages and two English classes. They also must be comfortable publicly speaking in front of an audience of over 100 several times a year.

Which program or recent change are you most excited about at your school?

The Good Heart Program, currently in its pilot phase, began as a response to educational research on character development and social-emotional learning, especially in boys’ schools, and after conversations with other New York City independent schools. We strive to emphasize the four values that best represent our school and community: perseverance, honesty, community, and consideration for others. Each grade level has time during the week dedicated to the Good Heart Program, whether in homeroom, advisory, or our Good Guy and Social Justice classes. St. Bernard’s boys have always gone out into the world comfortable with rigorous academics; this program gives a name and a concrete curriculum to the social-emotional values we uphold.

Describe an impactful program that your school runs.

Our Shakespeare play is the longest-running performance of Shakespeare in the United States, and our boys are proud to be part of that tradition. St. Bernard’s boys have been participating in a Shakespeare play each December since 1910. Every boy must participate, whether acting, designing sets, or stage managing. The play is kept a secret until the spring of seventh grade, when an unveiling occurs during assembly. The boys then read the play in their English class, and auditions occur a few months later in the fall of eighth grade. The only performance occurs the week before winter break at Miller Theater at Columbia University, after weeks of memorizing lines and long hours spent rehearsing (on top of secondary school applications, fall sports, and homework). The celebration of the Shakespeare production is a crucial part of the school’s cultural and poetic tradition.

Originally published on January 14, 2019. Updated on December 22, 2025.��

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School Profile: Dexter Southfield

Geoff Dennis — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 00:22:00 +0000

We talked with Scott Duddy, Director of Admissions & Enrollment Management at Dexter Southfield, about what sets his school apart.

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Location: Brookline, Massachusetts

Website:

Grades Served: Pre-K through 12

Student Body: Around 1,100 students throughout all 14 grade levels; class sizes are larger in grades 9-12��

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What makes your school unique?

Dexter Southfield, guided by the motto “Our Best Today, Better Tomorrow,” encourages creativity, innovation, and the pursuit of excellence. We prepare students for the future, which they shape. Dexter Southfield is committed to instilling confidence, nurturing individual talents, and building an ethical foundation for life for each and every student. Our 36-acre campus is located on the Brookline-Boston line,�� close to Boston’s best museums, libraries, hospitals, colleges, and universities—all of which serve as an extension of our classrooms. With active support from their teachers, students challenge themselves, experiment, and pursue their passions. Dexter Southfield graduates are poised, prepared, and versatile—ready for success in college and life beyond.

What makes your students unique?

At Dexter Southfield, students gain both breadth and depth by engaging in a full range of subjects and activities, by finding their passions, and by growing their unique talents in areas they love. Throughout all grades, the program is structured to introduce students to a wealth of new experiences, to build skills in all areas, and to develop a can-do attitude. From the start, everyone does everything, and as students progress, they choose paths according to the directions they want to chart for themselves, continually applying their knowledge and skills as new opportunities arise. As a result, they deeply explore areas that interest them, and they have the enthusiasm, the confidence, and the expertise to try new things for the rest of their lives.

What makes your faculty and staff unique?

Dexter Southfield encourages expansiveness, creativity, and innovation to prepare students for a future that they will shape. The School’s programs help students build a strong foundation of essential knowledge and skills while they develop versatility and habits of mind. Here, they learn to ask important questions, draw their own conclusions, and solve problems that matter. With active support from their teachers, students love to experiment and see things through—so they can succeed in the ever-growing fields of college and careers.

What should students keep in mind when applying to your school?

One of the first things visitors notice about Dexter Southfield is our warmth. We pride ourselves on being a caring and sincere campus, welcoming students and families of all backgrounds and paying attention to individual needs when students arrive and as they grow. The strength of our community is upheld in a variety of ways: assemblies, shared meals, school meetings, our unique single-sex program, our buses, and our commitment to diversity. We feel like a family, and we are eager to welcome new members.

Which program or recent change are you most excited about at your school?

Athletics Arena and Kraft Fieldhouse: The newly constructed arena includes an ice rink, new spectator seating, an off-season turf surface, a warming room, and team meeting space. The seasonally-flexible fieldhouse hosts a varsity-level basketball court, tennis courts, volleyball courts, a flexible gymnasium space, collapsible spectator seating, locker rooms, and state-of-the-art strength and conditioning and training facilities. Additional athletic facilities include an indoor swimming pool, baseball and softball fields, and three turf fields–two outdoor and one indoor. Dexter Southfield also has a Rowing Center, located on the Charles River just four miles away in Dedham.

Describe an impactful program that your school runs.

From the Playscape—where exploratory play, science, and engineering are fully integrated—to neuroendocrinology, independent study, and off-campus experiences involving programming at Harvard Medical School and NASA research, STEM programs are supported at every grade level. We deliver on our promise of excellence in academics, the arts, athletics, and character with smooth, productive programming that sets our students up to be at their best.

Originally published on October 29, 2018. Updated on December 22, 2025.��

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School Profile: Proctor Academy

Geoff Dennis — Sat, 29 Nov 2025 04:10:00 +0000

We talked with Scott Allenby, Chief Strategy and Communications Officer at�� Proctor Academy, about what families love about Proctor. Read what he had to say below!

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Grades Served:��9 through 12

Student Body:��Roughly 100 students per graduating class.

What makes your school unique?

Proctor Academy offers five term-long, culturally immersive off-campus programs around the globe including a ten week voyage aboard a historic schooner down the eastern seaboard. Proctor also has the nation’s premier integrated academic support program, Learning Skills, which directly�� serves a third of the student body, but impacts every single student and teacher in a positive way. Prioritizing an informal learning environment where students address teachers by their first name, many of the barriers to learning are removed and students are able to engage deeply with real-world opportunities.��

What makes your students unique?

Proctor’s students become incredibly self-aware advocates for their own learning.��

What makes your faculty and staff unique?

Proctor’s faculty and staff live, work, and play at Proctor alongside our students. We are in this educational journey together–from the moment students arrive on campus and go out into the White Mountains for five days as part of Wilderness Orientation to the day they walk across the stage at graduation. From classroom teachers to advisors to dorm parents to coaches to housekeeping staff, dining service workers, and our maintenance team, every individual who chooses to work at Proctor does so because they care about the students and this school community.��

What should students keep in mind when applying to your school?

Proctor will change your life if you are willing to let it. With more than 80% of students choosing to study off-campus at some point during their Proctor experience, the expectation at Proctor is to step outside your comfort zone. If you are willing to do so, you’ll be amazed at how you will grow. Only apply to Proctor if you are excited to change.��

Which program or recent change are you most excited about at your school?

Proctor recently added a summer immersion learning program in southwestern China where students live with host families and immerse themselves deeply in Chinese culture. This program continues to evolve our commitment to off-campus learning experiences and is one of three summer programs the school now offers; Proctor in Guatemala and Proctor on the Rosebud Reservation (South Dakota) are the others.��

Describe an impactful program that your school runs.

Since 1972, Mountain Classroom has stood as a cornerstone of Proctor Academy’s commitment to experiential learning. During the winter and spring terms, ten students and two experienced instructors embark on a ten week exploration of the American West, gaining first-hand experience from local activists and guest speakers. Combining outdoor education and academic inquiry, Mountain Classroom students examine the complex and intricate connections between nature and culture. It is the ultimate road trip with ten of your peers who will become your best friends. Check out our to see this program and countless others in action.��

Describe what a class at your school looks like.

There is no such thing as a typical class at Proctor–every day is unique. One block you will be studying fauna and flora in Proctor’s 2,500 acre woodlot and the next you will be building a metal sculpture in the black smithing forge. You will travel the globe and get to know our small town community. You will challenge yourself with advanced placement classes and will take art classes. Class at Proctor looks a lot like life should–never dull and always changing.

If you’re interested in learning more about Proctor Academy’s application process, you can check out their page !

Originally published on November 28, 2018. Updated on November 28, 2025.

The post School Profile: Proctor Academy appeared first on 91��.

9 Cutting-Edge STEM & STEAM Programs

Hannah Grandine — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 05:10:00 +0000

Over the last couple decades, the United States has placed increasing emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education. In recent years, some programs have added Art to their curriculum, (STEAM), dedicating a greater focus on creativity and design thinking. Regardless of the exact composition of the STEM or STEAM program, the objective is the same: to provide students with the skills necessary to not only be successful in the modern world, but also to help shape the future.

As an educational technology company, is particularly interested in furthering the efforts of these innovative programs. Check out nine of the most inspiring and unique STEM and STEAM programs below:

1. Thriving in a changing world:

Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte, NC

in Charlotte, North Carolina seeks to “prepare the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and doers.” As a pillar of this mission, they prepare students to “lead and thrive in a changing world,” which ties directly into the school’s STEAM curriculum. A highlight of the program�� is�� a four-week unit for seventh graders on engineering design and development during which they develop therapeutic game ideas. Over the summers, Upper School students participate in real-world science research at college and university labs. That being said, STEAM is not only for older students: the introduction to the curriculum begins as early as kindergarten, where students participate in design activities such as building simple machines, laying the foundation for the skills they will continue to develop as they tackle ever-more-complex learning.

2. Deep STEM learning for K-8:

The Acera School, Winchester, MA

in Winchester, Massachusetts similarly challenges its students to achieve deep STEM learning in the early grades. The K-8 school creates an environment in which Acera students are unintimidated by difficult subjects and fearless when tackling�� new concepts in a fast-paced environment. Students are introduced to computer science and coding as early as age 5, and become intimately familiar with using all kinds of technology throughout their 9 years. This includes lab classes, engineering, wood shop, electronic arts, and various programs developed by curriculum collaborators from places like MIT and Boston University, who bring projects like the Amino BioLab microbiology platform and CRISPR gene editing to campus.

3. Ability-based STEM learning:

Nysmith School, Herndon, VA

The was founded in 1984 and currently serves 550 students from Pre-K through 8th grade on campus in Herndon, Virginia. Nysmith is designed specifically for students who love to learn, creating an environment where students’ individual talents are nurtured. Plus, the school has consistently scored in the top 1% of all categories in the IOWA Standardized Test for over a decade. In terms of STEM curriculum, Nysmith’s program is no less impressive. The school teaches advanced mathematics up to four grade levels above the students’ current ones, as students are placed in appropriate courses where they will be both challenged and successful. Students also have daily lab and computer science classes, spending an average of 3.75 hours on science and 2.5 hours on computer technology per week.

4. STEM to benefit society:

Maine School of Science and Mathematics, Limestone, ME

, a public residential magnet school located in Limestone, Maine, brings together the state’s�� most academically motivated high school students to “become innovative, well-rounded scholars with the ability to develop, investigate, and communicate critical ideas that improve the human condition and benefit the people of Maine.” This approach is a testament to what the STEM movement seeks to do: prepare students to create holistic solutions to real-world problems. Beyond the rigorous curriculum in both the sciences and the humanities, students at MSSM also have access to opportunities such as math competitions, a biomedical summer camp, and other opportunities in Maine and beyond. All students live on campus in order to fully participate in a scholastic program of excellence with peers who share similar interests.

5. Project-based design and engineering:

The Urban School, San Francisco, CA

in San Francisco, California, offers , an interdisciplinary program that integrates design and engineering into project-based courses. The program is built around�� the design, technology, and engineering needs of the 21st century. Students participate in courses and co-curricular opportunities such as applied physics with motion and machines, electronics and robotics, or electricity and magnetism. There are also courses for advanced computer science topics, industrial and graphic design, and research and development. UrbanX courses teach students the fundamentals of discovery, innovation, creativity and problem-solving, all deeply rooted in Urban’s highly academic and supportive teaching environment.

6. The art and science of making:

The Athenian School, Danville, CA

At , a co-ed college prep boarding and day school in Danville, California, a focus on engineering and design is founded on the idea that creating and making are crucial skills. The school’s making programs began in the early 2000’s with the “Spirit of Athenian” airplane project, where students assemble a fully functional, FAA approved two-seat plane by hand. The school’s robotics program was also a pillar of innovation, sending the sAthenian students to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition annually. Through the design process, students learn how to tackle challenging problems, think creatively, persevere through failure, collaborate with peers, and work independently. This prepares them for standard academic challenges as well as dynamic, creative, and technological problems and projects.��

Some of the core classes offered in the areas of engineering & design are Project-Based Introduction to Computer Programming, The Art & Science of Making, CAD Programming, and Applied Science. The Athenian School has two main design and engineering workspaces–the Maker Studio and the newly built Carter Innovation Center, which houses a computer/CADD/3-D printer center. .��

Athenian also hosts The Diamond Challenge, an international competition sponsored by the University of Delaware’s Horn Entrepreneurship. The Diamond Challenge “invites high school students worldwide to build solutions to solve problems they are passionate about and join a growing community of innovators and changemakers.” Past projects range software and data modeling to improve the success of corrective spinal surgeries to a wall mount system that converts a standard projector into an entertainment system.

7. Invention and innovation:

Graland Country Day School, Denver, CO

in Denver, Colorado provides students in grades 5 through 8 the opportunity to participate in real design in the school’s . The Gates Program, founded in 1998, pushes students to solve real-world problems through the invention of original products, possibly earning themselves U.S. patents in the process. The school has also developed an entire Innovation Department, which finds ways to collaborate with teachers and develop innovative teaching methods. Josh Cobb, the current Head of School who’s been with the institution for over 20 years, states that Graland has been “devoted to [a] tradition of excellence by providing students with experiences that broaden their perspectives and foster both their intellectual and character strengths so that they can thrive in school and in life.”��

8. Women in STEM:

The Girls’ Middle School, Palo Alto, CA

All too often, as girls enter adolescence they begin to turn away from male-dominated fields of study such as science, technology, and math. Although women’s representation has been increasing over time, in Palo Alto, California believes that it’s imperative to continue to take girls’ STEM education seriously. In an inclusive environment where academic growth is nourished, a GMS student can “discover her strengths and express her voice while respecting the contributions of others.”��

The three-year curriculum�� at The Girls’ Middle School includes a revolutionary Computer Science module, a diverse and hands-on Arts and Media syllabus, and an Information Literacy program. Additionally, GMS offers a unique program called Intersession, during which the faculty puts academic classes on hold for a full week and encourages students to try activities that are either entirely new to them or that they want to explore deeply. This bi-annual tradition is a lasting memory for all graduates.��

��Additionally, technology is integrated into all aspects of the curriculum and arts programs, and students in the science program practice the skills that professional scientists use every day, engaging in multiple hands-on explorations, inquiries, and projects as they explore the natural world. The majority of STEM classes at the school are taught by women who are experts in their fields, solidifying for students the fact that they can be successful at anything they put their minds to.

9. STEM for students of color:

Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

The lack of diversity in STEM fields is not only a gender divide. Phillips Academy’s (standing for Mathematics & Science for Minority Students) in Andover, Massachusetts was created in 1977 by Head of School Theodore Sizer in order to advance diversity in the STEM fields by developing the competencies and self-confidence of outstanding students of color. The result is a truly transformative outreach program, which takes 35-37 high-potential students of color from public schools in targeted cities every year and provides a STEM-based three-summer residential program that challenges them intellectually and exposes them to peers and educators with diverse backgrounds, life experiences, and aspirations. Many of the students who attend go on to study at prestigious universities and secure�� jobs working for major companies in the most competitive fields.

With 91��, you can easily see which scores make you a competitive applicant for admission to schools around the world.

Start preparing today!

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Originally published on February 8, 2018. Updated on November 6, 2025.

The post 9 Cutting-Edge STEM & STEAM Programs appeared first on 91��.

Educational Innovation Archives - 91����

Three Ways to Teach Your Child Self-Advocacy

Educational Innovator: Graland Country Day School

Technology in Education

Smartboards

Online Schools

Messaging

Virtual Reality

Augmented Reality

Artificial Intelligence

School Profile: Eastside Catholic School

Educational Innovator: The Wight Foundation

Educational Innovator: Phillips Academy’s (�ѳ�)² Program

School Profile: St. Bernard’s School

School Profile: Dexter Southfield

School Profile: Proctor Academy

What makes your school unique?

What makes your students unique?

What makes your faculty and staff unique?

What should students keep in mind when applying to your school?

Which program or recent change are you most excited about at your school?

Describe an impactful program that your school runs.

Describe what a class at your school looks like.

9 Cutting-Edge STEM & STEAM Programs

1. Thriving in a changing world:

Charlotte Country Day School, Charlotte, NC

2. Deep STEM learning for K-8:

The Acera School, Winchester, MA

3. Ability-based STEM learning:

Nysmith School, Herndon, VA

4. STEM to benefit society:

Maine School of Science and Mathematics, Limestone, ME

5. Project-based design and engineering:

The Urban School, San Francisco, CA

6. The art and science of making:

The Athenian School, Danville, CA

7. Invention and innovation:

Graland Country Day School, Denver, CO

8. Women in STEM:

The Girls’ Middle School, Palo Alto, CA

9. STEM for students of color:

Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Start preparing today!

Educational Innovation Archives - 91��