Phase III updates and a revised Portrait of a Graduate section of our website coming soon!
Phase II Overview: We are excited to launch Phase II of the Barr Foundation sponsored Portrait of a Graduate work. Funding will help to move the draft Portrait (developed in Phase I) from concept into action within our partner schools. Specific activities will include school level alignment, the development of a signature experience, asset mapping, and the drafting of rubrics that reinforce those competencies, we believe, will ensure our graduates are successfully prepared for college, career and community life. More information can be found by linking below:
https://cdn.hibuwebsites.com/8569343280a049328652e2f80f284bce/files/uploaded/action%20plan_berkshire_march72021.pdf
https://cdn.hibuwebsites.com/8569343280a049328652e2f80f284bce/files/uploaded/pog_phase%20ii%20launch_may%2016%2c%202021.pdf
https://cdn.hibuwebsites.com/8569343280a049328652e2f80f284bce/files/uploaded/berkshirepogportrait_final_jan212021%20.pdf
Phase I Full Report (submitted to Barr)
BCETF Education Report (includes updated PoG data)
Phase I Overview:
The Berkshire Portrait of a Graduate (PoG) grant is a unique opportunity for cross-district collaboration within Berkshire County. The aim of the project is to support deep research, stakeholder engagement, and discussion leading to a collective vision of what all high school students will know and be able to do by and beyond graduation. This collaborative project is sponsored by the BERK12 with funding from the Barr Foundation.
Districts Included in Grant:
North Adams Public Schools (Drury High School)
Pittsfield Public Schools (Pittsfield and Taconic High Schools)
Lee Public Schools (Lee Middle / High School)
BART (Berkshire Arts and Technology Charter School)
Each school will include two identified working team site leads, ten faculty/staff design team members, and a range of community and school stakeholders, including students, who actively participate in and inform the design process.
Berkshire Portrait of a Graduate Surveys
A group of high school educators, across five Berkshire high schools, are partnering with the Barr Foundation to conduct deep research, stakeholder engagement, and discussion leading to a collective vision of what all high school students will know and be able to do by and beyond graduation.
While the COVID_19 lockdown has physically isolated our working team...we remain committed to the aims of the project -including public engagement in gaining feedback from various stakeholders about their experiences, thoughts, and aspirations. Stakeholder groups include alumni, current students, staff, and community members. For each group, we distributed surveys and followed up with smaller focus groups. Over the last few months, we've circulated an alumni, student, parent/staff, and community surveys.
Additionally, three community convenings were held, with a range of stakeholders participating. Below are links to the presentations used to frame those days, for those interested in learning more.
August 22/23 (Days 1 & 2) Berkshire PoG Convening
November 3 (Day 3) Berkshire PoG Convening
As the PoG working teams prepare reports and synthesis of findings, these documents will be shared. To access survey and focus group summaries, link below:
BERK12, PoG, Featured In Barr December Newsletter, HERE.
More deeply embedding portrait competencies into teaching and learning across our partner high schools.
Project Facilitator: Brendan Sheran
Core Facilitators:
Tim Callahan - North Adams Public Schools
Kristen Negrini - Pittsfield Public Schools
Shannon Farley - Berkshire Arts & Technology (BART) Charter Public School
Kristen Palatt - Hoosac Valley Regional School District
Our second year piloting signature experiences aligned to the portrait vision in our partner schools.
Project Facilitator: Brendan Sheran
Core Facilitators:
Kim Roberts Morandi - North Adams Public Schools
Kristen Negrini - Pittsfield Public Schools
Our first year building our portrait vision and competencies.
Project Manager: Jake Eberwein
Core Facilitators:
Kim Roberts Morandi - North Adams Public Schools
Brendan Sheran - Pittsfield Public Schools
Jane McEvoy - Lee Public Schools
Contact Us
Our Address
Berkshire Educational Resources K12
(BERK12)
c/o Berkshire Community College
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