EdVestors Awards 15th Annual $100,000 School on the Move Prize to the F. Lyman Winship Elementary School in Brighton

The Winship is being recognized for rapid improvement in providing a quality education through STEAM-based experiences to meet the needs of a diverse student population reflecting

35 different countries

Charles Sumner Elementary School in Roslindale and the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers in Fenway, each received a $20,000 runner-up prize.

A PDF version is available here.

(BOSTON) October 28, 2020 – EdVestors, a school improvement nonprofit organization, today awarded its $100,000 Thomas W. Payzant School on the Move Prize to the F. Lyman Winship Elementary School in Brighton, a school that provides high quality STEAM-based instruction and intensive student-centered services to one of the most diverse student populations in the city. The Prize, now in its 15th year, recognizes rapidly improving schools that have made exemplary progress in advancing the academic achievement of all students.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has required our teachers and school leaders to think creatively to ensure our students are engaged and learning to their fullest potential,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “I want to congratulate the F. Lyman Winship and the finalists for their hard work and dedication to Boston's students always, but especially throughout the challenges of this pandemic.”

The winner was announced during a virtual event and ceremony this afternoon. Latoyia Edwards, Anchor for NBC 10 Boston / NECN served as emcee for the Prize Ceremony, which featured key business, civic, and education leaders. Fellow finalist schools, Charles Sumner Elementary School in Roslindale and the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers in Fenway, each received a $20,000 award - double the usual runner-up prize thanks to a generous donation. The virtual event was produced by WGBH, live streamed via Zoom, and is available to view at https://wgbh.zoom.us/rec/share/0_M2Mgk9OMOT-fCWoLEuhVPSc3UDK8eYnbAGG4fYbFZhuK2uMWhbwFb9Q5dGm7hT.4XCv6lFShAynNFUr Passcode: eNEdCq4. (Note: include the period in the passcode)

“The three finalist schools represent the critical work schools across the city are doing to improve educational opportunities for Boston’s young people during what continues to be a challenging year for schools, teachers, students and their families,” said Marinell Rousmaniere, President and CEO of EdVestors. “We are excited to shine a spotlight on the Winship as this year’s Prize winner and share the effective strategies they are using to meet the diverse needs of their students. As we look forward, their lessons should light the way for other schools to chart their improvement path.”

With 240 students in K1-5, the Winship is a small elementary school located near Brighton Center. Their student population reflects more than 35 different countries; almost half the students speak a language other than English at home. The school credits their steady improvement over the years to revamping their school pedagogy and an emphasis on student-centered learning. The Winship focuses on providing students with education through STEAM-based experiences.

“It is a great honor to be recognized by this year’s School on the Move Prize, which is a reminder that it is the daily work, the consistent work, the sometimes not glorious work of meeting individual kids’ learning needs and continuing to grow as educators that made this improvement possible,” said Brian Radley, Principal of the F. Lyman Winship Elementary School. “The opportunity to be at the table for rich discussions about innovation, experimentation, and promising practices that are working for kids and families across the district is so exciting to us.”

The School on the Move Prize is based on a rigorous quantitative screen of student achievement using historical and current state standardized assessment data. The Winship showed steady improvement across several key areas including the following:

• Use of Data – The Winship used student data to implement supports and instructional practices that aim to improve student engagement and achievement.
• Professional Development – The Winship’s professional development has centered on defining their Instructional Focus and Creating Student-Centered Learning Environments. The school's professional learning is grounded in culturally responsive teaching.
• Instructional Practice – As a direct impact of the above two strategies, the Winship moved to school-wide implementation of classroom practices that adopt rigorous, student-centered learning opportunities that are engaging and meet the current and diverse needs in the school community.

“All three schools prove that talented teams of teachers, staff and administrators working together to support students and families – and each other – is a winning combination,” said Dr. Brenda Cassellius, Superintendent of Boston Public Schools. “As we navigate this new reality in public education, BPS is fortunate to have such exemplary leadership and collaboration to look to within our own community. Congratulations to the F. Lyman Winship for a well-deserved award. Their hard work and dedication to serving the individual needs of a diverse group of students is a model for all of our schools.”

The Thomas W. Payzant School on the Move Prize is made possible by generous support of lead sponsor – the James M and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation – along with foundation and corporate sponsors including BerryDunn, Eastern Bank, Eaton Vance, Fidelity Investments, Fiduciary Trust, Goldman Sachs, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Larson Family Foundation, Insource Services, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Parker Family Foundation, Plymouth Rock Assurance, Rockland Trust Bank, Simon Brothers Family Foundation, State Street, and William Schawbel & Schawbel Group, among other generous organizations and individuals.

 

About EdVestors

EdVestors' mission is to increase the number of public schools in Boston delivering dramatically improved educational outcomes for all students. Our goal is to ensure that every Boston student has access to an equitable, meaningful education that prepares them to activate their power and shape their future. We combine strategic philanthropy, education expertise, and implementation support to help schools improve. EdVestors seeds promising ideas through the School Solutions Seed Fund, shines a spotlight on school improvement through the School on the Move Prize, and scales efforts to close opportunity and achievement gaps through three strategic initiatives: Boston Public Schools Arts Expansion, Zeroing in on Math and our newest effort to expand Career Pathways. Learn more at www.edvestors.org.

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