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Initiatives / School on the Move Prize / 2022 Winner and Finalists

2022 Winner and Finalists

Winner: Gardner Pilot Academy

Neighborhood: Allston

Grade Levels: Pre-K to 8th Grade

Number of students: 377

Principal: Erica Herman

For the past 25 years, Gardner Pilot Academy (GPA) in Allston has pioneered wraparound student and family support as a Community Hub School, working to eliminate non-academic barriers to learning. The majority Latinx school’s 377 students have access to before- and after-school programs and all classrooms are fully inclusive for students with disabilities.

Primary School Improvement Strategies:

  • Implement a Community Hub School model in partnership with families andthe community.
  • Ensure GPA is safe, welcoming, and inclusive to all.
  • Hire and retain a diverse and highly qualified faculty.
  • Implement a core instructional program using a rigorous, culturally relevant curriculum.

Finalist: William E. Channing Elementary

Neighborhood: Hyde Park

Grade Levels: Pre-K to 6th Grade

Number of students: 201

Head of School: Carline Pignato

Primary School Improvement Strategies:

  • Foster authentic relationships with students.
  • Use data to strengthen classroom instruction and accelerate learning.
  • Customize instruction based on each student’s needs, strengths, and interests, with a focus on multilingual learners.

Finalist: Charles H. Taylor Elementary

Neighborhood: Mattapan

Grade Levels: Pre-K to 6th Grade

Number of students: 298

Head of School: Jennifer Marks

Mattapan’s Taylor Elementary pairs welcoming warmth with high expectations for their 298 students, 3/4 of whom are Black. Teachers continually improve instruction through peer feedback, data-informed planning, and implementing curriculum with fidelity. The school focuses on encouraging academic conversation between students, particularly for students learning English in the school’s Haitian Creolespecific programs.

Primary School Improvement Strategies:

  • Align learning priorities and provide feedback to teachers through Instructional Leadership Team.
  • Analyze data and plan together in grade-level teacher teams.
  • Provide professional development to teachers on implementing high-quality curriculum with fidelity.