Outside educators coming to see Mineola schools' innovative programs
At Synergy@Mineola High School, a converted old bank building, there are no class periods, teachers are called content specialists, and students work at their own pace. Credit: Debbie Egan-Chin
About 300 educators from schools nationwide are set to tour the Mineola district’s most innovative programs, from classrooms where teens self-direct their instruction to a school where the youngest students are learning about coding.
The district Tuesday will host the League of Innovative Schools 2024 Convening, organized by the nonprofit Digital Promise, a global network that works to accelerate innovation in education and shape the future of learning. The district partners with the organization.
To be selected for the visit, school leadership “must have a strong commitment and dedication to innovation and that they are willing to ... pilot new approaches to teaching and learning,” Jillian Doggett, director of network supports at Digital Promise, said Monday.
Tuesday’s tour will feature classroom visits and meetings with peers and partners. Visitors will see how students in grades pre-K to second learn about the coding process with "Color by Code."
The tour also will include a visit to the district’s bilingual literacy program and its new model of classroom learning called “Synergy,” where high school students self-direct their learning. Under the model, students co-create their learning plan to meet their needs through seminars, workshops, skill groups, office hours and more.
Visitors will also see the district’s “Fab Lab” where students will demonstrate their design process with resources such as a laser cutter, vinyl cutter, plasma cutter, 3D printer and welding station.
This partnership has allowed Mineola "to share our experience and best practices,” Mineola Superintendent Michael Nagler said.
Established in 2011, the League of Innovative Schools comprises nearly 150 school districts across 38 states and has served more than four million students nationwide since its founding. These districts represent a range of school systems — from large urban settings to remote rural schools.
Joie Tyrrell is a Long Island native and covers education for Newsday, where she has worked since 1998.
