2017 Rowland Fellows

Gretchen Muller

Burlington High School

Photo of educational change maker Gretchen Muller
Gretchen Muller, 2017 Rowland Fellow

Community-Based Learning

Burlington High School is part of the most diverse school district in Vermont. The high school’s philosophy around student learning is that the world is rapidly changing and we need to continue to remodel education and provide a more customized experience for all students. With this in mind and considering the criteria set forth in Act 77, my project plan is to create a community partnership learning program by tapping into the plethora of resources that are in our own backyard. This program will provide all Burlington High School students with real-world learning opportunities to discover or reaffirm interests while earning credit. This program will allow students to engage in meaningful community service learning projects, focused educational experiences such as internships, research projects, work-based learning, develop potential career opportunities and gain technical ‘new world’ skills. By transitioning to a community partnership learning requirement, all students, particularly those that are underserved and may be at the greatest risk of not completing high school, will be given a supported opportunity to explore personalized learning options outside the walls of BHS.

Photo: Gretchen listens during The Dark Side retreat as an educator shares about the struggles in educational leadership Gretchen listens to Bianca at the 2022 All Fellows Retreat Photo of educational leaders Marsha Cassel, Tara Cariano, and Gretchen Muller