Place-Based Education

Rigor, relevance, and relationships define the student and faculty experience at Colchester High School. From daily primary instruction to transformative district initiatives, intentionality and innovation are at the heart of what we do for the learners we serve. Despite recent strides in personalization, flexible pathways, and proficiency-based learning, we have room to grow in the areas of student leadership and community partnerships, both of which are vital to the economic and civic future of Vermont.

People who spend time in the outdoors develop a sense of place, an emotional connection to where they live, and a personal stake in the future of their communities. Experiential and expeditionary learning (EL) engage students with direct experiences and develop assets such as perseverance, mind-set, grit, and self-efficacy. A personal connection to our landscape can also help students struggling to build emotional intelligence, overcome digital addiction, and gain equitable access to the tools and supports that help them regulate their bodies and minds in an increasingly confusing world. Inspired by the century-old pedagogy of John Dewey and local scholar Amy Demarest, I have challenged my students to “let the place do the talking” through several units here in Vermont and abroad. In these classrooms students report higher levels of engagement, a deeper personal connection to content, and expect long-term retention of their new learning. Charter and private schools around the country have adopted EL models school wide. Students and families seek out these classrooms because they work. It’s time to further normalize the EL and place-based model in Vermont public schools as an opportunity for all learners.

As a Rowland fellow I will reimagine the physical space in which students learn. I will design a new academic pathway that combines the practical skills of leadership, inquiry, risk-taking, and collaboration with strong primary instruction and academic rigor. I hope to increase the capacity of Colchester High School, and other schools in this state, to engage secondary students with the natural landscape and the unique community resources here in Vermont, creating a new generation of rooted and invested Vermonters.