Boston Public Schools
The Case for High School Interns on Campus
It’s indisputable: Summer internships improve young people’s lives. They increase employment and earnings, reduce involvement in the criminal justice system, and strengthen educational outcomes. The data are so clear that in 2024, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu guaranteed a summer job to every Boston Public Schools (BPS) student who applies. For employers, summer internships provide an […]
Better Training for Boston’s Next School Leaders
Decisions made at the school district level—good and bad—affect every student, family, and school. Few know this better than Anne Hernández, who has worked in Boston Public Schools (BPS) since 2007, most recently mentoring and coaching 17 social workers across 13 schools. During the 2024–2025 school year, Hernández was part of the inaugural Dr. Carol […]
Putting Children First
Decades before assuming the role of chief of teaching and learning for Boston Public Schools, Lesley Ryan Miller knew the value of a good education. Her mother, Sharon Ryan (Sargent’70)—a BU trustee, noted philanthropist, and former occupational therapist—made sure of it. A benefactor of several universities, Ryan eventually named a scholarship in honor of her […]
Creating Opportunities Where STEM Learning Comes to Life
On a crisp October morning during the first day of Massachusetts STEM Week, the William Monroe Trotter K–6 School brought its spirit of curiosity and discovery to Boston University. The day started as early 70 students from the Trotter School filled the BU Wheelock lobby, joined by BU undergraduates from ED 350: Sensemaking in STEM […]
Empowering Students to Plan for Their Futures
Educators play an important role in setting students up for future success—among other things, they foster social emotional skills, help with career exploration, and support executive functioning. And these are just some of the ways they support academic growth, self-awareness, and identity formation, all in service of connecting students to a brighter future. For this […]
How Strong School Leaders Drive Student Success
High-quality school and district leadership are a critical part of student success. But developing and sustaining effective leaders can present challenges as leaders navigate growing demands and competing priorities. So how can research and practice intersect to support the development of effective leaders? For this Conversations with the Dean session, Dean Penny Bishop is joined […]
Setting Students Up for Success
With access to tutors, internships, and other resources, students from middle- and upper-class families often have a leg up when it’s time to prepare for higher education and the working world. On the other hand, many first-generation and low-income students lack access to these benefits and find themselves struggling to keep up in both college […]
Improving Teaching for English Learners
A five-year grant will support the Institute for Early Childhood Well-Being at BU Wheelock in studying ways to improve the quality of teaching for young English learners. The Nuestros Niños project will work with Boston Public Schools’ Universal Prekindergarten Program, ABCD Head Start in Massachusetts, and school districts in Colorado to provide professional development to […]
BU Wheelock’s Upward Bound Hosts Students for College-Prep Program
Seventy students from public schools throughout Boston and Chelsea participated in a second summer of virtual programming hosted by BU Wheelock’s Upward Bound and Upward Bound Math Science programs. The theme for this year’s program was “Are You On? Building Effective Communications Skills.” In addition to their academic courses, participating students took part in enrichment […]
BPS Community Scholars Volunteer to Make a Difference
This fall, more than 175 Boston Public Schools (BPS) Community Service Scholars completed over 3,500 hours of volunteer work in the local community both virtually and in-person. They served in a range of community-based settings, including healthcare centers, nonprofit organizations, and schools. BPS Community Service Scholars receive full financial aid without loans and a full-time […]