MENTOR Hosts First-Ever Relationship-Centered Schools Summit
November 9, 2022
Young people deserve to feel seen, heard, and valued in every space they occupy. This belief is the cornerstone of the Relationship-Centered Schools framework, and it was this belief that united practitioners from across the country in Boston on October 19-20, 2022, for the first-ever Relationship-Centered Schools Summit.
Presented by MENTOR in conjunction with American Student Assistance, the summit provided an opportunity for representatives from school districts, nonprofit organizations, research institutions, MENTOR Affiliates, and funders to network, hear from young people and school leaders, and devise concrete steps to further implement tenets of Relationship-Centered Schools in their own communities.
The event kicked off with remarks from Tim Wills, MENTOR’s Chief Impact Officer, and Joaquin Tamayo, Chief of Staff to the United States Deputy Secretary of Education, who spoke in a pre-recorded statement. From there, participants heard from Miriam Kaba, a junior at the Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center at Woonsocket High School, who shared her experience with the Relationship-Centered Schools model. Tracy Terranova, MENTOR’s new Director of Education Partnerships, reflected, “Kicking off the conference with a day of student voice really put the work into perspective. This is why we are all here.”
Next, participants heard from a panel that delved into a case study exploring the partnership between MENTOR Rhode Island, MENTOR National, and the Woonsocket Social-Emotional Learning Workgroup and from a panel of researchers about studies that measure the success of Relationship-Centered Schools. After an evening that included a trolley tour of Boston and a networking reception at local institution Cheers, participants returned to their hotel to rest up for the Summit’s fast-paced second day.
Terranova kicked off Day Two with an introduction to a small group of MENTOR Affiliates and partners who were instrumental in piloting the Relationship-Centered Schools model. The group held a fireside chat during which they shared experiences, insights, and advice, and welcomed audience questions. Participants then heard about the importance of conducting a landscape review before implementing a Relationship-Centered Schools model.
The afternoon provided key time for Summit attendees to break into small groups and discuss action steps to take upon returning home. Facilitators guided discussions during which participants shared challenges they’d faced, lessons they’d learned during the Summit, and initiatives and steps they hoped to implement upon returning to their respective school districts and organizations.
Terranova noted, “Schools are ready to keep relationships at the center. I felt that throughout the conference sessions and during all the downtime. I am energized to continue to innovate and move the work forward in partnership with our Affiliates.”
As the groups dispersed and out-of-town attendees headed to the airport, one attendee commented, “This summit was a learning experience from start to finish. I made new friends and learned what I need to do next, and I can’t wait to go home and get to work.”
MENTOR would like to thank all of the speakers and presenters who made the Relationship-Centered Schools Summit possible:
- Charline Alexandre-Joseph, MENTOR
- Sadiq Ali, MENTOR MD|DC
- Pamela Civins, MENTOR Gigi DiBello, Project AWARE, Woonsocket Education Department
- Daishanay Francis, Woonsocket High School
- Beth Fraster, Mass Mentoring Partnership
- Andrew Frishman, Big Picture Learning
- Mike Garringer, MENTOR Maddie Gillissie, B-Unbound
- Hannah Goodwin-Brown, New England Basecamp
- Dr. Ben Houltberg, Search Institute
- Mariam Kaba, Woonsocket High School
- Dr. Robert Markle, The Christensen Institute
- Savanna Noe, Woonsocket School District Social-Emotional Learning Workgroup
- Thomas Owens, MENTOR Newark
- Darrin Person, Fresno Unified School District
- Dr. Sophia Rudisill Holmes, Baltimore City Public Schools
- Jo-Ann Schofield, MENTOR RI
- Marcus Strother, MENTOR CA
- Dudney Sylla, MENTOR
- Tracy Terranova, MENTOR Dr. Jonathan Zaff, The CERES Institute