VIEW GALLERY: State, Local Leaders See Collins Middle School ‘Studio Learning’ Program on Full Display
Friday morning at Collins Middle School was a who’s who of state and local leaders who visited classrooms to see its pilot program in action.
The pilot program, launched last year in a partnership with the WPS Institute, is reimagining middle school to be more engaging and to help middle school students feel connected, empowered and unbounded in learning. Students work in ‘studio’ — interdisciplinary, project-based, hands-on learning experiences — to elicit creative thinking and collaboration to solve problems.
Collins Middle School leadership and educators, along with partners from the WPS Institute, fielded questions about and discussed the significant improvements in engagement, belonging, attendance and morale since the pilot was launched in 2022.
Among Friday’s guests included U.S. Senator Ed Markey, Congressman Seth Moulton, Massachusetts State Senator Joan Lovely, Massachusetts State Representative/Salem School Board Vice Chair Manny Cruz, Salem Mayor/School Committee Chair Dominick Pangallo as well as Boston Globe Media Managing Director Linda Pizzuti Henry, Dr. Gerald Chan of the Morningside Foundation, and Salem Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Stephen Zrike.
