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Home > Resources > Community Connections
Notes on this Issue
In these pages, Horace explores the state of advisories in Essential schools. What do graduates think of an advisory-centered high school education? Kristin Waugh-Hempel and Chris Hempel, former advisors at the Met in Providence, Rhode Island, talked with graduated advisees about their collaborative, advisory-based learning and teaching experiences. How do research and data support advisory programs? Reino Makkonen, an Education Pioneers Fellow at CES National during the summer of 2004, reports on research that validates advisories’ beneficial effects and looks at how Essential school educators are conducting their own data-based inquiries to demonstrate the effectiveness of advisory programs. What challenges are schools encountering as they implement advisories? Carol Miller Lieber and Rachel M. Poliner, authors of The Advisory Guide, suggest strategies to avoid common advisory pitfalls. And how do advisories permanently change the landscape of our souls? Mara Benitez, former advisor at the Arturo Schomburg Satellite Academy High School and current CES National staffer, writes about the permanent connections that advisories produced among her colleagues and students.
CES schools have a long and deep track record of using advisories to strengthen the commitment to and practice of personalization. If this collection of stories, research, and experience helps your school, I am eager to hear from you. Send your advisory stories, comments, and questions to
jdavidson@essentialschools.org.
This issue was inspired by conversation with Leadership High School’s principal Gregory Peters. Thanks for the push, Greg.
Regular Horace readers will note that we have expanded our book review section. In happy conjunction with CES National’s 20th anniversary, the CES network has unleashed a volley of inspiring, provoking, and deeply worthwhile books. It has been an honor to read and in these pages comment on works by Dennis Littky, Deborah Meier, Kathy Simon, and Ted Sizer. I have learned so much from all of you. And CES National’s Laura Flaxman reviewed An Ethic of Excellence by Ron Berger, a teacher who profoundly inspired her. As long as the CES network continues to read books that inspire and enhance practice—and as long as CES practitioners continue to write the same—we will share those titles, recommending must-reads worth your time and attention.
A final note: though formal announcements are being made elsewhere, I want to say goodbye to departing CES National co-directors Vanessa Coleman and Kathy Simon. All of us at CES National thank you for your boundless hard work, intelligence, synergy, and belief in CES. And welcome to incoming CES Executive Director Lewis Cohen, who comes to us with a deep well of experience, energy, direction, and respect for the hard work of schooling. Please visit the CES National website, www.essentialschools.org, for more information about Lewis and other breaking news at CES.
Jill Davidson
Editor, Horace
Page last updated: December 06, 2004
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