Not every student learns the same way.
Some excel through traditional, book-taught, classroom methods.
Some do not.
Student centered learning rethinks where, when, and how students learn.
PMHS has been awarded $200,000 by way of a grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. PMHS is one of seven schools in New England and the only in NH selected to receive this award. This grant was awarded to PMHS to help in the planning stages of Pittsfield School District’s movement toward an alternative to traditional education called Student-Centered Learning (SCL).
It expands education beyond the school’s walls and traditional ways while it makes the community and its resources an important part of the learning process. Project-based learning, internships, experiential learning, career technical education, peer learning, and apprenticeships are features of student centered learning.
Community Advisory Council (CAC)
How Schools and Communities Meet the Challenge
The Pittsfield School District has organized what is called a Community Advisory Council (CAC). It is made up of local community members, area volunteers, school administrators, school board, teachers and students interested in this very exciting concept of changing the way our students learn. Currently, the Community Advisory Council is putting together a model of how the new concept will look and be applied. By this fall, it is anticipated that the plan will be completed and presented to the community before our final grant application is submitted.
The CAC has divided into six sub-committees:
- Policy
- Best Practices
- Data
- Logic Model
- Performance Management
- Communications
The CAC is also working with PYW as our lead community partner through work with the Carsey Institute to further bridge relationships between school and community.
Please explore the following links for further background information:
Nellie Mae Educational Foundation
Center for Secondary School Redesign (CSSR)
CAC Members
| Rebekah Adams | PMHS Student |
| Erica Anthony | PMHS Parent |
| Jack Barnes | State Senator, District 17 |
| Nelson Beaudoin | CSSR Consultant |
| Bob Bickford | PMHS Principal |
| Susan Bradley | Project Manager |
| Alexandra Briggs | PMHS Teacher |
| Scott Brown | Pittsfield CAC Chairperson, Pittsfield Community Business Owner, PMHS Parent (Graduates), Former School Board Chair |
| Bill Bryan | CSSR Consultant |
| Tobi Chassie | Pittsfield Director of Student Services |
| Colleen Corliss | PMHS Student |
| Joe Di Martino | President, Center for Secondary School Redesign |
| Jim Doremus | Director, Concord Family YMCA Executive |
| John Freeman | Pittsfield Superintendent |
| Derek Hamilton | PMHS Teacher |
| Maryclare Heffernan | SERESC Consultant |
| Shawnda Hopkins | PMHS Teacher |
| Louie Houle | Chamber of Commerce, PMHS Alumnus, PMHS Parent (Graduate) |
| Gary Johnson | Chief, Pittsfield Fire Department |
| Lynn Kilchenstein | President, New Hampshire Technical Institute |
| Stephanie Lamere | PMHS Parent |
| Sebastian Manteau | PMHS Student |
| Jennifer Massey | PMHS Parent, PMHS Paraprofessional |
| Bill Miskoe | Former Pittsfield Planning Board Chair |
| Art Morse | PMHS Alumnus; Former School Board Member |
| Ross Morse | PES Parent, Former School Board Member, PMHS Alumnus |
| Jayne Ogata | CSSR Consultant |
| Mary Paradise | Chair, Pittsfield School Board |
| Zach Powers | Executive Director PYW, Lead Community Partner |
| Tom Raffio | Member, NH Board of Education; President & CEO, Northeast Delta Dental |
| Steve Rothenberg | Director, Concord Regional Technical Center |
| Lois Stevens | Pittsfield Coordinator of Student Services |
| Denise Towle | President, PMHS Booster Club; PMHS Parent (Graduate); PMHS Parent |
| Ed Vien | Chair, Pittsfield Select Board; Chair, Pittsfield Economic Development Committee; Neutral Conveyer |
| Leslie Vogt | Director, Pittsfield Senior Center; PMHS Parent (Graduates) |
| Sheila Ward | PMHS ELO Coordinator; PMHS Parent |
| Bob Wharem | Chief, Pittsfield Police Department |