Grade: A

Boston Public Schools and Innovation Leaders Address their Plans for the

Future of Education at HUBWeek

By Eugênia Álvares Affonso

After Boston Public Schools published research in 2016 showing most of its

students don’t travel more than mile beyond Dorchester, Mattapan and Roxbury,

the district decided to turn the city into an extension of the classroom. At this
year’s HUBWeek, educators, students and technologists took over the stage at the

Ideas Dome to talk about how they are making this happen.

Turahn Dorsey, 47, chief of education at BPS, said there is a mismatch between what

students learn at school and the skills they require later in life.

“The future is moving faster than the classroom,” Dorsey said. “We have to close

the gap between where students live and where innovation is.”

The discussion, “The Future of Education: Moving our Students More than a Mile,”

October 14 featured BPS’s partners on the initiative including Freakick, a career

advising company; Timothy Smith Network, an organization that aims to foster

technology education; Converse, a shoe company, and BU Spark!, a Boston

University initiative that brings together student data scientists and programmers

with those hoping to create tools to make a difference.

Makeeba McCreary, 46, executive director of the BPS Office of External Affairs,

said the metrics to measure the efficiency of the project include time, treasure and

talent.

“Time” refers to the volunteering of corporate partners, “talent” is the learning

provided to students and teachers and “treasure” means the total financial investment

received, she said.

“Our goal is to triple the financial investments from the corporate sector in the next

3 years,” McCreary said. “This will put us at $12 million annually.”

During an interview, Dorsey said most companies “raised their hands” and

volunteered to figure out together how to make the project work.

Milton Irving, CEO of Timothy Smith, said he has a strong personal attachment to

the project; he sees himself in the kids.

“They need to see us, people that look like them, to feel allowed to dream in color

and boldly,” Irving said.

Timothy Smith Network offers technology courses at its 23 locations around Boston.

The company also sponsors STEM-focused after-school programs and The Boston

Design Academy to promote youth development and prepare kids for professional

opportunities.

Amy Gallese, 37, an educator who was in the audience and previously has worked

with BPS, said teachers can’t keep trying to pull students away from technology.

“It is important to help students see how technology they use every day can serve

proactive purposes,” she said.

For Brodrick Foster, global kids’ footwear director at Converse, this project is the

best way to make students see beyond their “3-meal-a-day reality.”

Originally from Detroit, he recalled feeling incapable in his first job after graduating

as the only black student of his class.

“I would cry everyday,” Foster said.

Things changed when an uncle helped him get a job Nike in Portland, Oregon, he

said, where he learned via real-world experience. Foster now hopes to do the same

for kids who are afraid of dreaming big.

As a part of the project, BU Spark! developed the “More Than a Mile” mobile app

in 2017. Ziba Cranmer, 46, director of BU Spark!, said she oversaw four students

who built the app, which compiles a list of learning opportunities in Boston.

Cranmer said the app is meant to encourage kids to explore the city. To increase

motivation, the students get a credit in a “city as a classroom transcript” for each

event they attend.

Cranmer said education is characterized by two parallel lines. On one side, there is

what kids learn at school. On the other side, there is what they learn in clubs and

extracurricular activities. She said resources around the city are what will fill the

gap, and she hopes the app will help.

“I want my student body to look more diverse,” Cranmer said.

BPS also has been working with the kids’ families and the Boston community to try

and ensure the project is successful.

Ritchy Rinchet, 17, a junior at Jeremiah E. Burke High School, said the project has

“opened his mind for new things” and given him hope to see outside his community.

He said he thinks the reason why most kids don’t travel a mile beyond their homes

is because “you can’t just go to a place where people don’t look like you.”

“It might be uncomfortable in the beginning,” Rinchet said. “But it is worth it.”

Sources:

Turahn Dorsey, chief of education.

Phone: 617-635-4476

Email: turahn.dorsey@boston.gov

Makeeba McCreary, executive director of BPS Office of External Affairs.

Phone: (617) 635-635-6988

Email: mmccreary@bostonpublicschools.org

Milton Irving, CEO of Timothy Smith Network.

Phone: 617-968-3653

Email: mirving@timothysmithnetwork.org

Brodrick Foster, global kids’ footwear director at Converse.

Ziba Cranmer, director of BU Spark!.

 Email:zcranmer@bu.edu

Amy Gallese, educator.

Phone: 802-535-9225