The Channing
The Channing Elementary School is a PK-5 school in Hyde Park.
Currently serving approximately 220 students, it will grow to serve approximately 300, including the addition of a 6th grade. Over 90% of the students are students of color, and nearly 3 out 4 Channing students are designated as high-need.
In 2014, the Channing was one of the lowest performing schools in Massachusetts, and required state intervention. What followed was a remarkable turnaround, led by school Principal Carline Pignato. In the fall of 2019, the Channing exited turnaround status, with large strides in literacy (nearly meeting the state average in 3rd grade ELA), student attendance and safety, and school and staff culture.
We started working with the Channing as part of our “Good to Great” grant in 2019, making a second grant to help the school continue to improve and expand enrollment in the coming years. At BSF we not only provide funds but also help schools navigate the challenges of growth.
Recently Carline told us that the first learning experience with BSF came during the grant application process which enabled her to make positive changes in the school’s strategies.
“We gained a partnership that is also building my capacity as a school leader while providing us with the funds to get the work done. The feedback in the grant writing process was so bulls eye that it enabled me to go to the school level team and refine our goals and strategies.”
The first grant focused on their 6th grade expansion plan. Through this grant they were able to hire a consultant to help develop what their 6th grade program would look like. They also used the funds to enrich the classroom library to include books that were representative of their home cultures, values and norms, something that would not have been possible with the limited funds they got locally.
The second grant focuses on improvement and will allow for teachers and school leaders to get professional development. The leadership team was able to attend The Standards Institute, visit high performing schools in other districts to connect with other school leaders, and build better data systems to evaluate and improve on their work.
Carline has also been able to lean on the support provided by BSF staff when she encounters situations in her school that she doesn’t know how to solve. Talking about her experience with BSF Carline mentions:
“That’s what I’ve always wanted as a leader, someone that will add to my knowledge base and understanding. I feel like I have people to go to to get the answers to get the school to where it needs to be.”
BSF is proud to work hand in hand with schools like the Channing and leaders like Carline who are taking schools to the high quality level Boston children deserve.
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