Q&A with the Fund's Program Committee Co-Chair

January 2020 Newsletter

Q&A with the BHS Innovation Fund's Program Committee Co-Chair, Peter Jacobs

Pictured: Peter Jacobs (right) at the Fund's 2019 Master Class event with BHS parents and community members.

The BHS Innovation Fund supports academic innovation that ignites our students' passions and prepares them for an ever-changing world. Ever wonder how courses and programs become part of the curriculum? Peter Jacobs, a BHS parent and Board member of the Innovation Fund, who has been involved with the Program Committee since 2017, is here to tell us.

What are the key components of academic innovation? According to Peter, it's about collaboration and support with teachers, administrators, parents and

community members - like you! We invite you to learn more about the process for selecting Innovation Fund-supported programs with this brief Q&A.

What is the Program Committee?

The Program Committee is the group that solicits, reviews and recommends the programs and courses that the Innovation Fund supports. We work with the BHS faculty to identify programs that drive innovation at the school. These can be individual courses, such as Engineering by Design; new ways of teaching, such as Experiential Physics; whole school initiatives, such as The Hub; or the Innovation Fellow, w ho champions initiatives that impact all students.

What's the process to go from an idea to a program?

We work throughout the year encouraging BHS faculty to think of inventive ways to enhance the teaching process. Each fall the teachers submit grant proposals that outline their ideas. Together with Head of School, Anthony Meyer, and a representative from the Superintendent’s office, we review and vote on the proposals and recommend the ones we believe best support the Innovation Fund’s mission .

Who is on the committee?

Program Committee is comprised of Innovation Fund Board members and BHS/District administrators. While committee membership rotates, the Head of School always sits on the committee. This is critically important because we’re proposing new courses and teaching methodologies. The Head of School’s insight, guidance and support are absolutely essential to ensure that the programs we fund support and enhance their vision and mission for BHS.

What criteria does the committee use to choose programs and for how long are they funded?

Most importantly, we’re looking for innovative ideas. To be selected, proposals need to fit with the Head of School’s vision and the Fund’s mission, be feasible and have a clear plan for successful implementation. Programs and courses that are selected are usually funded for three years.

What happens to classes and programs after the Fund's commitment is completed?

Over the course of our multi-year support, Innovation Fund courses or programs are refined and improved by the teachers. Each year the teachers evaluate what worked and modify accordingly. At the end of the funding, the Brookline School District reviews the program and decides whether to make it a permanent part of the BHS curriculum. While having a course picked up by the district is wonderful, this isn’t our only measure of success. Providing our faculty an opportunity to think of new ways of engaging, energizing and teaching our students is equally important.

Who can take a Fund class? How does a student get into one?

Any BHS student can take a Fund class. No student is favored over another. While some courses are so popular that they are over-subscribed and students must apply to the course, others are available to anyone who registers. If students have questions about the application process for certain Fund courses, they should consult with their guidance counselor.

What are some interesting trends and hot topics you have observed?

Innovation is an integral part of teaching at BHS. We are extremely lucky to have such amazing faculty. One of the great pleasures of being a part of the Fund is the opportunity to promote new teaching ideas and further energize our teachers. While we’ve seen a lot of STEM and STEAM grant proposals in the last few years, we’re also extremely excited that we regularly received proposals from virtually every department and academic area.

How long have you been part of the Program Committee and the Innovation Fund? What do you like about this kind of volunteer role?

I’ve been on the Program Committee for three years and have been the Co-Chair for the past year. I love being on the Program Committee because it gives me an opportunity to see first-hand all the amazing and innovative ideas our faculty generates each day. They care so much about our students and the Innovation Fund is a great way to support and enhance the process... all while coming up with some pretty incredible courses! What other public high school do you know that has this kind of support and innovation?

How can someone join the Program Committee?

We are always looking for parents to join the Innovation Fund’s Boards . We have two boards, the Board of Directors and the Board of Overseers. Members of either board can sit on the Program Committee after one year of active service.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

The BHS Innovation Fund offers a rare opportunity to directly impact and enhance public school education. We’re very fortunate in Brookline to have such a great relationship between the school, district and community. We’re all working together to provide our kids with the best education possible.

Save the Dates

Join us for a Drop-In with Fund Ambassadors ! Learn more about what we do and how you can get involved, while connecting with BHS parents over coffee or a drink:

Tuesday, January 21 @6:00-7:30pm – Matt Murphy’s Pub in Brookline Village
Friday, January 24 @8:30-9:30am – Bruegger's Bagels in Chestnut Hill

And... mark your calendars for March 31 ! We will host an exciting new community event at Brookline High around Climate Change and Stability with BHS Innovation Fellow Roger Grande . In addition to the main event, we will feature many other BHS Programs sponsored by the Innovation Fund. You'll have to opportunity to hear from BHS students and faculty.

The mission of the Innovation Fund is to empower the BHS faculty and community by fostering a culture of innovation and supporting the development of new ideas and initiatives that will enable our students to thrive in the 21st Century.

Learn More

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