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Ranney School Announces New Summer Grant Initiative for Curricular Innovation and Faculty Growth and Development

Ranney School is pleased to announce the next phase of its faculty summer grant program — a collaborative cohort experience focused on research, curricular innovation, and strategic impact. Evolving from past summer grant offerings, this new structure reflects a deeper alignment with the school’s mission to cultivate student curiosity, resilience, global citizenship, and leadership through faculty-led innovation.

This reimagined program is designed to foster a vibrant professional learning community, empowering educators to lead transformational work that elevates both student outcomes and faculty culture. Selected faculty will collaborate in cross-divisional teams to generate new research, design forward-thinking curricula, and develop recommendations that advance teaching and learning across all grade levels, from Ranney’s Beginner program (age 3) through 12th grade. In 2025, Ranney will fund four such teams, each focused on high-impact areas aligned with institutional priorities for student development and faculty growth.

"This new grant opportunity reflects our commitment to both faculty development and student success," said Head of School Dr. John Griffith. "We are excited to support a cohort model that encourages collaboration and aligns with our long-term educational goals."

Authentic Leadership. At Ranney, we aspire to instill in our student leadership characteristics that go beyond positional authority.  This summer, a cross-divisional team of faculty — Rachel Lasda, Chrissy Dashkavich, and Lara Wolkomir — will attend the Gardner Carney Leadership Institute (gcLi), a six-day immersive program in Colorado that brings together K–12 educators to explore how to cultivate student leadership through a research-based, brain-compatible approach. The gcLi framework empowers educators to design learning experiences that foster confidence, resilience, and global citizenship. Following the institute, the team will work with faculty across divisions to design a unified leadership curriculum that intentionally builds leadership skills from Early Childhood through Upper School — laying the foundation for a school-wide program that teaches every student how to lead with authenticity and purpose.

Social Emotional Learning. This grant brings together three experts in the field of Social Emotional Learning — Dana Geroni, Natalie Minichino and Ali Pugsley — to advance a school-wide approach to SEL that supports both student well-being and academic success. With a shared commitment to aligning with national SEL standards, the team will focus on integrating social-emotional principles into classroom instruction, co-curricular programming, and faculty development. Their work will center on strategies that build emotional intelligence, resilience, empathy, and strong interpersonal skills across all grade levels. The team will collaborate with peer faculty to embed SEL practices more intentionally into everyday teaching and learning.

Faculty Professional Growth. This grant empowers a cross-divisional team — Roxanne Spencer, Jennifer Rose, and Wendy Martinez — to lead the design of a more intentional and sustainable culture of professional learning at Ranney. While we will continue to support external learning opportunities, this initiative centers on strengthening internal systems that make reflection, collaboration, and growth part of every faculty member’s ongoing professional life. The team may draw on relevant theoretical frameworks and model school programs to guide its proposals.

New Faculty Orientation and Support.  This grant will be led by a cross-generational team of faculty — Jennifer Pallister, Morgan Einbinder, and Jamie McGuire — combining institutional knowledge with fresh perspectives to design a more cohesive, supportive experience for new educators joining the Ranney community. With a focus on inclusive onboarding, peer mentorship, and collaborative learning, the team aims to strengthen both the transition into teaching at Ranney and long-term faculty engagement. The grant will emphasize reciprocal mentorship, ensuring that recently hired faculty feel supported and empowered to contribute from the outset.  By embedding mentorship and professional growth into the onboarding process, this initiative will foster a more connected, resilient, and sustainable academic community.
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society.