Academics
Academic Support and Enrichment
Our Mission Statement
As a community of diverse learners who believe that we all learn differently, we strive to create a collaborative professional environment where vulnerability of our practices through inquiry and dialogue are embraced, where implementation of research-based practices is standard and where students remain at the center of our mission.
List of 9 items.
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Pia Awal Beirne
Director of Academic Support and Enrichment
pia.awal.beirne@baldwinschool.org -
Sarah Sweda
Director of Counseling and Wellbeing
sarah.sweda@baldwinschool.org -
Shayna Rudd
Upper School Counselor
shayna.rudd@baldwinschool.org -
Eileen Cianfrani
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Aura Gersenson
Middle School Learning Specialist
aura.gersenson@baldwinschool.org -
Alyssa Kolowrat
Upper School Learning Specialist
alyssa.kolowrat@baldwinschool.org -
Liz Koster
Middle School Counselor
liz.koster@baldwinschool.org -
Maura Langan
Lower School Counselor
maura.langan@baldwinschool.org -
Marissa Truong
Lower School Learning Specialist
marissa.truong@baldwinschool.org
Lower School
The team collaborates with faculty to create an environment to reach students at all levels. The Instructional Coach supports teachers with diagnostic assessments in reading and math, leads whole and small group lessons and assists teachers in selecting materials for differentiated instruction. The Instructional Coach offers strategies to target the needs of the range of learners in each class. Math Olympiad is an example of an optional enrichment program offered to fourth and fifth grade students. In this program students are taught various strategies to solve challenging problems.
Additionally, the team provides professional development to our faculty, and conducts workshops throughout the year.
Additionally, the team provides professional development to our faculty, and conducts workshops throughout the year.
Middle School
The Academic Support and Enrichment team emphasizes the educational potential and growth of our girls through a supportive and holistic approach. We foster a growth mindset, promoting innovative teaching strategies and a love for lifelong learning.
In Middle School, all sixth graders begin with a Learning Strategies course that focuses on test-taking techniques, study strategies, and inferring main ideas from nonfiction texts. The course covers organization, research methods, and citation skills to enhance their abilities.
Baldwin's Learning Specialists collaborate with teachers, deans, and the counseling team to monitor students' academic and social-emotional well-being. They provide in-class support, which includes note-taking strategies, breaking down long-term assignments, and helping with study guides for tests. This crucial time in Middle School enables students to develop essential study skills, organizational competencies, and resilience for personal success. Middle School students have access to a Learning Center staffed by a learning specialist who is trained to help students meet their academic goals.
Baldwin’s Guided Resource (GR) is a specialized class run by our middle school Learning Specialist. It is a structured time during which students have opportunities to learn systems of organization and time management, as well as to acquire grade-appropriate academic skills and study strategies. Guided Resource is scaffolded to meet individual needs while establishing grade-appropriate norms to help students develop as learners and be successful in the Baldwin community. The learning specialist works closely with students, teachers, families, and allied professionals to support growing adolescents as they learn to navigate their academic and social responsibilities, in and out of school.
Upper School
As our students mature and encounter new experiences and challenges, support becomes even more multifaceted. Along with a student’s team of teachers and advisor, the Academic Support and Enrichment team monitors student academic progress and communicates regularly with faculty about student engagement, best practices in teaching, and learning accommodations.
The Learning and Writing Center offers opportunities for enrichment in math and language arts. Students may participate in regularly scheduled learning support as part of their course load, and drop in at any time for individual guidance.
The Academic Support and Enrichment team also instructs students in study skills, including note-taking, test preparation methods, active reading strategies, and executive functioning skills such as organization and time management. A central component of our work as a school is to help students learn to understand themselves as learners and to advocate for their needs.
The Learning and Writing Center offers opportunities for enrichment in math and language arts. Students may participate in regularly scheduled learning support as part of their course load, and drop in at any time for individual guidance.
The Academic Support and Enrichment team also instructs students in study skills, including note-taking, test preparation methods, active reading strategies, and executive functioning skills such as organization and time management. A central component of our work as a school is to help students learn to understand themselves as learners and to advocate for their needs.
Staying Current
The Academic Support and Enrichment Team continues to keep up with current research in instructional techniques and conducts mini-workshops on specific topics to keep faculty informed on new practices and strategies. They also observe faculty and provide support by offering alternative approaches or techniques to support the learning and understanding of all our students.
Parent Resource
The Academic Support Team is a resource to parents offering counsel on a variety of topics such as questions about academic performance, understanding a student’s strengths and areas of need and setting up support systems in school and out of school. We welcome your questions!
