In October 2007, the National Academy Foundation hosted its first NAF Design Studio in New York City, generously underwritten by the Wallace Education Fund, established in the New York Community Trust by the founders of the Reader's Digest Association. This 
two-day leadership workshop brought together students, teachers, and administrators from select New York City public high schools to explore key issues related to effective small-learning-community development. On successive days at the Bronx School of Law & Finance and Manhattan Bridges High School, participants shared ideas and experiences, and reviewed best practices and program models for exemplary academies and effective SLCs. The materials available here share many of the key ideas and experiences presented by the two host schools to Design Studio participants.
A video introduction from Patti Smith, NAF’s director of Network Services, presenting the goals of the NYC meeting and the Design Studio workshop model. Watch and listen to learn about the opportunity and experience of a Design Studio.
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A highlight video documenting the NYC Design Studio. Watch this short film for a view of the presentations, modeling, collaboration, and reflection that took place at the Bronx School of Law & Finance and Manhattan Bridges High School in October 2007.
Coming soon
Supporting materials for the Design Studio workshop model
Creating a Learning Culture
Bronx School of Law & Finance
The Bronx School of Law & Finance graduated its first class in the spring of 2007. One of 50 new small high schools opened in NYC since 2001, the program is a model academy with 100 students per grade and a maximum capacity of 400. The Bronx School of Law & Finance is organized around three core design principles: personalization, academic integration, and high expectations for all students.
First Graduating Class: Student Reflections
An end-of-year digital storytelling project for a group of 17 seniors commenting on their experiences at the Bronx School of Law & Finance.
A video introduction from Evan Schwartz and Jessica Goring, the Principal and AP at Bronx School of Law & Finance.
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Academy Development: a case study video documenting some of the Bronx School of Law & Finance’s key best practices, including Advisory, Curricular Integration, Internships, and Personalization.
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Design Studio Support Materials. Download some of the Bronx School of Law & Finance’s design documents and program development materials.
Teaching Strategies for ELL
Manhattan Bridges High School
One of a few small New York City high schools that offer a transitional bilingual program for Spanish-language speakers, Manhattan Bridges serves a growing population of students who have been in the United States for less than three years. Since opening in 2003, Bridges has partnered with the National Academy Foundation in its efforts to provide the core tenets of the NAF AOIT model: personalization, integration of an engaging technology curriculum, and strong community partnerships to support learning for a unique group of students.
Identity Projects and School Clubs: A Digital Storytelling Project for ELLs
View examples of the students work from the digital storytelling project Download Leslie Pulé's teacher reflection, sample exercise, and project rubric
A video introduction from Mirza Sánchez-Medina and Louie Pacelli, the Principal and AP for Teaching and Learning at Manhattan Bridges High School.
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Visual Literacy & ELL: an interview with Instructor Leslie Pulé documenting his use of digital storytelling in the teaching of ELLs.
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Design Studio support from the Manhattan Bridges High School.
Coming soon