ENGAGE
IMAGINE
CONNECT DESIGN
CENTER
BUILD
RE
THINK
COMMIT
CONVENE
INVENT
EVALUATE
2020-2021 Annual Report
A MESSAGE FROM NICOLE FURLONGE PROFESSOR AND DIRECTOR, THE KLINGENSTEIN CENTER
When I assumed the role of director four years ago, I could not have anticipated the challenges we would face as an ecosystem of independent and international schools. This past year, we continued to navigate the challenges of a global pandemic as we taught and worked remotely. We remain a Center that prides itself on high-touch, in-person, transformative cohort learning, but understood that, in order to continue to bring value to educators and schools, we needed to imagine a more agile, remote Klingenstein learning experience. We took on that challenge for the student-colleagues enrolled in our programs. And we committed to supporting and engaging you where you are, facilitating learning experiences that recognize a deep need to bring ourselves differently in this fracturing moment to the work of school. Instead of those delicious in-person events the Klingenstein Center traditionally hosted, your returns to the Center this past year were rejuvenating in different ways. You joined us for new learning opportunities like Listening Leadership or Data-Informed Leadership, just two of five offerings that will be available through our Building Capacity Series, created in collaboration with Global Online Learning (GOA). In the face of Zoom or Google Classroom fatigue, you signed on for a KlingChat or a KlingSalon. Some of you joined us as we launched FORGE, our newest professional learning program supported by a generous grant from the E.E. Ford Foundation. FORGE was co-created in collaboration with the stellar educators who facilitate the experience. We designed this experience from our recognition that transformation is not effortless, that it involves a process of shaping, reshaping, and refining. Often in our schools we are called to take on tasks that seem as impossible as bending iron. And then we remember that, given the right conditions, iron becomes malleable and can bend. Because we want to support transformative work in schools in research-informed ways, we are establishing a research agenda that will yield informed possibilities for independent schools. Our first major research initiative, text mining Black@Schools Instagram accounts, allows us to listen to the stories catalogued there and to draw data trends that can guide diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work in our schools. We will share
findings, insights, and methods used to conduct this study during the Klingenstein Seminar at NAIS’s Annual Conference in March. This past year, you continued to recommend our degree and credit-earning programs to colleagues, and educators continued to enroll. In fact, we saw growth in our Leadership Academy, bringing in the largest Two-Summers master’s cohort to date. On the next page you’ll find an illustration of the breadth of the programs that the Klingenstein Center now offers. When you decide to share information about the Center’s programs, you are giving an incredible gift to fellow independent school educators. Over the last five years, for example, 88% of our Summer Institute participants and 69% of our Heads Program participants shared that they learned about these programs from a colleague or alum. Please continue to share your Klingenstein experience with colleagues and encourage them to apply to the appropriate program. You will learn in this annual report about our current level of scholarship support and the need we have to grow our capacity in this area. Our plan is to increase scholarship levels in order to grant increased access to educators who want to learn with us. Thank you for giving. 100% of all funds donated directly to one of the Klingenstein Center funds goes to scholarship support for our graduate student-colleagues. On the cover of this annual report you’ll notice that we’ve highlighted words that begin with the prefix “re.” A recent exchange with a Klingenstein alum reminded me of just how nuanced this prefix is: “Re” has a connotation meaning “again,” as in reconnect or reengage. “Re” marks return. “Re” also suggests bringing about something anew, as in reimagine or rebuild. “Re” positions words in the past (recall or reflect) and present (retell). It connotes connection (resonate) and memory (think of the Spanish to remember, recordar, derived from the Latin and meaning to move back through the heart). We might say that “re” amplifies connection, memory, storytelling, and the potential to heal.
Rememory comes to mind – a beautiful and haunting word Toni Morrison coins in her Nobel Prize winning novel, Beloved. As you may know, Morrison’s fiction, and particularly Beloved, has emerged as a lightning rod in the midst of our “new” Culture Wars, where the mere words “Critical Race Theory” are misnamed, politicized, and used to polarize and fracture. Morrison’s fiction was targeted, too, in the Culture Wars of the 1980s and 1990s. If you haven’t read Beloved, please do. The main character, Sethe, explains to her daughter, Denver, “Some things go. Pass on. Some things just stay. I used to think it was my rememory. You know. Some things you forget. Other things you never do. But it’s not. Places, places are still there… What’s more, if you go there – you who never was there – if you go there and stand in the place where it was, it will happen again; it will be there for you, waiting for you.” While Sethe fears rememory’s power to repeat, Morrison’s fiction reminds us that the past lingers and lives, even if we refuse to acknowledge it. Her fiction also recalls for me our charge in the current moment: to care enough to remember. To remember to grieve, for instance, in the face of compounded losses during a global pandemic. To remember to witness and tend to the inequities that are amplified in such global challenge. To consider how we transform our past and present into cultivating different futures. To grow in empathy for each other towards renewed commitment and action. Morrison’s work calls us to care for ourselves and each other enough to choose to witness our horrific, remarkable past and present in their fullness so that we are centered as we attempt the iron-bending work of creating a more equitable, inclusive, compelling future for our schools, for
our students, and for ourselves. Her work suggests new possibilities for what it means to lead and for what we value as leadership. At the Klingenstein Center, we recenter. We root ourselves in our purpose, recognizing our privilege and responsibility to shape an emergent, just future for the thriving of every child and adult in our schools. We embrace the joy that re-emerges through purposeful work. We speak a language of continuous growth and reflection. We embed diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, social-emotional learning, and the science of learning in our curriculum, professional learning experiences, and in the ways in which we understand leadership. We invite people to “cohort” – to convene and practice what it means to do the hard work of renewing community. We help people learn to think systematically, with curiosity and agility. They in turn help others do the same. Every day, even in these heaviest of times, we choose to intentionally recenter and recommit ourselves in this way. And, every day, we are grateful for your partnership in and contributions to this work. Toward recentering,
Nicole Brittingham Furlonge, PhD
KLINGENSTEIN PROGRAM OVERVIEW FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS
DEGREE PROGRAMS
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Summer Institute for Early-Career Teachers (KSI) Strengthen teaching skills and build a foundation for leadership with this twoweek, fully-funded summer program for teachers with 2-5 years of teaching experience in Elementary Education, English, History, Languages, Science, Math, Visual and Performing Arts, and Experiential Learning.
Full-Year Master’s Degree (PSL) Earn a master’s degree in just one academic year of full-time study. Build leadership skills centered in the science of learning, social emotional learning, and diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, and belonging work.
Klingbrief Receive a monthly email with recommended books, articles, podcasts, and online resources.
Heads of Schools Fellowship Revitalize your leadership with this twoweek, fully-funded fellowship for current heads of independent and international schools. Learn with fellow heads to explore key issues facing our schools and build connections that will sustain you throughout your career.
Two-Summers Master’s Degree (LA) Earn your degree in five semesters with two summers of intensive study at Teachers College and project work completed during the academic year. MA/MBA Dual Degree Earn an MBA from Columbia Business School or INSEAD in one additional year of full-time study with our master’s degree programs.
KlingChats Online conversations with fellow educators to explore common challenges and consider possible solutions. Building Capacity A series of online workshops in partnership with Global Online Academy exploring key capacities of leadership. FORGE A year-long, coaching-oriented engagement for school leaders seeking to implement a change initiative in their professional practice.
PSL ‘22 KANE AND BEST SCHOLARS BEGIN STUDIES Among the notable events of 2020 was the inaugural presentation of the Pearl Rock Kane Endowed Scholarship and of the James and Landis Best Scholarship. These two scholarships are now awarded annually to students in the Full-Year Master’s Degree Program.
KANE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED TO AMY FRANCISCO The Pearl Rock Kane Scholarship was established in 2018 at the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Klingenstein Center, on the occasion of Pearl’s retirement as director. This scholarship recognizes a student who demonstrates a commitment to equity and inclusion, and to continuous learning, two areas Pearl wrote about, modeled, and supported through the Center’s programs and curriculum. This year’s Kane Scholar, Amalia (Amy) Francisco comes to Klingenstein after spending nine years working at the Saint Thomas Choir School in New York City, where she began her career teaching 5th-8th grade English. Following her participation in the Klingenstein Summer Institute in 2016, Amy served in several administrative roles, including the school’s High School Placement Coordinator and Director of Studies. Most recently, Amy served as Saint Thomas’s Interim Head of School from January 2020-July 2021, guiding the school community through a search for its fourteenth Head of School, a revision in its governance structure, and its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Amy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Literary Studies from Middlebury College and a Master of Arts in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University. Of being named the second Kane Scholar in Center history, Amy said, “I am honored and humbled to receive the Pearl Rock Kane scholarship this year. Having met Pearl when I was a participant in KSI in 2016, I was able to experience firsthand her deep wisdom, her advocacy for ongoing improvement and excellence in independent schools, and her transformative impact on generations of educators.
Amy Francisco, PSL ‘22 Kane Scholar and Zaineb Hussain, PSL ‘22 Best Scholar
Through my participation in the PSL ’22 cohort, I am excited to broaden and deepen my own understanding of schools and the remarkable communities which create them, as well as to hone my practice as an educator and a leader. In doing so, I hope I can live up to Pearl’s indelible and exceptional legacy.”
ZAINEB HUSSAIN NAMED BEST SCHOLAR Jim and Landis Best created their eponymous scholarship with a deep belief in the power of education. Further, they felt that it was essential to children’s education to strengthen the leadership skills of their teachers and administrators throughout their professional lives. Recipients of the James and Landis Best Scholarship are dedicated to equity in independent schools and seek creative solutions to the challenges our schools face. “I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this year’s Private School Leadership Cohort with the Klingenstein Center and being selected for the Best Scholarship,” said Zaineb Hussain, this year’s Best Scholar. “In just the first few weeks of the program I have had the opportunity to connect with, and learn from, a group of passionate and dedicated educators, engage in meaningful discussions, and reflect on what it means to lead in transformative ways.” Zaineb comes to Klingenstein from the Christina Seix Academy (CSA) in Trenton, NJ, where she was the founding middle school director. CSA is an independent school for underserved children in Pre-K through 8th grade, where each child receives a scholarship to cover the full cost of attendance, including a boarding option that begins in 4th grade. Prior to CSA, Zaineb was a Teach for America corps member; she also taught and served as Science Curriculum and Staff Developer in the Success Academy charter network.
GIFTS IN HONOR AND MEMORY OF PEARL ROCK KANE GIFTS TO THE PEARL ROCK KANE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP AND OTHER GIFTS IN HONOR AND MEMORY OF PEARL Peter Abuisi, Heads ‘99 Varghese Alexander, KSI ‘06, LA ‘13 and Erin Connors, KSI ‘06
In honor of Elizabeth Perry
John Beall, JKF ‘94 Frances Blackman Kerry Brennan, JKF ‘83 The Betsy and Alan Cohn Foundation
In honor of Patricia D. Klingenstein Courtney Cronin, LA ‘17 Lisa Darling, Heads ‘00 Tom Doar, PSL ‘96 DuBose Egleston, Heads ‘13 Geoffrey Evans, PSL ‘11 Kathleen Fernald, JKF ‘86 Jessica Flaxman, LA ‘15 Peter Gibbon, JKF ‘79 Rachel Griffin, PSL ‘08 John Gulla, Heads ‘10 Jim Handrich, JKF ‘95 Richard Hardej, JKF ‘85 James Hejduk, JKF ‘82 Joy Hurd, PSL ‘13 Philip Kassen, PSL ‘98 Jen Kitner, KSI ‘04, PSL ‘06 John and Patricia Klingenstein Fund Joel Konzen, Heads ‘06 Peter Kraft, KSI ‘96, JKF ‘01
REMEMBERING AND HONORING PEARL ROCK KANE “Leadership is not on the shoulders of one person, it’s tapping the greatness of people around you at all levels. Very successful leaders focus on the organization and not themselves.” Pearl shared that wisdom in a March 2018 video honoring her at the NAIS Annual Conference. Pearl Rock Kane led the Klingenstein Center for 37 years as a beloved teacher and mentor to generations of independent school teachers and administrators. Beyond those most visible roles, Pearl was a connector of people and a nurturer of ideas. Her legacy of leadership in independent schools is recognized in the work of those she taught, and those they taught and led in turn.
Jay and Jo Ann Kranis Judd Levingston, KSI ‘87 Turk Lewis, PSL ‘99 Polly Linden, LA ‘09 Jeffrey Lippman, LA ‘09 Joseph Loftin, Heads ‘03 Ray Long, KSI ‘09
394
GIFTS TO THE PEARL ROCK KANE ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
In honor of Roy Long
Eileen Marceau, PSL ‘08 Jessica May, PSL ‘13 Steve Noga, KSI ‘06, LA ‘13 María Paradiso, Heads ‘11 Blair Parker, PSL ‘13 Peg Pavelec, LA ‘07 Mark Reed, PSL ‘04 Ian Rumsey, LA ‘23 and Jeannie Rumsey, KSI ‘10, LA ‘15, MA/MBA ‘17 Jim Scott, Heads ‘06 Deep Sidhu, PSL ‘19 Jalene Spain Thomas, KSI ‘03, LA ‘11 In honor of Lovis Thomas Matthew Stuart, JKF ‘99 Ann Sullivan, Heads ‘08 David Suter, PSL ‘02 Matt Suzuki, JKF ‘99 Mark Tashjian, PSL ‘02 Eric Temple, KSI ‘93, JKF ‘96, Heads ‘10 Stephen Valentine, KSI ‘02 Nathan Vish, KSI ‘14, LA ‘17
$126,685 TOTAL GIFTS
$1.2M
FUNDS NEEDED FOR THE ENDOWMENT TO PROVIDE AN ANNUAL FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP.
VIEW
THE 2018 VIDEO AT HTTP://TINY.CC/ PEARLNAISVIDEO
GIFTS TO KLINGENSTEIN SCHOLARS FUND AND ENDOWMENTS INCLUDES GIFTS THROUGH AUGUST 30, 2021 Jon Alschuler, LA ‘15 Naheed Bardai, LA ‘15 Brooks Batcheller, KSI ‘09, PSL ‘14 Chris Beeson, KSI ‘19 Lindsay Bowman, LA ‘21 Danielle Boyd Heard, KSI ‘93 Kerry Brennan, JKF ‘83 Ryan Buckley, PSL ‘09 Michael Chapman, KSI ‘14, LA ‘19 Jenny Clark Rao, PSL ‘05 Daphne Clyburn, KSI ‘12 Mrs. Richard N. Cohen Joyce Cowin Vinny Dotoli, PSL ‘02 Liz Duffy, Heads ‘11 Terry Eagle, JKF ‘85, and Sally Eagle Doug Fishman, PSL ‘06 Nigel Furlonge, KSI ‘00, JKF ‘06, and Nicole Furlonge Scott Gaynor, PSL ‘99 Debi Gordon-Goodrich, LA ‘09 Chris Gorycki, LA ‘05 Jeremy Gregersen, Heads ‘16 Sarah Heard, JKF ‘07 Peggy Hess Will Holmes, PSL ‘01, and Lisa Holmes, KSI ‘94, PSL ‘01
Matthew Horvat, KSI ‘98 John Huber, Heads ‘18 In honor of Julie and Andy Klingenstein Maiya Jackson, PSL ‘05 Cyndy Jean, KSI ‘12, LA ‘17 Jim Justice, LA ‘07 Jessica Keimowitz, KSI ‘01, PSL ‘04 Andrew King, KSI ‘00, JKF ‘05 Andy and Julie Klingenstein Ann V. Klotz, Heads ‘12, and Seth A. Orbach Steve Kramer, JKF ‘95 Jeremy LaCasse, KSI ‘98, PSL ‘01 Mary Beth Lennon, Heads ‘20 In honor of Klingenstein Center Faculty & Staff John Lewis, PSL ‘03, Heads ‘22 Claire Logsdon, PSL ‘13 William Maguire, JKF ‘96 Ashley Marshall, PSL ‘14 Jessica May, PSL ‘13 Ronni McCaffrey, JKF ‘90 Donald Morrison, KSI ‘96, JKF ‘01 In honor of Kelley Nicholson-Flynn Lester and Dinny Morse Monsie Muñoz, KSI ‘15, LA ‘23 Maureen Murphy, PSL ‘94
88%
of KSI participants learned about this program from a colleague or alumnus
+
99%
of respondents felt that KSI made them a better teacher
+$20K
increase in master’s degree program tuition since 2013
4133
alumni in 68 countries
69%
of Heads Program participants learned about this program from a colleague or alumnus
+ + +
Will Nisbet, KSI ‘12 Bob Ogle, PSL ‘05, Heads ‘20 Tom Owen, PSL ‘19 Ana Owens, KSI ‘13 Ryan Pagotto, KSI ‘04, PSL ‘08 Mike Pardee, KSI ‘84, PSL ‘00 Danielle Passno, PSL ‘08 Marisha Plotnik, JKF ‘09 Joshua Pretzer, KSI ‘04, PSL ‘06 In honor of Donald Morrison Jack Raslowsky, KSI ‘88, and Sarah Raslowsky, KSI ‘88 Judd Redmond, PSL ‘11 In memory of Jonathan Wellerstein Matthew Reininger, PSL ‘11 Jeremy Sandler, PSL ‘18 In honor of PSL Class of 2018 David Smith, KSI ‘05 Steve Solberg, LA ‘09 Rebekah Sollitto, PSL ‘13 Jini Sparkman, KSI ‘16, LA ‘21 Roger Strong Russell Werkman, LA ‘09 Bob Whelan, Heads ‘17 Brian Yager, KSI ‘95
=
Keep spreading the word
95%
of respondents are still working in education
=
Nurture the next generation of leaders
-20%
decrease in the amount of master’s program tuition covered by scholarships
=
Support the scholarship funds
=
Connect with the Klingenstein community
25
new programs and other free online learning opportunities since the pandemic began
What do you most remember about your year as a student at the Klingenstein Center? What a great program! I recall many hours studying with my cohort. We were all focused on getting the most out of the program while having fun in NYC. The most significant part of my experience was learning from Pearl Rock Kane. She asked the most challenging questions; it caused you to think and rethink your past experiences in education and the material she assigned. I’ve never had a better instructor! How did your Klingenstein Center experience impact your career? I entered the Klingenstein Program after several years as a Dean of Upper School Students at St. John’s School in Houston, Texas. After completing the program, I returned to St. John’s as the Assistant Head of School and served in that role for five years. Thereafter, I was appointed the Head of Charlotte Country Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Mark Reed, Nicole Furlonge, and Pearl Rock Kane at the 40th Anniversary Gala, 2018
MEET MARK REED Mark Reed, PSL ‘04, has been an ardent supporter of the Klingenstein Center and its students since his own days in the halls of Teachers College. Mark has served on the Klingenstein Center Advisory Board for nearly a decade, helping first Pearl and now Nicole to keep a finger on the pulse of the needs of independent school leaders and shaping the direction of the Center’s programs. He has given consistently and generously to the Klingenstein scholarships, easing the financial burden of a Teachers College, Columbia University degree for current students. Mark has also been a mentor and role model to many students and alumni of the Center. Officially, he served as a Practicum instructor for the Two-Summers Master’s Degree Program, guiding students through their required project in their schools and providing insight into navigating school cultures and structures. Unofficially, Mark is always ready to be a mentor to students seeking the wisdom of a seasoned head of school in whom they can see themselves and the possibilities for their school leadership journey. Mark served as head of Charlotte Country Day School in North Carolina from July of 2009 until this summer, when he began a new role as Managing Director of the John M. Belk Endowment, a foundation focused on creating equitable educational opportunities for children in North Carolina. Inspired by Mark’s commitment and dedication, we asked a few questions about his Klingenstein experiences and motivations to stay involved with the Center in so many ways. Get to know Mark here.
While all of the titles help describe my career, it was the Klingenstein program that helped me think about independent school leadership in a way that made the difference. In fact, the program has been the single most impactful educational experience in my life. What motivates you to stay involved with the Center and to be so generous with your time and resources? I had the benefit of experiencing the Klingenstein program and I want to help provide that opportunity to everyone who is interested in leading schools. It’s one way I can help our leaders impact children all over the world in my small way. I continue to support the Pearl Rock Kane Scholarship because she was the most impactful educator I have had the opportunity to learn from and there is no way to fully express my gratitude for her tireless leadership of the Center. What do you envision as the ongoing impact of the Klingenstein Center’s work in independent and international schools? As educating children becomes more complex, I’m confident that the Klingenstein Center will be at the forefront of training leaders to solve the most complex challenges. That’s what the Center does; the program prepares leaders to address emerging challenges for today and tomorrow. There is no better leadership program in the country and, much like Pearl, Nicole continues to take it to the next level. We are fortunate to have back-to-back great leaders and strong staff at the Center.
ON BEHALF OF THE KLINGENSTEIN COMMUNITY, WE THANK YOU, MARK, FOR YOUR GENEROSITY AND DEDICATION TO EDUCATION.
UPCOMING EVENTS Stay up to date with all of the Klingenstein events online at klingensteincenter.org/events
NOV
NOV
29
DEC
01
30
POCC Equity Seminar: Leading Culture Change in Schools: Belonging, Equity, Inclusion, and Beyond Noon - 3:00PM
POCC Workshop: Creating Listening Hives for Equitable and Inclusive Schools 2:00 - 3:00PM (Block C)
APPLICATION DEADLINES December 15, 2021 Priority Deadline for PSL ‘23 and MA/MBA ‘24 Applications January 15, 2022 Final Deadline for KSI ‘22, PSL ‘23, and MA/ MBA ‘24 Applications March 15, 2022 Final Deadline for FORGE 2022 Applications May 1, 2022 Final Deadline for Heads 2023 Applications
January 31, 2022, 7:00 pm Klingchat: Engaging Parents Differently ` February 7 - February 18, 2022 Building Capacity: Leadership for Structural Equity March 2, 2022 Klingenstein Seminar at NAIS Annual Conference Listening for Data: Black@Schools Instagram Text Mining and Evidence-Informed DEI Work in Independent Schools March 28 - April 8, 2022 Building Capacity: Leading Culture Change
MAKE YOUR GIFT You can make your 2021-2022 contribution via check by mail or online at klingensteincenter.org/give Please make checks payable to “Klingenstein Center, Teachers College” and mail with enclosed card to: Klingenstein Center, Teachers College 525 W. 120th Street, Box 125 New York, NY 10027
Visit klingensteincenter.org to see our new website, launched in July 2021.