Each year, the RCDS Center for Innovating Teaching & Learning accepts proposals for student-centered projects that advance the School’s mission.

Proposals are reviewed by a committee of administrators (including the Head of School, Assistant Heads of School, Division Principals, and Director of the Center for Innovative Teaching & Learning) and up to five projects are selected and funded. Faculty and staff who receive Research & Innovation grants have one summer and the following school year to grow their projects from idea to implementation. An essential part of the Research & Innovation Grant program is information sharing with fellow teachers at the School to ensure that the knowledge gained from the projects benefits the entire RCDS community and creates new, exciting opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

Congratulations to the 2024-25 Research & Innovation Grant recipients!

• Grade 3 Teacher Joanne Aventuro and LS Psychologist Kelly Barker will focus on Strengthening Family/School Partnerships
   
• Grade 10 Dean and US English Teacher Ted Heintz, US Assistant Principal Jenny Heath, US Humanities Department Chair Clemmie Everett, and Grades 7-8 Dean and MS Math Teacher Matt Rosolen will develop a Middle and Upper School Student Leadership Curriculum;
   
• MS Learning Specialist Tammy McKenna will create and launch a Digital Grammar Toolkit for MS Students;
   
• Upper School Mandarin Teacher Joanne Shang, MS/US Photography Teacher Chris Kaye, MS Social Studies Teacher Charlie Friedman, DEI Fellow Maximo Pérez, and Director of Academic Technology Daren Khairule will do a deeper dive into Educating With AI.