Growing Academic Independence

Hazel Joseph-Roseboro • Cahn Fellow 2021

At University Heights High School (UHHS), we have observed over the years that students’ actions correlate with the way they experience their school environment. . How they experience their school environment is reflected in the language they use to describe their school as well as the work they are engaged in. We propose an instructional focus that encourages our students  to take full ownership over their learning while motivating them to engage in independent learning and action. In order to achieve this, that type of culture must be reflected in our instructional philosophy and structures. We intend to infuse our school culture with practices and terms that align with and support independent learning, self-discovery, and mastery to cultivate an environment of academic excellence. Our belief is that an environment that cultivates independence will not only allow students to succeed academically, but also empower our students to take ownership of their learning and put them in the driver’s seat of their future endeavors.