EdVestors Awards $100,000 School on the Move Prize to Mattahunt Elementary School in Mattapan

Mattapan school recognized for its student and family engagement, community partnerships, and innovative curriculum that features the nation’s first dual language Haitian Creole program 

(BOSTON, MA) October 22, 2024 – EdVestors, a Boston-based school improvement organization, today awarded its $100,000 School on the Move Prize to Mattahunt Elementary School (The Mattahunt). The Prize, now in its 19th year, recognizes the schools, leaders, and teachers who create and continuously improve learning environments where all students can thrive. By documenting and spotlighting the stories of advancement, EdVestors aims to assist more schools in making substantial strides in their students’ progress. 

The Mattahunt pioneered the nation’s first dual language Haitian Creole program for elementary school students. The school has fostered an inclusive and academically rigorous environment through an innovative curriculum, celebrating students’ cultures, and strong family and community engagement. 

This morning, Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper shared remarks and joined the EdVestors team to announce the winner live and to recognize the two finalists during a ceremony attended by more than 300 community members. WCVB-TV Anchor and Reporter Antoinette Antonio served as emcee at the ceremony, which was attended by business, civic, and education leaders.

The Mattahunt will receive $80,000 in cash, with $20,000 designated toward best practice research. Fellow finalist schools – Boston Adult Technical Academy (Bay Village) and Josiah Quincy Elementary School (Chinatown) – will receive a $20,000 award, double the usual runner-up prize, thanks to a generous anonymous donor. Each school’s unique approach has demonstrated the power of culturally responsive instruction that values and uplifts the unique assets of the school community. 

“Congratulations to the school leaders, teachers, students, and families at all three finalist schools for their incredible achievements,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “These schools exemplify the power of collaboration in creating supportive classrooms for all students, especially multilingual learners and newcomers. Their dedication to fostering inclusive environments not only enriches the educational experience but also strengthens the fabric of our city, ensuring that every young person has the opportunity to succeed.”

In 2017, The Mattahunt was closed due to low performance. The school’s leadership was tasked with restarting the school with a new shared vision: the first dual language Haitian Creole program for early childhood and elementary students in the nation, Toussaint L’Ouverture Academy. Teachers are creating precedent-setting Haitian Creole curricula and assessments for both academic content and cultural learning. The school is committed to effective family and community partnerships: the Mattahunt is a Boston Community Hub School, and the whole community celebrates Haitian culture together through events like Soup Joumou Day and Haitian Heritage Month.

“In the 19 years since EdVestors launched the Prize, our goal has been to highlight the bright spots within Boston Public Schools and to share effective practices that can serve as models for others,” said Marinell Rousmaniere, President and CEO of EdVestors. “This year’s finalist schools are focused on supporting their unique school communities serving majority multilingual learners, celebrating their students' cultural and language assets, and ensuring each young person has what they need to thrive in the classroom and beyond. We have much to learn from the school leaders and educators in the three Finalist schools.” 

As a school where half of students speak a first language other than English, the Mattahunt is committed to academic rigor in both Haitian Creole and English. Teachers are learning and applying the science of reading to their collaborative instructional planning. The team uses assessment and observation data to target English language instruction for each student. With a commitment to the science of reading and tailored instruction, Mattahunt’s English learners have made significant strides in English language progress as measured by ACCESS and improved attendance. The community has taken notice: there are waiting lists for the Mattahunt’s Haitian Creole classrooms.

“Mattahunt Elementary School is a family of learners,” said Walter Henderson, Principal of Mattahunt Elementary School. “We ensure that every school community member is communicated to and connected with. We make sure that our families get what they need, know they’ll be listened to, feel welcomed, and feel confident we're able to meet the instructional needs of their children. No child will fall through the cracks at the Mattahunt.”

“Our Boston Public Schools community is proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the Mattahunt. Their inspirational story shows that through the power of community and a strong shared vision, schools can deliver a high-quality education for every student,” said Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper. “I’d also like to congratulate the finalist schools for their dedication and success in creating welcoming and learner-centered environments for students. I’m grateful for our partnership with EdVestors and their steadfast support of our District. As we continue to strive for equity and excellence, we look forward to learning from the innovative practices of these finalists and sharing their successes throughout our schools.”

Each year, $20,000 of the Prize award is dedicated to producing, researching, and disseminating finalist best practices for school improvement. EdVestors also released a report on the 2023 Prize finalists: Boston Green Academy, East Boston High School, and Fenway High School. “Schools on the Move: A Look at High School Transformation in Action” spotlights the power of a shared school vision, aligned best practices that drive tangible change, and recommendations for supporting improvement efforts in other schools, systems, and neighborhoods. This report was created in partnership with EdVestors and The Learning Accelerator, a national nonprofit that works across the education sector to help practitioners, leaders, and policy-makers learn faster from success and innovation and apply that knowledge to improve how we educate students.

The School on the Move Prize is made possible by generous support of the presenting sponsor – the James M. and Cathleen D. Stone Foundation – along with other 2024 generous sponsors: Bauer Family, BerryDunn, Charlotte Foundation, Eastern Bank Foundation, EY, Fidelity Investments, Fiduciary Trust, Goldman Sachs, HMH, Insource Services, Christine and David Letts, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Loomis Sayles, Microsoft, Modera Wealth Management, National Grid, New England Patriots Foundation, Parker Family Foundation, Plymouth Rock Assurance, Rockland Trust, Simon Brothers Family Foundation, State Street, The Boston Foundation, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, the Westin Copley, and WS Development among other generous corporations, foundations, and individuals.

ABOUT EDVESTORS

EdVestors’ mission is to advance equitable, meaningful education that prepares every Boston student to activate their power and shape their future. EdVestors combines strategic grantmaking, content expertise, and collaborative implementation to drive system-level impact in Boston schools. Since 2002, EdVestors has raised and invested over $47 million in school improvement efforts. We drive toward our mission by activating people and resources; learning and iterating in context; and influencing system change. We believe that continuously attending to all three of our drivers ensures our activities will create impact.

#schoolonmove @edvestors http://www.edvestors.org

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