In the tenth episode of Growth Over Grades, Jordan sits down with Cynthia Ritchie, Superintendent of New London Schools in Connecticut. They discuss innovative instruction, flexible learning models, and the shift away from the traditional school-year calendar. Finally, Cynthia shares her insights on driving innovation in school districts while keeping students at the heart of the work.
Episode Highlights
00:00:00 - Introduction
00:01:48 - Transforming Education
00:07:45 - Leveraging Stories behind the Data
00:13:17 - Putting the Vision into Action
00:17:49 - Flexible Learning Models
00:25:48 - Full Year Models with Big Success
00:41:05 - Competency-Based Education and Personalized Learning Paths
00:48:30 - Empowering Change in Education
Transforming Education
With five degrees and nine certifications across diverse educational fields, Cynthia Ritchie brings unparalleled expertise to her mission of reshaping education. Passionate about brain-based learning, she believes every student needs something unique. Cynthia values the stories behind data as drivers for change, emphasizing that the 200-year-old education system must evolve. Her leadership philosophy reflects her commitment to empowerment: “I am most successful when my team is most successful. I will know I am successful when you don’t need me anymore.”
Leveraging Stories Behind Data
Cynthia describes a summer professional book study that shifted her school’s focus from compliance-driven data to understanding students’ stories, enabling personalized goal-setting at all levels. She explains, “Data on paper is one thing, but it's the stories behind the data that matter, and that is what we are leveraging.” Through the study, teachers used insights to create actionable goals, engage in meaningful data discussions, and develop “Portraits of Each Grade,” which encompassed academic, social-emotional, and diversity-focused growth. Cynthia noted that this process redefined accountability and aligned professional development with student-centered practices, ultimately transforming the school community.
Putting the Vision into Action
Cynthia explains that she brings her district's vision to life by fostering collaboration and aligning actions with the strategic plan. She engages stakeholders through thoughtful questioning and inclusive decision-making, empowering individuals to take ownership of their goals. In her magnet school, Cynthia celebrates diversity as a strength and emphasizes interconnectedness, embodying the district’s vision to “unite in excellence.” She highlights the daily efforts of teachers and students, noting, “Frankly, I think teachers don't have enough time or opportunity to highlight their success, so this is a good thing.” By supporting student goal-setting and cultivating a positive culture through vibrant visuals and recognition assemblies, Cynthia ensures the district's vision is fully realized in the school community.
Flexible Learning
The innovative magnet school model in Connecticut is the state's first and only all-magnet public school district, offering pathways in Arts, STEM, and International Education with a focus on social justice and UN standards. Cynthia emphasizes how the model unites students from diverse communities, fostering partnerships and providing opportunities such as guest speakers, field trips, and Birth-8 community engagement events. She notes, “Many students have jobs or want to have jobs or they have young siblings that they are caring for or helping or have other conflicts, and they have to respond to that as well as try to keep up with the pressures of fitting into this two-hundred-year-old model.” To address this, Cynthia describes a regional remote partnership with four non-magnet schools that offers flexible courses, both virtual and in-person, to accommodate students with jobs or caregiving responsibilities.
Full Year Model with Big Success
The full-year model in New London Schools was developed from "dreaming big" meetings to address the needs of teachers, students, and parents, with a focus on student achievement. Cynthia shares, “It’s working incredibly well. Our students in this model are outpacing outcomes compared to the traditional ten-month model.” In this model, students attend school for six weeks followed by a two-week break. Teachers work in teams, teaching multi-age cohorts and collaborating daily on student progress. Parents participate in learning showcases and professional development at the end of each cycle. During breaks, families can choose from options like tutoring or cultural events and Parks and recreation provide childcare. Cynthia highlights that the model reduces transition time while allowing teachers time for data review and team meetings.
Competency-Based Education with Personalized Learning Paths
Cynthia explains, “Our model is tied to understanding individuals, their learning styles, passions, and interests, and then guiding them to see that there are multiple paths to success.” She highlights how the model, which focuses not only on mastering content standards but also on fostering body, mind, spirit, passion, health, and wellness, aligns with Competency-Based Education (CBE). Cynthia notes that they have core standards to meet graduation requirements, along with theme-based standards that integrate arts, STEM, and international pathways. Growth is measured by helping students create personalized learning paths that reflect their interests, and accountability is centered on alignment, voice, and choice. She also emphasizes that collaborating with partners to develop new certification pathways provides students with real-world opportunities for growth.
Empowering Change in Education
When considering a shift to a more innovative teaching model, Cynthia advises leaders to create a pros and cons chart, always keeping students at the center, and to leverage the tools at their disposal to drive change. She highlights the importance of promoting choice for both staff and families, allowing them to actively engage in the process. Cynthia explains, “We want to offer as many different choices as we can to help students really develop that love for learning and that belief in themselves so that they can be successful graduates and, no matter what program they choose, contributing members of society.” This approach, she stresses, fosters engagement and ensures the model aligns with the needs of the school community.
Innovative learning models are gaining momentum, and for good reason. As society evolves, so too must our educational approaches. To explore this evolution further, dive into 5 Key Benefits of Digital Portfolios for Personalized Learning in 2025 to discover how innovative assessment techniques are transforming education.
