Ms. Keisha Hannans

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Instruction & Assessment

email: keisha.redd@nhboe.net

Philosophical Framework

Philosophy of Curriculum: Guiding Growth, Inspiring Minds, and Empowering Students

Curriculum is an intentionally designed roadmap that guides teachers to provide learning experiences that lead to high levels of student achievement through discovery and empowerment, while embracing diversity. Anchored in national and state standards, the NHPS Prek- 12 curriculum fosters student progression from level to level, nurtures the holistic development of students, and recognizes the connection between teachers, students, and content.

1. Standards-Driven Progression: Our curriculum is built upon rigorous standards, ensuring every student acquires essential knowledge and skills while allowing for individualized learning paths.
2. Continuity and Growth: Each stage of our curriculum builds upon previous learning, fostering continuity and growth in academic, social-emotional, and critical thinking skills.
3. Holistic Development: We value the whole child, fostering intellectual, emotional, cultural, and social well-being through interdisciplinary connections and real-world applications.
4. Dynamic Collaboration: Education is a collaborative endeavor, with teachers as guides and students as active participants in their learning journey.
5. Knowledge and Creativity: Our curriculum balances academic proficiency with creativity and innovation
6. Empathy and Global Citizenship: Central to our curriculum is the cultivation of empathy, compassion, and social responsibility, preparing students to be informed, engaged citizens in an interconnected world.

Our philosophy of curriculum reflects our commitment to nurturing growth, inspiring minds, and empowering students to succeed in a diverse and dynamic world.

Purpose of Curriculum

The purpose of curriculum is to provide standards-based guidance and direction for teachers as they plan for student learning. A well-designed curriculum provides clear, vertical alignment of learning for every student and coherence among courses and content areas. Curriculum implemented with consistency and fidelity across schools, grade levels, and courses increases the likelihood that students will have equitable access to learning and teachers will have opportunities to collaborate across the District.

New Haven Public Schools maintains curriculum that is purposeful, meaningful and supportive for all students at all grade levels in all subjects. For details, see specific subject areas in the pulldown menus on the left, and browse curriculum overview documents at the bottom of this page. 

The Quality Indicators of Teaching and Learning document is designed to provide a window into an exemplary classroom utilizing the actions of teachers and students as the standard for determining high-quality instruction. The Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Curriculum Supervisors, Administrators, and Teachers collaborated to identify evidence that improves teaching and learning. Please utilize this tool as a guide to reflect on instructional practices and student engagement during observations, grade-level meetings, and professional conversations with colleagues. This document is not an exhaustive list of evidence. However, it is to be used to spark conversation, improve instructional practices, and increase student productivity. Our fundamental belief is to focus on the instructional core - the relationship between teachers, students, and content - to improve student achievement.