Springfield Public Schools has been distinguished as a model POG district and selected as the host site for the Spring 2024 POG Convening. With All Eyes on Us for Good, five schools will represent the innovative work taking place districtwide during the convening, which will take place March 18 – 20. Dryden Elementary, STEM Middle Academy, the Springfield Renaissance School, the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts, and the High School of Science and Technology will serve as host schools to the more than 100 students and administrators coming to Springfield Public Schools from districts throughout the region. We sat down with students, teachers, and principals from three of those schools to find out what is happening in their schools that they are most excited to share with guests. Stay abreast of all the Spring 2024 POG Convening highlights and activities by liking SPS on Facebook, following us on IG, or visiting the SPS website.

Murals inspired by our student's Portrait of a Graduate Art will be in full display this Spring. We spoke with the community leaders, teachers, and SPS administrators involved in bringing the project to the walls of our city, and were able to speak with one of the student artists being featured.

In this episode, SPS students share their remarkable stories of connection and growth. From meaningful friendships to impactful mentorships, these narratives celebrate the transformative power of school connections.

Special Guests:

The final episode of POG-The Podcast for 2022-2023 brings a breath of fresh air as Springfield Public Day High School senior Je'Vonte West hosts the show. Je'Vonte was a guest on our Joyful Learning episode, where he told us how an assignment at school sparked an interest in journalism. Preparing for and executing this episode as a guest host and interviewer provided him another opportunity to work as a journalist does. He does a superb job!

Special Host:

- Je'Vonte West

Special Guest:

- Azell Cavaan

This episode discusses a recent Portrait of a Graduate Trip to the Mission Vista district in California. Mission Vista has been using and developing a Portrait of a Graduate system for 8 years and has received national recognition for its work. Our POG team members got a firsthand look at how they operate and had the chance to ask questions about how they do it.

Special Guests:

​The latest edition of "POG the Podcast" features a conversation about the importance of student/educator relationships, with a focus on what the primary person model looks and feels like in schools. Listen in as Principals Coburn and Harris talk about their approaches to this ​important element of a school's culture and climate alongside a couple of students from each school.

Special Guests:

​A direct result of Portrait of a Graduate conversations with families, staff, community, and students, Financial Literacy classes are now in full swing for many high school students. In the January episode of POG - The Podcast, we catch up with a couple of students to find out what they are learning and how it is impacting them and their families. We also hear from their teacher Mr. Archambault and Humanities Director Tom Rachele.

Special Guests:

In this episode, we explore the definition of "Joyful Learning" from the different perspectives of those involved in the classroom. We hear from students and staff about what that term means to them and learn real-life examples of it at work. 

Special Guests:

Rhonda Jacobs

Robert Porter

Je'Vonte, 12th Grade

Absalon, 11th Grade

Episode 4 of the POG Podcast features a student and staff members from the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts School. In this episode, we discuss the inception and support of a student-led initiative in the school and how it foundationally relates back to the Portrait of Graduate teachings. Enjoy! 

Special Guest: 

Welcome to a Special Edition of the Portrait of a Graduate Podcast. This episode features our writing winners for the POG Art and Writing Contest held last Spring. Our winners honored us by reading their winning pieces of work for us. Please enjoy this special episode. If you want to see the winning art pieces visit springfieldpublicschools.com

Note: Michael Wilson's writing is read by our host Azell Cavaan

Special Guests: