Rocky Hill School Announces Recipients of Innovative Teaching Endowment

Rocky Hill School is proud to announce the recipients of the Terry Coes Innovative Teaching Endowment. Robert Lee (Chair of the Social Science Department), and Ashley Ferranti (Chair of the Foreign Language Department) each submitted proposals that identified specific goals, skills, and benefits to the Rocky Hill School learning community.

In honor of the late Terry Coes, a beloved teacher, innovator, and passionate photographer, Rob Lee presented a detailed proposal outlining the multiple merits and benefits of enhanced video and audio equipment for aspiring videographers and students across the community.

Ashley Ferranti submitted a proposal for the Duolingo English Test, a real-world language assessment tool, to allow Rocky Hill School’s ELL students to take a cutting-edge exam that is more accessible, more affordable, in line with the most current assessment trends, and accepted by leading schools of higher education.

Robert Lee - Essential Video and Audio Equipment

“Video has a major and growing influence in the lives of our students, both socially and academically," said Lee. "By learning how to create innovative videos, students of all ages can learn not only about the subject, but also about storytelling, visual imagery, the influence of audio, and the technical aspects of video production. When making videos, they have to plan, collaborate with others, and learn how to operate equipment, direct actors, write scripts, and use software to edit both audio and video content.”

The equipment will elevate and enhance the learning experience of aspiring videographers and appeal to students on multiple levels; particular tech skills and techniques will be introduced, practiced, and mastered across the curricular—in the classroom, in the visual and performing arts, and on the playing field. Students will promote the School through official and unofficial channels, by harnessing the power of social media and sharing their work.

Ashley Ferranti - Enhancing English Language Proficiency and Promoting Research through Duolingo

The Duolingo English Test is scientifically designed to provide an accurate assessment of real-world language ability. Funding provided for Duolingo will allow for Rocky Hill School’s ELL students to take the Duolingo English exam in order to (1) benchmark proficiency scores in comparison with each student’s TOEFL score, (2) create an opportunity for RHS’ ELL students to access a cutting-edge exam, and (3) provide the opportunity for a qualitative research study to better understand the current phenomenon.

International students’ performances on the standardized TOEFL exam are part of the School’s admissions criteria, and the ELL program’s newly-implemented placement process. While the TOEFL is arguably the most popular exam to measure English proficiency levels in North America, the Duolingo English proficiency exam is becoming increasingly popular among many of America’s leading universities when determining English proficiency levels.

The Duolingo English Test, which currently costs only $49 per student, is a more cost-effective alternative to the TOEFL test which costs a minimum of $195 in the US, and $250 in China. By benchmarking the process at Rocky Hill, the School will be able to offer a more accessible test option for incoming students, as well as a more affordable option for current students to re-test for placement purposes. The Duolingo English Test can be taken from any location as long as the test taker has a wifi signal and a working device with a microphone and video capabilities. Students receive their scores within 48 hours and can send their scores to as many schools as they would like with no additional cost.

By funding students to take the Duolingo exam, Rocky Hill School will be in line with the most current English proficiency assessment trend, that is widely accepted by many of the US’ most prestigious institutions such as Yale, Tufts, and Harvard’s Graduate School of Design. Because the School aims to attract students from around the globe, the Duolingo Test will be more accessible to students who do not have easy access to the TOEFL test for either financial or logistical reasons.

About the Terry Coes Innovative Teaching Fund

Rocky Hill School, in partnership with the Coes family, established the endowed teaching chair to support teaching excellence and outstanding academic practice in honor one of Rocky Hill School’s master teachers, Terry Coes, who taught at Rocky Hill School from 1974 until his passing in 2015. Terry was a teacher, a mentor, a photographer, and an innovator in the classroom. This chair, at Terry’s urging, supports faculty initiatives that will enhance the student experience, honoring Terry’s decades of inspired and innovative teaching.

The Terry Coes Innovative Teaching Endowment will be awarded annually to fund an initiative proposed by Rocky Hill School faculty members. This competitive process is open to all divisions and requires faculty to submit a formal proposal that outlines the objectives and intended use of these funds. Proposals should be focused on capital or programmatic needs that will enhance the classroom/academic experience for students.

About Terry Coes

Terry Coes joined the Rocky Hill School community in 1974 after teaching for several years in Washington, DC. He was hired by Hugh Campbell to teach 4th and 5th grade English and history. He later moved to the Upper School to teach geometry, thus launching his Upper School teaching career. Technology was also in the early stages at Rocky Hill School. Terry embraced this new teaching tool as a way to engage his students and became a leader in the field of mathematics. During his tenure at Rocky Hill School, Terry photographed the magnificent sunrises and sunsets from the Hopelands front porch, the students at work and at play, and the faculty at their best. His framed images can be seen throughout campus and are a tribute to the community and spirit of the School that Terry captured on film over the years.

Terry passed away on the morning of June 13, 2015 after a battle with cancer, on the same day that he was to retire and be honored at Rocky Hill School's annual Alumni Reunion.