PLUSSED, Explained
Almost all Riverdale students have completed the annual Character Lab surveys or read the “Statement on Campus Discourse” booklet. Both have become staples at Riverdale, but most community members are unaware of the organization behind these important initiatives: PLUSSED.
PLUSSED began roughly a decade ago when Head of School Mr. Dominic Randolph created a lab in Riverdale focused on piloting new instructional and learning strategies in the K-12 education system. Mr. Randolph explains, “PLUSSED was born out of questioning what it would look like to build an innovation muscle within a school that could also have broader relevance for the educational community.” The organization’s name derives from Walt Disney, who encouraged employees to build off each other’s ideas and adopt a “‘yes, and…’ energy” in meetings, which is core to PLUSSED’s mission.
While PLUSSED has drastically expanded its size and outreach, it continues to live by its original mission. Over the last three years, one of the major goals for the organization was to hone in on Riverdale-specific initiatives. In response to the COVID pandemic, “it became even more urgent to think about what was current and necessary at Riverdale specifically,” explains Executive Director Ms. Anna Hall. Last year, PLUSSED engaged in research under the essential goal of harnessing “the power of belonging, curiosity, and purpose to catalyze equity, thriving and, ultimately, learning at Riverdale,” describes Director of Special Projects Ms. Jazmin Rogers. This research culminated in a 500-page published paper called “The Thrive Project,” available to read on the PLUSSED website.
Riverdale student interns played a significant role in the development of this paper and the organization as a whole. When describing the importance of input from students to PLUSSED, Ms. Hall highlights how “students check the relevance of our work. They often bring insights that push and actively drive our work in ways that are really powerful.” Junior and PLUSSED intern Emerson Cassidy, who helped create footnotes and summaries for “The Thrive Project,” talks about how her experience at PLUSSED taught her how to conduct university-level research. The writing and research skills she gained from her internship, Cassidy says enthusiastically, will empower her in the classroom. Junior and PLUSSED intern Matthew Liu, who helped define core terms for the paper, also appreciates how his internship “incited teamwork and collaboration with equally determined peers but also encouraged him to embrace responsibility and a leadership role.”
This year, PLUSSED is focusing on applying its research to the Riverdale community. By sitting in classes, Ms. Rogers explains, “we want other folks to be able to see and learn from these great experiences that students are having in Riverdale classrooms and be able to upscale it in a way to extend these elements of thriving.” Student interns play a crucial role in bridging the gap between adults and kids by voicing students’ perspectives on changes they want to see in their education.
While Mr. Randolph founded PLUSSED to primarily support Riverdale, he also intended for the organization to eventually expand its reach globally. Ms. Rogers explains, “we are always really excited to connect with people who are doing similar work so that we can learn from them and share.” The organization has worked with the International Positive Education Network (IPEN) to connect Riverdale with international schools in Singapore, Australia, and São Paulo with a similar dedication to a growth mindset. They also helped with a case study in Hanoi, Vietnam, grappling with the question of constructing an international school that still upholds local culture and values.
Over the years, PLUSSED has fostered a robust community. Ms. Hall appreciates how PLUSSED has allowed her “to engage in the field of education from a place of optimism, hope, curiosity, and promise, restoring and rejuvenating [her] own energy for this work.” Ms. Rogers has fond memories of “post-it note sessions,” where PLUSSED team members brainstormed ideas for future projects in an interactive and fun manner. Cassidy encourages all interested and determined students to apply for PLUSSED’s internship program in the fall to join this supportive community dedicated to improving all students’ education experiences.
