“We’ve come a long way in the past months to reimagine our school and make it work—and work well—for our students,” says Caroline Gear, ILI’s Executive Director. “All of our classes are now accessible online, with the same high-quality learning that students expect. And we are preparing for the reopening of our doors while at the same time maintaining a robust remote learning experience.”
Caroline takes us on this journey in a new video. She describes how ILI’s Board of Directors revised their innovative strategic plan to focus on 2021, vigorously addressing our collective new reality. In mid-October, the Board launched the IMPACT Fund, with a goal of raising $100,000 by July of 2021 to undergird day-to-day operations. An anonymous donor has anchored the goal with a $20,000 challenge, and the Board has responded with a 100 percent commitment to help match the challenge—and with optimism that other donors will do the same at here. As Caroline affirms,“This can’t happen without the continued support of local foundations, our many business sponsors and generous donors, and uncounted friends across western Massachusetts.”
She also describes the resolve of the Board of Directors, teachers, and staff in taking a deep dive into exploring and expressing clear guidance and the need to hold ourselves accountable through our new Statement of Principles. And Caroline emphasizes ILI’s focus on learner-centered classes that are the backbone of our work, both in-person and online, and that will continue now and on the other side of the pandemic.
On behalf of our students, teachers, and staff, Caroline thanks ILI’s many supporters and asks for their help in making the IMPACT Fund’s goals a reality.