Bloomington at the Center of School Reform Movement
Almost thirty years ago a small school in Bloomington, based on a democratic governance ideal, began what has become the seat of a national school reform movement.

Harmony School has grown and added many components to what is now known as Harmony Education Center.

Harmony Education Center is the umbrella entity for all of the various parts of Harmony. Each serves a different population segment but all are dedicated to the cause of improving education for the children of the world.

The stories in this newsletter tell about many parts of the HEC story and the importance of this work. The Capital Campaign is also presented, and you will find suggestions how you may be able to help us be even more successful in improving education in this country.

Harmony School — Making a Difference
Harmony School in Bloomington, Indiana, was the start of all other parts of what we now call Harmony Education Center.

Founded in 1974 with four students as a small secondary school, the elementary and pre-school programs were added later. Now nearing its 30th anniversary, Harmony School is a successful independent pre-K through 12 school with an enrollment of 186 students.

The school was founded on a collaborative model that engages teachers, students, and parents in a democratic learning environment involving a high standard of equity that is applied to all aspects of the education process.
Harmony School is now housed in the historic Elm Heights Elementary School.

National School Reform Faculty (NSRF)
One of the most important programs of Harmony is the National School Reform Faculty. While the national office is in Bloomington, its work is conducted throughout the country.

NSRF was begun in 1995 by the Annenberg Institute for School Reform at Brown University. From its inception, NSRF has been focused on developing facilitative leaders and collaborative, reflective cultures in schools and districts across the country.

In 2000, NSRF relocated to the Harmony Education Center. Since moving the national office to Bloomington, its work has continued to grow.

NSRF offers intensive professional development for educators through the development of Critical Friends Groups (CFGs) and support for facilitative leadership. In CFGs, educators collaborate to deepen their knowledge of subject matter, examine their teaching practice with a critical eye, and consider issues of organizational change that support improved classroom practice. NSRF emphasizes making one's practice public, continuously assessing teaching in relation to student learning, and routinely adapting teaching practices and school structures to meet the changing needs of today's students.

Now operating through 28 Centers of Activity throughout the country, NSRF has about 10,000 active trained CFG coaches and facilitative leaders working with schools and school systems on school reform and improvement. Some of this work involves the Small Schools Initiative promoted by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

Rhino’s Youth Center
In response to a lack of safe places to hear live weekend entertainment and gather after school, Harmony School students started Rhino’s Youth Center, now nearing its 12th anniversary.

Named after a sculpture acquired by Harmony Students (see photo), Rhino’s is a youth club that offers an amazing array of opportunities for participation, socialization, and creativity.

Rhino’s produces concerts nearly every weekend. Additional staffing through Bloomington Parks and Recreation adds after-school programming that produces a weekly radio show, a community television show, a newspaper, and a mural project for the community.

All of these programs exist in a democratic collaborative environment and are youth-driven and youth-directed.

Upwards of 450 students from Monroe County and surrounding communities participate in Rhino’s activities each week, headed by Rhino’s Director Brad Wilhelm.

Rhino’s benefits from support of several funding sources including the City of Bloomington, United Way Community Services, Bloomington’s Parks and Recreation Department, the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, and private and public donors. Additional staffing is supplied by community volunteers.

This broad-based range of support demonstrates the wide-ranging appeal and importance of the work being done by Harmony through Rhino’s Youth Center.

Institute for Research
HEC’s Institute for Research was created in 1990 to foster and support educational scholarship that is authentic, intellectually engaging, and potentially meaningful to large numbers of our fellow citizens.

Over the years the Institute has conducted research into four primary areas and seeks to offer assistance to education professionals.

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