Purnell School in Pottersville, New Jersey, is an independent boarding school serving approximately 125 young women in grades 9-12. Founded in 1963 as a school dedicated to “putting the girl first and valuing each individual,” Purnell has more than 1,200 alumnae around the world.
Three-quarters of Purnell’s teachers and administrators have participated in the Schools Attuned to All Kinds of Minds course to date. Purnell Head of School Ayanna Hill-Gill notes, “All Kinds of Minds’ methods are in complete harmony with our mission of educating young women in grades nine through twelve whose potential has not previously been realized, and preparing them for college as ethical, independent, self-confident young women with a greater appreciation of the world around them and an understanding of how to be successful.'”
Purnell’s faculty uses vocabulary from the All Kinds of Minds neurodevelopmental framework to help identify and address issues for individual students, to formulate strategies for lesson and unit planning, and in class syllabi. In addition, regular faculty seminars are held to reinforce and support further implementation of All Kinds of Minds strategies across the curriculum.
The All Kinds of Minds approach is also a subject of student learning and reflection, both inside and outside of the classroom. Purnell Affinities Program Director Brooke Malik explains, “At Purnell, we demystify all students in their first year with us, using All Kinds of Minds’ language and tools to talk to them about their learning on a case-by-case basis, and providing interventions compatible with their strengths and affinities. As a boarding school community, we also build upon students’ strengths and affinities outside of the class.”
