New US School: "Bank Street" To Make Dubai Entrance with Clarion

First Published:

Thursday 19 November, 2015

Clarion School, developed by Scholars International Group (SIG) in collaboration with the Bank Street College of Education, is set for a Dubai launch in September 2016. The school says it will "limit enrollment to 240 students in the first year of opening".

Bank Street College of Education is widely acknowledged to have had significant impact on American progressive education over the last century playing a role in US educational policies and practice on how children learn.

According to a release sent out by the new school, Clarion's approach to education will mirror Bank Street and be "based on the progressive education model, employing constructivist, experiential, and place based learning".

Said Shael Polakow-Suransky, President Bank Street College of Education on the collaboration: “We are pleased that SIG asked Bank Street College of Education to partner with developing the new Clarion School in Dubai. As part of the affiliation, we are committed to supporting the planning, faculty recruitment, curriculum and on-going professional development of this school."

The new Clarion school will offer classes starting from Pre-K to Grade 2 in the first year, with upper classes to follow in the second year, and will be staffed with highly qualified educators, who will hold Master’s Degrees, a unique feature of the school.

In collaboration with Bank Street College of Education, Clarion aims to provide a "rigorous academic program that will offer a clear and effective pathway for students to transition into top US colleges on graduation".

The school will be led by Dr. Kandance Williams, the newly appointed superintendent, who has taught students across the USA and internationally. Speaking on the partnership with Bank Street College of Education, Williams, said, “The institution’s internationally recognized position as a leader in education and pioneering approach to improving the quality of classroom education and teacher preparation allow us to offer students a premier American curriculum while offering discerning parents a trusted investment in their children’s future.”