WISE History
WISE was founded in 1972 at Woodlands High School in Greenburgh, New York by a group of students, teachers, parents and community members in order to address “senior slump” and to aid the transition of graduating seniors to life after high school. This initial program was dubbed “Woodlands Individualized Senior Experience” (WISE).
In 1991, when Vic Leviatin and Andrew Courtney retired from teaching, they established WISE Individualized Senior Experience, Inc. (also known as WISE Services), a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, to assist other schools in developing WISE programs tailored to their own local needs. Today, WISE Services is staffed by former WISE practitioners.
Thirty-seven years after the first WISE program and nearly 20 years after WISE Services began spreading the program beyond Woodlands, WISE programs are in place at 60 diverse public and private high schools nationwide with high school seniors of all ability levels participating each year. There are now more than 30,000 WISE graduates, ranging in age from 18 to 55.
WISENews!
Wise Services Journal, Fall/Winter 2011
David Greene Interview on BronxTalk (11/14/11)
Teacher in A Strange Land: Why I Have to March Once More
Acclaimed Educator Linda Darling-Hammond and Daughter Kia Praise WISE
Press Release: Wise Program Builds Confidence
Welcome to WISE
For over 30 years, WISE seniors of all ability levels have created individualized real-world experiences (WISE projects), exploring their passions outside the traditional classroom.
Over 35,000 WISE graduates at over 60 high schools have learned to collaborate and to work independently, developing organizational, research, writing, and presentation skills as they ignite a lifetime of personal growth.
WISE also offers local community agencies and businesses the opportunity to tap the diverse talents and energy of their high school seniors.
WISE Services (WISE Individualized Senior Experience, Inc.) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1991 to assist schools in developing WISE programs tailored to their own local needs.
