Patricia Fitzsimmons Carini

1932 - 2021

Patricia Fitzsimmons Carini, thinker, innovator, educator, mother and grandmother, passed away on March 13, 2021 at the age of 88.

Patricia was born in Montevideo, Minnesota on May 28, 1932 to Ruth (Swanson) and Harry "Hap" Fitzsimmons and grew up in the small town of Jackson, Minnesota. In high school she was elected "Girl Governor of Minnesota," running a grassroots campaign against her opponent from Minneapolis. She graduated from Bennington College and went on to earn her master's degree from Clark University, where she met her husband, Louis Carini.

In 1965, Patricia and Louis, along with Joan Blake and Marion Stroud, founded the Prospect School in North Bennington, Vermont, which would become the foundation for Patricia's life work. Here, Patricia and others evolved the methodology known as Prospect's Descriptive Processes, which relied on observational, descriptive inquiry to generate an understanding of each child's growth and learning. Through this practice Patricia articulated a vision of childhood and humanity rooted in the conviction that each person has agency and capacity and should be treated as such. This methodology became widely used and referenced by educators through annual Summer Institutes that brought together teachers from across the country.

In 1979, the School reorganized as The Prospect Archive and Center for Education and Research. It includes a unique collection of some 300,000 works by individual children that continues to bring together teachers for shared study. The collection is now housed at the Special Collections at the University of Vermont.

Patricia authored "The Art of Seeing and The Visibility of the Person" and Starting Strong, A Different Look At Children, Schools, and Standards. In recognition of her work, Patricia was awarded an honorary doctorate in Education by The Bank Street School in New York. Patricia's ideas live on in the work of Hiland Hall School in Bennington and in the hearts and practice of the countless educators whom she has inspired.

Patricia is survived by her husband of 64 years, Louis Carini, her son Peter Carini, his wife Jo Knowles, and their son Eli Carini all of Hartland, Vermont. A celebration of Patricia's life is being planned for this summer. Gifts in Patricia's memory can be made to the Prospect School Fellowship Program at the University of Vermont. Donations can be made online http://go.uvm.edu/prospect or mailed to 411 Main Street, Burlington, VT 05401, or to the Hiland Hall School, 2196 Harwood Hill Rd, Bennington, VT 05201.