Chris Balme is an education leader and innovator, passionate about helping people discover more of their human potential. Chris was the co-founder and CEO of Spark, a US nonprofit which works across the country to re-inspire the love of learning in adolescents. He then co-founded and was Head of School at Millennium School, a lab school in San Francisco which uses developmental science to create powerful new learning methods for adolescents. 

Most recently, Chris founded and now leads Argonaut, an online program which helps adolescents discover their strengths, explore their identity, and find ways to contribute to the world. He also works with schools and teachers around the world to apply developmental science to design happier and more effective learning. Chris is an Ashoka Fellow, and lives with his wife and three rambunctious children in California.

Join us for this discussion about middle school, early adolescent brain development, and why social connectedness and meaningful work is the key to helping middle schoolers reach their potential.

In this episode, we cover:

• Chris’ path to working with middle school students
• Brain development and neuroplasticity during early adolescence and why using the developmental science at this stage matters
• Developing a framework for the middle school years
• A typical day in a middle school built for meeting the needs of adolescence
• The importance of integrating advisory in promoting connectedness
• How parents and educators can benefit from support the adolescent transformation

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

• Find Chris at chrisbalme.com and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
• Visit argonaut.school to learn more about how their work helps middle schoolers tap into their potential
• Learn more about Rebel Educator, explore our professional development opportunities for educators and students, sign up for a webinar and check out our project library
• Visit us at UP Academy to learn more about our personalized and inclusive learning environment
• Connect with Tanya and UP Academy on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and learn more about her journey here

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More about the Rebel Educator Podcast:

In each episode of the Rebel Educator podcast, I deconstruct world-class educators, students, and thought leaders in education to extract the tactics, tools, and routines that you can use as teachers and parents. Join me as we discuss how to shift the classroom, the learning environment, the mindset, and the pedagogy, to resist tradition, reignite wonder, and re-imagine the future of education.

This podcast is dedicated to all of the educators who work thankless hours to make our next generation the best it can be.  It was designed to begin conversations on how we can redesign education for the future of work and the success of our students.  It is meant for teachers, students, administrators, home schoolers and anyone who interacts with and teaches youth.

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