How do we create a sense of self-agency and personal direction in tomorrow’s youth? By teaching students how to master themselves first, we cultivate a powerful generation of leaders ready to change the world.

Today on the podcast, I am joined by a former professional baseball player, Andy Schindling, who now focuses on empowering low-income middle school students to become leaders and change-makers.

Andy shares the growth and evolution of TCE Academy, student leadership development through community projects, and why we shouldn’t be afraid of the word “love.”

Let’s listen in and learn more about Andy and his incredible mission!

About Andy Schindling:

Andy Schindling is a former professional athlete committed to serving the younger generation by using his life experiences to educate, mentor and lead young people.

In 2015, Andy started The Complete Player Charity, a 501(c)3 nonprofit to provide baseball opportunities for youth in his community. After successfully awarding over $22,000 in scholarships to 33 youth baseball players in two short years, Andy shifted his focus to serving athletes and non-athletes through after-school programming by creating TCP Youth Empowerment.

Through a strong focus on business and leadership, Andy’s program, aimed to mentor low-income middle school students, quickly evolved into TCP Academy. This thriving micro-school utilizes a project-based learning model around business and entrepreneurship with s strict emphasis on the social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual development students. 

Stay up to date with TCP Academy by following them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Jump in the Conversation:

• [3:45] Dead fish metaphor for life
• [5:50] Being The Complete Player (TCP) in the game of life
• [7:01] Business and leadership skills in middle school through student-designed projects
• [14:15] Measuring impact by lives changed
• [18:25] Love -- more than a “four-letter word”
• [28:24] Andy’s Magic Wand for middle school learners: put them in the real world with travel, exploration, building, and creating to go beyond societal limitations
• [31:30] Unpacking SEL, love, and servant leadership

Links and Resources:

• TCP Academy
• Rules of Engagement: Preparing for Your Role in the Spiritual Battle by Derrick Prince
• Servant Leadership: A Journey Into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness by Robert Greenleaf
• TEDx: The Power of Vulnerability by Brene Brown
• Episode 8: Creating Teams of Learning Support with Julie Burgess-Dennis
• Episode 42: The With Heart Project with Kristen Miller
• Episode 30: Creating Student-Centered Learning Spaces with Loren Demeroutis of Big Picture Learning
• Email Maureen
• Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
• Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
• LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
• Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
• Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
• The Micro-School Coalition
• Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
• LEADPrep