Changemaker ED“U”

Are you curious about finding magic in the Middle School experience? If so, join David and Chris as they discuss all the ups and downs, ins and outs, challenges and most importantly, the opportunities for parents and educators with these middle years! 

In this engaging episode, David delves into a thought-provoking conversation with Chris Balme, an esteemed education expert and the author of "Finding the Magic in Middle School." The dialogue unfolds with Chris sharing his personal journey as a once introverted and perplexed middle schooler, an experience that ignited his mission to understand and transform the middle school landscape.

Drawing from neuroscience, Chris emphasizes the crucial developmental stages of early adolescence. He sheds light on the inadequacies of traditional middle schools, structured on a factory model that often contradicts the evolving needs of middle schoolers. Chris advocates for schools to prioritize adolescents' core drives: self-discovery, social connection, and contribution, asserting the need for an educational paradigm shift.

Chris's transformative vision materialized with the co-founding of Millennium School in San Francisco. This innovative school is designed to foster a supportive environment where belonging, connection, and contribution take center stage. Chris underscores the importance of small school sizes, intentional advisory programs, and project-based learning in crafting an educational experience that transcends the norm.

The conversation explores Chris's initiative in depth, shedding light on the challenges faced by middle school boys. He calls for a paradigm shift in the narrative surrounding middle school experiences, challenging the perception that it is an inherently challenging and traumatic phase. Instead, Chris encourages parents and educators to recognize the inherent magic in this crucial developmental period.

Notably, the discussion touches on Chris's two-fold approach for parents in traditional schools. Firstly, he suggests parents embrace a personal reinvention during their child's adolescence, fostering open communication about the challenges and joys of this transformative phase. Secondly, he advocates for creating alternative spaces for students to exert control outside the constraints of traditional schooling. Activities such as apprenticeships, volunteering, or part-time jobs can provide a balance and contribute to a more holistic developmental experience.

A significant aspect of the conversation revolves around the importance of an intentional advisory program. Drawing from his experience, Chris introduces Argonaut, his online program designed for middle schoolers globally. The program facilitates meaningful discussions on topics like personality, emotions, and relationships, providing a valuable platform for adolescents to navigate this pivotal phase.

Throughout the episode, Chris encourages parents to embrace the quirkiness of adolescence, fostering a positive perspective that recognizes the magic inherent in this developmental period.

The episode concludes with a call to redefine the middle school narrative, offering practical advice and a fresh outlook for parents and educators seeking to create a more positive and transformative experience for adolescents.

David shares a simple message in today’s episode. 

After doing a short guided practice, David asks us to let love guide the way. He shares his own personal journey of believing that talking about love was “soft”, and how he now believes the opposite. You can hear more about how he debunks that myth. 

David also talks about how it all starts with loving yourself. 

Take the moments in your day to notice when you are being harsh with yourself and requalify those thoughts and that habit. 

And, finally, he asks that you spread love throughout your day as you encounter the various people you see in your life. 

Give it a try and see what happens!

Stay tuned for an announcement about David’s latest program and some new structures for the podcast!

Amar Kumar, founder and CEO of Chipotle Learning, shared insights on the transformative potential of micro schools in a conversation with David. Having worked in online education, Kumar recognized the limitations of solitary online learning, acknowledging the importance of social interaction and support in education. This realization led to the creation of Kai Pod, a hybrid model combining online schooling with in-person learning hubs.

The essence of micro schools lies in providing personalized attention and tailored curricula. Kumar envisions a future where passionate subject experts create engaging online courses, accessible to students across a region. Meanwhile, on-site learning coaches facilitate individualized support, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.

Reflecting on the challenges of traditional education, Kumar emphasizes the need to break the mold. Micro schools, with their small class sizes and community-oriented approach, offer a solution to the impersonal nature of larger educational institutions. Kumar envisions this model as the future of education, emphasizing the importance of building strong connections between educators and students for a more effective and fulfilling learning experience.

The conversation explores the concept of micro-schooling, specifically within the context of KaiPod Learning and its Catalyst program. The speaker discusses the challenges of traditional education systems and the need for more personalized, community-oriented approaches. They emphasize the importance of relationships, coaching, community, and childcare in education.

The speaker shares personal experiences, including a story about a retired physician's judgment of educators, highlighting the crowd control aspect in large classrooms. They reflect on the limitations of traditional education, citing issues with content delivery, coaching, community building, and childcare.

The conversation delves into the idea of micro-schools, defined as small learning environments. The speaker describes KaiPod as a supplement to existing online or homeschooling options, providing a community for social, emotional, and coaching needs. They discuss the diversity of micro-schools, with different models tailored to specific passions, needs, and community contexts.

The Catalyst program is introduced as an initiative to empower educators who are considering leaving traditional classrooms. It aims to help them define their vision for education, navigate the process of starting a school, and align their passion with community needs. The speaker emphasizes the importance of educators' autonomy in shaping their micro-schools.

The conversation touches on different educational models like Acton and Primer, highlighting the distinction between KaiPod's approach and those that prescribe a specific model. The speaker underscores their belief in preserving educators' points of view and empowering them as the decision-makers.

In closing, the speaker encourages both parents and educators to consider micro-schooling as an alternative, addressing the potential concerns and misconceptions. Overall, the conversation provides insights into the challenges of traditional education, the philosophy behind micro-schooling, and the support KaiPod Learning offers through its Catalyst program.

You can learn more about Amar and below: 

Website: https:/www.kaipodlearning.com

Social: X: @KaiPodCo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaiPodCo

You can learn more about David here: https://www.davidkrichards.com/

David shares a simple message in today’s episode. 

Give yourself permission to be playful and childlike - not childish but be free and have fun like a child. Laugh a little. Don’t take everything so seriously. 

He asks you just to try it and see how your day goes! 

Stay tuned for an announcement about David’s latest program and some new structures for the podcast!

In today’s episode, Mary Jo and David continue discussing their exciting announcement about launching Pathfinder, a program to support others who are inspired to open a school, program or learning center, and need the guidance and structure to achieve their dream. 

Listen to hear some tips and tricks from David and Mary Jo to move closer to your dream of opening a school or supporting others who are committed to creating change in this way. Specifically, they speak to the importance of values and beliefs as the critical first step in moving forward with your dream to open a school. 

Mary Jo Fairhead is the Founder of Onward Learning, a K-8 micro school in Martin, South Dakota near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She has been an educator and mentor of all ages as a coach, teacher, and most recently an elementary school principal. Throughout her career, she saw how a safe and healthy learning environment can inspire children to discover their unique gifts and find their purpose.  She deeply believes that children are capable of changing the world around them in the most profound ways. Unfortunately, Mary Jo witnessed how an educational system can extinguish curiosity and confidence by forcing all children to fit into one box without reverence for each child’s unique talents, skills, interests, and needs. She has observed this as the norm in mainstream education and thus she believes there has never been a more vital time to prioritize our children's future than now! 

Based on her experience as a mother and an educator, Mary Jo envisioned a school where children would enter an environment of complete and absolute love every time they step into their school—a school where class sizes are small and teachers know each of their students on a deep level, where curiosity and creativity are not only appreciated, but encouraged and nurtured. She yearns for her children and the other children in her community to never be forced into the same box, but instead to be guided in finding their unique strengths, passions, and purpose in this world. 

Mary Jo met David when she was first crafting her vision, and he supported her in fulfilling her dream to open Onward Learning. The school was also inspired by Phillip Moore who is the author of The Future of Children and for 42 years, led a love-based, nature school in Michigan known as Upland Hills. Mary Jo shares how she took her dream to a reality in this episode and ultimately how Onward Learning emerged in her small but mighty community of Martin, South Dakota near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. 

You can learn more about Mary Jo and her school here: https://onwardlearning.org/

Be on the lookout for the Pathfinder website which is launching soon: www.pathfindered.com

In today’s episode, Mary Jo and David share their exciting announcement about launching Pathfinder, a program to support others who are inspired to open a school, program or learning center, and need the guidance and structure to achieve their dream. 

Listen to hear some tips and tricks from David and Mary Jo to move closer to your dream of opening a school or supporting others who are committed to creating change in this way. 

Mary Jo Fairhead is the Founder of Onward Learning, a K-8 micro school in Martin, South Dakota near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She has been an educator and mentor of all ages as a coach, teacher, and most recently an elementary school principal. Throughout her career, she saw how a safe and healthy learning environment can inspire children to discover their unique gifts and find their purpose.  She deeply believes that children are capable of changing the world around them in the most profound ways. Unfortunately, Mary Jo witnessed how an educational system can extinguish curiosity and confidence by forcing all children to fit into one box without reverence for each child’s unique talents, skills, interests, and needs. She has observed this as the norm in mainstream education and thus she believes there has never been a more vital time to prioritize our childrens’ future than now! 

Based on her experience as a mother and an educator, Mary Jo envisioned a school where children would enter an environment of complete and absolute love every time they step into their school—a school where class sizes are small and teachers know each of their students on a deep level, where curiosity and creativity are not only appreciated, but encouraged and nurtured. She yearns for her children and the other children in her community to never be forced into the same box, but instead to be guided in finding their unique strengths, passions, and purpose in this world. 

Mary Jo met David when she was first crafting her vision, and he supported her in fulfilling her dream to open Onward Learning. The school was also inspired by Phillip Moore who is the author of The Future of Children and for 42 years, led a love-based, nature school in Michigan known as Upland Hills. 

Mary Jo shares how she took her dream to a reality in this episode and ultimately how Onward Learning emerged in her small but mighty community of Martin, South Dakota near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. 

You can learn more about Mary Jo and her school here: https://onwardlearning.org/

Be on the lookout for the Pathfinder website which is launching soon!

We are all born with a strong intuition. But at around 7 years old, we begin to lose this and start becoming conditioned to the outside world telling us what is right or wrong, good or bad. Today, I discuss the basics of following your intuition as a leader. Launching this podcast brings me right back to being 8 years old and knowing I wanted to be some sort of host. At that time, I wanted to be a gameshow host, but as people around me said to choose something realistic, my dreams faded. I dug into my intuition and I am back, not as a gameshow host, but as a podcast host, to help leaders find their intuition. Listening to your intuition is like growing a muscle, all it takes is practice and determination. This week I ask you to think about a time you had an intuitive feeling and deconstruct what happened. Did you follow it? Why or why not? You already have intuition within you and if you slow things down, you can find the answers and the way to be.

Highlights:

• We are all born with strong intuition. Your intuition may have faded as you got older, but we can relearn how to follow our intuition. Think about a time when you had an intuitive feeling. Did you act on it? Why or why not? Deconstruct what happened.
• To intentionally act and follow our intuition, we need to slow down. Life is busy. Begin by taking 1 minute of silence for yourself each day. Begin thinking about the messages you are missing by rushing from A to B.
• Create BE goals for yourself. What are you going to do that is a BE goal this week?
• Find the small ways to listen to your intuition. Try to listen to areas where you know the Truth and follow it. Trust yourself! 
• Fear comes from the head, but intuition comes from the heart.

Resources:

• Finding Your Own North Star by Martha Beck

For more information, including show notes, check out our website at www.heartofthematter.io.

David shares his end of year reflections and his gratitude for all of you who have listened over the year.

He also shares so recommendations for how to finish out the year including getting some rest during this time of year.

Meet Anita Lennon who was born and raised in Hungary. She came to the United States alone when she was 21.  She went to college, then law school and she became a lawyer.  Anita has been working on Wall Street since then as a compliance consultant to brokerage firms. 

Around 2016, she realized that she feels much more fulfilled when she is giving personal advice and helping people. Anita completed several life coaching training certifications including Dr. Shefali Tsabary’s Conscious Parenting Coaching Institute.  Since then she has started her own coaching business and is working on transitioning to coaching full-time. 

Several years ago, while on her own healing journey Anita finally realized that her main goal and dream is to start her own school. She took her time clarifying her philosophy for the school and is currently working on planning the school. It is expected to open around 2024-2025.

David and Anita have a great conversation about Anita’s motivation to start a school based on the experiences of her own two children who are now in their 20s. She could see the gaps for each of her boys who are very different and this inspired her to create her own school. 

In addition to the motivation of her own children’s experiences, she also works closely with other families as a Conscious Parent Coach and has an expertise around children and families. 

Tune in to hear her talk about how she plans to seamlessly integrate the Conscious Parenting philosophy into the school to allow for children to be sovereign beings who are charting their own path in a completely different system than what we know as traditional schooling. 

You can learn more about Anita here: www.pivotlifecoach.com 

Stay tuned for an announcement about David’s latest program and some new structures for the podcast!

Tanya Sheckley is Founder and President of UP Academy, a TK-8 micro school which values innovation, empathy and strength. Tanya’s vision and mission show it’s possible to celebrate differences, challenge what’s broken in the American education system, and that all children can receive a rigorous, well rounded education. She is an “Edupreneur”,  Author of Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms Where Imagination and Impact Meet and host of the Rebel Educator podcast. Tanya speaks frequently on the future of education and entrepreneurship. She is a rebel educator who works with new and existing schools to question the status quo and develop innovative student experiences through inclusion and project based learning.

David and Tanya have an engaging conversation about her experience with her own daughter navigating a bureaucratic education system. This led her to launch UP Academy. 

Tanya shares about her own experience as a mother, “edupreneur” and author, while also sharing her view on pressing issues in education, and what you can do if you want to launch a program or microschool as a parent or an educator. 

David and Tanya discuss what they think are the biggest areas of opportunity for changemakers in education, advice they would give to others who are looking to launch programs, how schools can shift to be more student centered and build student engagement, and other important topics facing the challenge of educating young people in today’s tumultuous world. 

You can find more out about Tanya Scheckley and UP Academy at the following website: 

Upacademysf.com

Rebeleducator.com

Tanyasheckley.com

Projectup.us

Stay tuned for an announcement about David’s latest program and some new structures for the podcast!