In this bonus episode, I reflect on my S4E17 conversation with educator Kass Minor and explore the urgent need for transformative education in 2025. I discuss The Minor Collective's community-based approach to education and highlight key insights from Kass's blog about preparing students for real-world challenges alongside revisions to the NYS Portrait of a Graduate. Drawing from recent research and a New York Times guest essay, Giving Kids Some Autonomy Has Surprising Results by Jenny Anderson and Rebecca Winthrop, the co-authors of The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better.  

I examine why student autonomy and agency are crucial for engagement and success. I share practical strategies for educators and caregivers to create learning environments where students can:

➡️develop essential life skills, 

➡️navigate diverse perspectives, 

➡️and pursue their curiosities while meeting academic goals. 

This episode offers a hopeful yet pragmatic vision for education that extends beyond traditional academics to help students thrive in an increasingly complex world.

#KassMinor #CorneliusMinor #TheMinorCollective #RadicallyProKid #TeachingFiercely #TeacherAgency #SocialJusticeEducation  #EdChat #Education #StudentAgency, #AuthenticLearning

When coaches, teachers, administrators, and families work hand in hand, it fosters a school atmosphere where everyone is inspired and every student is fully engaged in their learning journey.