Education Evolution

Parents, are you looking for a different model for your child? Educators, are you ready to try something new, that’s outside the traditional educational system? It might be time to start your own school or micro-school.

COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on education and parents and educational leaders alike are scrambling to support our colorful, mismatched kids who aren’t being served in a strictly online or hybrid environment.

This week on the podcast, I’m sharing what your first steps should be when starting your own micro-school. And I’m also sharing success stories of some of my students in the Build Your Micro-School program. I’m thrilled to see how they’ve embraced this moment to make their dreams happen.

Jump Through the Episode:

[1:07] Anyone is capable of starting a micro-school
[1:47] The key starting point
[2:22] What’s the opportunity or need?
[2:38] How Build Your Micro-School students are making change happen
[4:22] Getting clear on your priorities
[5:24] The questions to help you focus your vision
[12:40] Bullock Garden Project & Their Place
[14:25] Untethered Minds Institute
[15:45] What comes next
Links and Resources: https://educationevolution.org/24

Education Evolution
https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/education-evolution/

Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/24-the-first-step-of-creating-a-new-school

As school closures continued in May of 2020, Sonya Harris saw children struggle. A former special education teacher, Sonya was heartbroken and wanted to do something about it.

Already director of the nonprofit Bullock Garden Project in Glassboro New Jersey, Sonya knew what it was like to start a passion project. And so, she decided to pivot what she was already doing to start a nature-based micro-school to address special needs children who needed in-person education to thrive.

The doors to this new school open as this podcast episode goes live, complete with trailblazers (not “teachers”), outdoor space, safety health checks and a mission to embrace the differences of all the children enrolled.

Tune in to the episode this week and just hear how Sonya’s heart is fully immersed in this venture.

About Sonya Harris
Sonya is a multiple award-winning, former special educator and founder of The Bullock Garden Project, Inc. She founded the nonprofit in 2017 because she passionately believes in the importance of empowering children, teachers and families to grow their own healthy food and hopes to inspire youth to pursue careers in the green industry. After retiring from education, she founded Their Place to ensure that all children had a place to learn, grow and thrive. Sonya travels and presents to/trains educators on embedding garden-based learning into school curriculum as well as members of the green industry on the importance of partnering with organizations who serve children. Her ultimate goal is to see garden-based education help eliminate food insecurity for all children.

Jump Through the Conversation

[1:38] Sonya’s long-time desire to open a new kind of school for kids
[4:30] Virtual learning doesn’t work for everyone
[8:34] As a Black educator has had transformative conversations with her elementary students on race and differences making us special
[10:23] Talking about race with second grade students
[12:12] Accepting, appreciating and understanding those who are different from us
[14:25] The importance of teaching love and acceptance
[15:52] The challenge of pivoting and finding a location for the school
[23:15] The universe reacts to (and with) a stolen car
[28:20] Sonya’s Magic Wand: Smash the production-line educational model and embrace differences
Links and Resources: https://educationevolution.org/23



Education Evolution
https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/education-evolution/

Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/23-a-place-for-colorful-mismatched-learners-to-thrive

With almost 20 years of experience in education, Nana Campana knew she wanted to see a change. She wanted a place for children to come where they learned–but not by rote memorization and reading books. Nana wanted a space where they could thrive through support and guidance, experiential learning and enrichment, therapy and…yes…the academics.

As this podcast episode goes live, Nana is opening the doors to Untethered Minds, a micro-school in Miami, Florida. There she plans to educate the full child through therapy, play and individualized support.

I’m honored to have played a part in this school opening and thrilled to watch children in the Miami area have a new place to call their school home. Listen in to hear about where the idea for her school came from and how she put all the pieces together through my Build Your Micro-School program. Maybe you’ll find the motivation and drive to start your own!

About Nana Campana
Nana Campana is an accomplished creative and certified educational therapist and therapeutic art facilitator with a proven track record of empowering struggling learners to become competent and independent without limitations. She is currently committed to accomplishing her mission of reforming education one student at a time through cognitive programs offered at The Paper Tree House.

Since the brain is a muscle and everyone is able to learn to thrive and master the skills needed to leave their mark on this world, it is Nana’s utmost desire to break the belief that learning disabilities are permanent and that children (and adults) have to forever struggle with their limitations. Visit her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram. You can also connect with Nana on LinkedIn.

Jump Through the Conversation

[1:35]Description of Untethered Minds micro-school
[5:24] Summer intensives as a smaller stepping stone
[6:30] Not every brain learns the same
[8:43] Mindset is the biggest challenge to starting a micro-school
[12:15] Puppies and painting prep
[14:09] Creating a tribe
[20:53] Nana’s Magic Wand: Inject creative curiosity back into education


Links and Resources: https://educationevolution.org/22


Education Evolution
https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/education-evolution/

Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/22-mission-driven-pivot-to-a-micro-school-with-nana-campana

Parents and educators alike are starting micro-schools this fall in an effort to change the educational path for their children–and others in their community. But often we forget the hard work that goes into any new venture. There’s so much more involved than a passionate drive to change, though that’s a good start!

This week on the Education Evolution podcast, I’m sharing some of the myths involved in starting a micro-school and what realistic expectations you should have. I’m drawing from my many years in education–and from starting multiple micro-schools myself.

And I’m also sharing some of the lessons I’ve learned building my own progressive, state-accredited micro-school in the Seattle area. Listen in!

Jump Through the Conversation

[1:20] Three myths
[5:22] How long does it take to open a micro-school?
[8:00] External factors impacting a micro-school
[8:57] Enrollment
[9:25] Curriculum
[9:55] The longer view
[12:13] Progressive education as the goal of all schools
[13:14] Maureen’s Magic Wand: Use this moment in history to create more relevant and holistic schools
Links and Resources:

https://educationevolution.org/21

Education Evolution
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Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/21-realistic-expectations-for-your-micro-school

Parents are a huge part of the success of a micro-school. They’re there to advocate for their children and help both the school and its community achieve common goals. But often parents shy away from participating fully because they’ve been taught by traditional institutions that their help isn’t always welcome.

Without the support of families in a smaller school community, those schools wouldn’t be as successful as they could be. In this week’s episode of the Education Evolution podcast, I’m sharing how parents can and should get involved and how school leaders can support parent empowerment.

Whether you’re a start-up micro-school or a school leader looking for new ways to bring parents into the fold of your school community, you’ll find tips and resources that can help you encourage parents to step up and get involved.

Jump Through the Conversation

[1:20] Village approach to raising a child
[3:10] Big Picture Learning
[4:46] Synergy with common goals to maximize learning and development
[6:08] Three steps every school leader can take to support parent empowerment in the classroom/micro-school
[8:56] Four quadrants of time management
[11:46] Maureen’s magic wand
Links and Resources:

https://educationevolution.org/20

Education Evolution
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Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/20-empowering-parents-in-a-micro-school

How great would the world be if everyone had a heart for giving back? This is something that we don’t teach our kids about enough.

My conversation with Larry J. Snyder, a philanthropist and author, on this episode of the Education Evolution podcast looks at his own philanthropy, what he’s doing to teach his own teen daughter about giving back and what parents can do to instill a giver’s mindset in their own children.

According to Larry, we set the stage by helping youth identify the influential people in their lives and then guiding them to contributing in honor of those people. Knowing that sometimes teens need help with this, we also talk about what giving back looks like and how teens can hear from their peers about giving back.

About Larry J. Snyder
Larry J. Snyder is a seasoned philanthropist, consulting fundraiser and friend to dozens of non profit organizations, both domestic and international. His servant leadership was informed by the entrepreneurship of his grandfather Chuck and his mother Jean’s community building acumen. Of particular interest to Larry are small education communities that honor the ambitions of every student.

Jump Through the Conversation

[1:45] “Honor and service” the two words that guide Larry’s philanthropy
[3:34] An example from Larry’s Which One am I? showing how one person is using her talent in service of homeless people
[10:47] Set the stage with youth by helping them identify people who are influential in their lives and get them to be authors of how they can contribute (Honor and serve)
[11:50] Samples of easy ways for our youth to serve others
[15:32] Larry’s Magic Wand: Think of who has played a significant role and honor them
[16:43] YOU MATTER…TO ME: words to say and show through our service
[17:54] Maureen’s breakdown of the interview

For complete show notes and more, go to https://educationevolution.org/19

Education Evolution
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Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/19-honor-and-service-creating-philanthropy-minded-youth-with-larry-j-snyder

As our country addresses both a global pandemic and the discomfort of acknowledging systemic inequity, we are in crazy unprecedented times as schools. With intention and determination, we can design our school solutions with equity in mind. But it will take a commitment of time and resources and a healthy dose of passion to get it done.

On this episode of the Education Evolution podcast, I’m sharing some of the big ah-ha’s that I’ve seen in this moment that micro-schools are having. From small instructional pods in homes and garages to parents looking for a private alternative school, now is the time to make a change. But not one that’s simply a Band Aid for this fall. A change that will ensure our students have equitable access to quality education in the long-term.

Jump Through the Conversation

[3:10] Principle of equity and access in parent pod discussions
[5:46] WGNTV’s Kristina Miller emphasizing relational teaching is always needed
[6:26] HLN anchor, Lynn Smith addressing adolescent mental health and decreasing learned hate
[7:21] Creating norms based on kindness
[10:40] Micro-School Magic Wand: rethinking the institution of education


For complete show notes and more, go to https://educationevolution.org/18

Education Evolution
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Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/18-designing-for-equity-in-this-micro-school-moment

Many educators are fed up with the traditional education system and many parents are weary of remote learning. So much so that they’re taking matters into their own hands and creating schools that make more sense for the wildly different children in their lives. Some students thrive in a traditional setting but so many don’t, making micro-schools a long-term solution that makes sense.

“Fed up” was where today’s guest was several years ago. Rachel Cole and her husband saw the dysfunction in traditional schools and wanted to make a change to help tweens and teens that were falling through the cracks. That’s where her school, Bauhaus Montessori, came from.

On this episode of the Education Evolution podcast, Rachel talks about the importance of getting to know the families of the students you serve, why every class needs to serve a purpose and how to ensure that teachers get the support they need so they can serve their students well.

About Rachel Cole
Rachel is a co-founder and the lead teacher at Bauhaus Montessori, a micro-school designed specifically for adolescents. She is an alumna of Tulane University, credentialed by the American Montessori Society, has a Master of Education in Montessori Integrative Learning, and has years of experience teaching middle and high school in both Montessori and traditional environments. Rachel is passionate about curriculum design and creating an inclusive community where adolescents flourish.

Jump Through the Conversation

[3:00] Educators are energized when work is meaningful
[4:30] The relationships that are missing in traditional education
[5:34] Where Bauhaus admissions process starts
[7:46] What Montessori looks like for middle school
[8:36] Middle school learners need developmentally appropriate tasks to straddle childhood and adulthood
[11:08] Mutual respect and feeling liked and respected…norms at Bauhaus Montessori
[14:45] Teacher’s ongoing job to have “innerwork sorted out” with a sense of purpose
[19:57] Model “Daily Personal Reflection”
[20:58] Rachel’s Magic Wand: Offer middle school education that is small and focused on meeting their community needs and respond in an appropriate way. I want to see more micro-schools led by teacher-leaders who know students and forge great relationships with them.
For complete show notes and more, go to https://educationevolution.org/17

Education Evolution
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Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/17-courageously-opening-a-micro-school-and-being-the-change-with-rachel-cole

This spring when schools shut down, parents and educators alike scrambled to find solutions for teaching kids. Parents were responsible for making sure their children were doing the prescribed homework the schools sent home. And teachers created lesson plans that would (hopefully) make sense to parents and students. It was more than a little chaotic in education and social circles.

I’m proud to head up LEADPrep Academy in Seattle, a micro-school that was able to take the changes in stride, thanks to its small size and dedicated teachers and students. In fact, a number of students stepped up to offer spring break and now summer programs to keep our students engaged and involved. This experiment of small group and multi-age learning has been a hit with everyone.

Listen in to our students and parents talk about this innovative and very community-minded programming that helped everyone feel welcome.

Jump Through the Conversation

[1:10] Addressing the needs of our students
[1:39] “Summer slide”
[3:20] Eli’s experience teaching and tutoring math
[4:04] Not just going through the motions–personalizing learning
[6:10] A middle school parent’s Magic Wand wish of self-directed learning
[9:28] Benefits of multiage classrooms
[14:00] A high school parent’s Magic Wand for fostering philanthropy
[23:58] Three questions to challenge each school in continuous improvement

For complete show notes and more, go to https://educationevolution.org/16

Education Evolution
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Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/16-shifting-learning-with-student-led-summer-programs

Parents across the country are looking for short-term (or permanent) solutions for school for their kids this fall. They’re worried about sending their children back to a public school for fear that there aren’t enough safety precautions in place. Or they still haven’t heard about schools opening in their area so they’re preparing for online learning.

A lot of parents are taking matters into their own hands and working with their friends and neighbors to develop their own micro-school–something that will give them a voice in how to educate their children while giving them more freedom than homeschooling allows.

No matter where you stand on masks, school openings, or safety, many decisions are out of your hands. But when it comes to micro-schools, you can be in the driver’s seat.

First, there’s a lot to do to get ready. Have you thought about logistics, safety, transportation, routines, curriculum…and so much more? In this episode of the Education Evolution podcast, I’m sharing three steps you need to take when starting your own micro-school and five questions you need to ask yourself. Listen in!

Jump Through the Conversation

[1:30] What is a micro-school?
[2:48] Three questions to define a mission
[4:42] Getting the word out
[6:06] How to differentiate your school
[6:53] Five questions to hone your model
[11:26] Your Magic Wand vision for schools of the future that serve all learners

For complete show notes and more, go to https://educationevolution.org/15

Education Evolution
https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/education-evolution/

Source: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/15-three-steps-for-starting-your-own-micro-school