In this episode of Bold by Choice, hosts Jim Goenner, Ph.D., Vashaunta Harris, and Don Cooper from the National Charter Schools Institute explore what it means to design a school around community, purpose, and the whole child.

Joined by Alastair Pullen, Executive Director of Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School, the conversation brings educational pluralism to life—showing how public education can reflect the unique values and needs of the communities it serves. What began as a parent-driven vision in Grant Park has grown into a thriving, community-rooted school where learning extends far beyond the classroom.

At ANCS, students engage in constructivist, experiential learning—from cultivating food on a school farm to designing real-world projects tied to their interests. The result? Students who don’t just attend school—they want to be there. As one student put it: “I get to go to school.”

Through this conversation, the Institute team highlights a powerful idea: when schools are intentionally designed around relationships, collaboration, and student identity, motivation isn’t forced—it emerges.

Episode Highlights

Educational pluralism and why public education shouldn’t look the same everywhere

The origin story of a parent-founded, community-driven school

How constructivist and experiential learning shapes student engagement

Why culture is built through relationships, morning meetings, and advisory systems

The impact of collaborative teaching teams and high retention

What it means when students say, “I get to go to school”