In this episode, I sit down with Amy Buckman, an incredible educator and school counselor from Ohio. Amy has spent 19 years helping students navigate everything from mental health challenges to career counseling, all while motivating them to achieve their goals. We dive deep into the concept of student autonomy and how it’s transforming schools through an innovative three-year grant program aimed at fostering student engagement and agency.

Amy shares how her district is reimagining education by focusing on what really motivates students, exploring concepts like Flex Fridays, and even shadowing students to understand their daily challenges. If you’ve ever wondered how schools can adapt to meet the needs of a changing world while supporting kids’ mental health and academic growth, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

Episode Highlights:
[03:13] - Amy shares her background and her role as a school counselor.
[08:29] - Discussion on the three-year grant program promoting student agency.
[14:17] - Insights from shadowing students to better understand their school day.
[22:35] - How Flex Fridays aim to spark deeper learning and engagement.
[30:55] - Overcoming systemic barriers to create better learning environments.
[37:05] - The impact of giving students a voice in school decisions.
[42:07] - How passion-driven learning leads to happier, more motivated students.

Links & Resources:

• Student Autonomy & Engagement: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-disengagement-gap/ 
• A School of Our Own: https://thenewpress.com/books/school-of-our-own 

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If you have a high school aged student and would like to talk about putting a tutoring or college plan together, reach out to Ned's company, PrepMatters at www.prepmatters.com