Dr. Robin Harwick is the founder and director of The Pearl Remote Democratic High School—an international, online school reimagining education for youth pushed out of mainstream systems.

A lifelong educator, researcher, and creator of healing-centered programs, she combines lived experience with academic rigor to disrupt the status quo. Her work champions self-determination, culturally affirming curriculum, creativity, and shared power.

Whether she’s launching new models or mentoring others to do the same, Dr. Harwick believes the future belongs to those bold enough to build it, and that education should be a tool for liberation, not control.

Takeaways:

• Dr. Robin Harwick emphasizes the necessity of making education valuable both in the present and future, ensuring students find relevance in their learning today.
• The Pearl Remote Democratic High School serves students who have been marginalized by mainstream educational systems, focusing on personalized and supportive learning environments.
• Effective education requires fostering emotional well-being alongside academic success, recognizing that students often struggle when pressured to conform to traditional expectations.
• Students at the Pearl experience a collaborative and democratic learning process, empowering them to take ownership of their education and engage actively in their learning journey.

Chapters:

• 00:00 - The Value of Education
• 02:21 - The Importance of Personalized Education
• 08:16 - The Importance of Multicultural Education
• 17:41 - Understanding Student Engagement and Mental Capacity
• 23:10 - Transitioning to Online Education
• 28:16 - Transitioning to Personalized Learning
• 34:10 - Creating Safe Spaces for Students
• 34:59 - Transforming Education: The Role of Democratic Classrooms
• 44:20 - The Shift from Compliance to Personal Growth in Education
• 47:54 - The Power of Resilience and Hope

https://thepearlhighschool.org/

https://www.instagram.com/the_pearl_high_school/

https://www.facebook.com/ThePearlHighSchool

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