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HIGH FUNCTIONING SCHOOL DESIGN TEAMS

  • TEACHER & STUDENT POWERED: TEAM REIMAGINES TEACHER AND STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES FOR GREATER OWNERSHIP OVER DECISION MAKING.
  • COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS: TEAM DEVELOPS EMBRACES COMMUNITY PARTNERS AS CO-CREATORS TO SHARE IN OWNERSHIP OF THE VISION AND DIRECTION OF THE SCHOOL.
  • STAFFING, BUDGET, & COMPENSATION: TEAM WORKS CREATIVELY TO INNOVATE TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE FUNDING SOLUTIONS WHILE DEMONSTRATING DEEP AWARENESS OF FINANCIAL REALITY.

NEXT GEN SCHOOL CREATIVE CONSTRAINTS

  • FACILITY DESIGN: TEAM LEVERAGES A DESIGN PROCESS TO CREATE “A PLACE” WITHIN EXISTING SCHOOLS ACROSS THE DISTRICT AND/OR RELEVANT PLACES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
  • SCHEDULE & USE OF TIME: TEAM CREATIVELY REIMAGINES TEACHER & STUDENT SCHEDULES THAT ARE BASED ON NEEDS OF STUDENTS & CURRICULUM TO FURTHER ENGAGE & PARTNER WITH FAMILIES.
  • TECHNOLOGY ACCELERATORS & PARTNERS: TEAM IDENTIFIES BLENDED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH HIGH QUALITY TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS & RESOURCES.
  • COMMUNITY BASED ACCOUNTABILITY: THE SCHOOL’S PURPOSE, VISION, & VALUES DRIVE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SIGNALS OF SUCCESS, & ALIGNED UNIFYING ASSESSMENT DESIGN.
  • COMPETENCIES & CREDENTIALS: STUDENT SUCCESS IS BASED ON NEXT GEN SKILL CREDENTIALING, STUDENT AGENCY, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF COMPETENCIES RATHER THAN AGE & GRADE.
  • STORY & BRAND: THE TEAM BUILDS A POWERFUL IDENTITY THROUGH STORY & SYMBOLISM TO BUILD A MEMORABLE BRAND THAT STANDS OUT TO COMMUNITY, STUDENTS, & FAMILIES.

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  1. CAN YOU SHARE A BIT ABOUT YOUR MICROSCHOOL JOURNEY?

ELEMENTARY TEACHER IN WASHINGTON, DC. CONNECTED WITH KAHN ACADEMY. SUCCESS NOT ALWAYS CONNECTED TO ACADEMIC ABILITY BUT WORK HABITS (TIME MANAGEMENT, ETC).

GROUP STUDENTS BASED ON WORK HABITS (4 YEARS)

LEFT & MOVED TO SAN FRANCISCO--STUDENT AGENCY

40 STUDENTS K-5 & MOVING TOWARD K-8.

THEMES IN LEARNING & FUTURE OF DESIGN-GRADES, GROUPINGS, LEARNING GUIDES WHO MEET WEEKLY ONE-ON-ONE WITH STUDENTS, STUDENTS HAVE CONFIDENCE AS LEARNERS. SUCCESS IN HANDS OF STUDENTS NOT TEACHERS.

COMMUNICATION WITH PARENTS (STUDENT AGENCY)-PARENTS UNDERSTANDING STRUCTURE CREATES VOICE & CHOICE & NOT JUST KIDS MAKING DECISIONS

DEMONSTRATION SCHOOL--PROVIDE OTHER SCHOOLS RESOURCES TO IMPLEMENT WHAT WE ARE DOING

2. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST INSPIRING ABOUT THE PROCESS?

SCHOOL SHOULD BE AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE WHERE KIDS WANT TO BE. CREATING A SCHOOL WHERE KIDS & ADULTS WANT TO BE.

3. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR US THROUGH THIS PROCESS?

  1. SINGLE VALUE OF AGENCY & HOW IT APPLIES TO SCHOOL--IMPACTED ALL DECISIONS

CLARITY AROUND 1-3 VALUES YOU INFUSE INTO EVERYTHING

  • IT IS COMPLICATED BEFORE IT IS ELEGANT--LEARNING THROUGH THE PROCESS

4. WHAT DO YOU ENCOURAGE US TO THINK MORE ABOUT?

SCHEDULE-GROUP BY AUTONOMY

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  • CAN YOU SHARE A BIT ABOUT YOUR MICROSCHOOL JOURNEY?

2. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST INSPIRING ABOUT THE PROCESS?

WATCHING STUDENTS WHO WOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL IN “TRADITIONAL” SCHOOL THRIVE IN SMALL TEAMS AND INDEPENDENT WORK.

3. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR US THROUGH THIS PROCESS?

4. WHAT DO YOU ENCOURAGE US TO THINK MORE ABOUT?

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A nature-based micro school for grades K-8, coming Fall of 2023 just outside the city of Harrisonburg, VA.

We believe that all children can benefit from greater connection to nature and the outdoors. We strive to encourage the natural playfulness and curiosity of our students as they build their own connections to each other and to the natural world, while using project-based activities to reinforce a love of learning.

We believe that ecology, environmental science, and earth science are great gateways for kids to build a love of science, and our forest is our gateway to a strong STEM program.

8:30-8:45 - Drop off

9:00 - Yoga/Morning Meeting

AFTER MORNING MEETING - building and reinforcing academic skills (Math, language, and history)

11:45 - Recess (usually outdoors for a minimum of 45 minutes)

12:30 - Lunch

1:00 - Outdoors activities (ex. hiking, learning primitive survival skills, art focus, cooking around the fire pit) About half of the time, students should be collaborating on an active learning exercise, with the instructors providing ideas and guidance but largely allowing the students to take the lead role in developing their own knowledge base and designing their own experiments.

END-OF-DAY MEETING - debrief and learner-led talk about the day.

3:00-3:30 - Parent pick-up

Allie Jensen

Lower Elementary Instructor

Eric McKee

Upper Classroom Instructor

Janeth McKee

Spanish Instructor

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MomentuM Microschool

Deerfield, FL

Meet the Team:

  • James Hogan
  • Nitin Chet
  • Jeanette Dhay
  • Katie Franklin

Our Classes:

  • Mindful Mondays
    • Goal Setting
    • Character Development
    • Current Events
    • Debates
  • Core Academics Tuesdays and Thursdays
    • Reading
    • Literature
    • Math
    • Hands-On Science Labs
    • Art
    • Foreign Language
  • Volunteer/Community Service/Outdoor Learning- Wednesday
    • Environmental Awareness
    • Community Projects
    • Animal Care
    • Cooking
    • Gardening
  • Fun/Field Trip Friday
    • Individual or group projects at museums, historical sites, cultural festivals, etc.

Our students are sensitive, unique, creative, and hands on learners from ages 5-17.

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Harper Learning Academy

Empowering Students with Learning Differences

Harper Learning Academy is a premier microschool in Byram, Mississippi, dedicated to serving K-12 students with learning differences. Discover our personalized approach to education, competency-based grading, and holistic support services.

  • Meeting students where they are
    • Educating students with strategies that empower, transform and give them a sense of purpose
  • Every student is born with talents
    • Help students discover their gifts
  • Student centered pedagogy
  • Multisensory approach to learning
  • Additional Services include
    • Reading Therapy
    • Social Emotional Support
    • After school tutoring

Creative Constraints:

  • Funding
  • Staffing
  • Specialized Training
  • Transportation

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Harper Learning Academy

Empowering Students with Learning Differences

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COMMUNITY BASED ACCOUNTABILITY

Click here for Summit Micro School’s website

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Landers

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“Ignite Microschool is a unique educational enrichment opportunity for your homeschool child. Imagine the progressive hands - on Waldorf and Reggio methods paired with STEAM exploration and collaboration and you have a vision of your child enjoying learning with friends at Ignite.”

www.igniteingenuity.org/

Beth Kinzer - Founder

How do I know if my child a good fit for Ignite Microschool?

Students who excel in the small multi-age classroom at Ignite are independent learners who are curious about the world around them. They thrive when given the time and space to take deep dives into topics that intrigue them, working collaboratively with a team or by themselves. They persevere through difficult tasks and are excited about demonstrating their expertise in creative ways. They encourage and mentor their peers. They are respectful to their peers and teachers and self-regulate their behavior to allow others to succeed. - www.igniteingenuity.org/

Ignite Microschool

  • After school programs,educational enrichment for homeschool programs, and summer camps
  • K - 12th grade students
  • Application process
  • Tuition based

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Link to Introductory Packet (Vision, Mission, Belief Statements, & Pillars)

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Natural Connections Academy is a K-12 private micro-school. We are agriculture rich in our learning environment�while integrating technology and all core subject areas.

Our Farmstead Academy setting includes animals of all shapes and sizes with an emphasis on our Equestrian Team.

At Natural Connections Academy, we firmly believe that all children are unique, special, and deserve a top-quality education that provides a meaningful and engaging learning experience.

Link to Website

  1. Starting in the middle school year we ask the students to pair up with a mentor in the community. They work to learn from that mentor and spend an increasing amount of hours learning from that mentor each year. Every year students are asked to choose a mentor/internship in a different field of study.
  2. We offer grades for each child, though based on different data points than public schools. We set growth goals with your child and meet with them on a weekly basis to check in and see how they are progressing. Each student will also be in charge of managing their portfolio. We work with each student to set goals each quarter based on national and state standards in all core areas.

K-12, focus in nature and equestrian studies. Located in Marine, IL.

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Instruction delivery by . .

  • Readiness, not age or chronology.
  • Knowledge, not grade level.

Logical and natural consequences,

  • Rules without relationships breed rebellion.

VANGUARDs beliefs align, support and promote students to

  • LEARN
  • SERVE
  • LEAD

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Kentucky Country Day School is a private, coeducational school in Louisville, KY with 825 students in grades JK through 12. We’re located on a beautiful 80+ acre campus in eastern Jefferson County.

We educate the whole child through a rigorous college preparatory academic program as well as a wide variety of athletic, fine arts, and extracurricular opportunities.

Small class sizes (average of 16 students) allow our exceptional faculty to get to know every child and make sure that every student is actively engaged with learning.

Our mission is summed up in our motto: Citizen, Scholar, Steward.

KCD OFFERS:

Scholarship that blends tradition and innovation

Citizenship in a real-world context

Stewardship through service and responsibility

A beautiful place to learn, compete, and play

HOW IT STARTED

Kentucky Country Day School was formed in 1972 by the merger of four schools: The Kentucky Home School for Girls, Louisville Country Day School, the Kentucky Military Institute, and Aquinas Preparatory School. The first coed class graduated from KCD in 1973. The school moved to its present 80+ acre campus in 1978.

OUR MISSION

Kentucky Country Day School challenges its students to achieve their highest level of academic excellence and to grow into honorable people of confidence and integrity. We inspire personal growth through a diverse community and participation in arts, athletics, and community service. By doing so, Kentucky Country Day School prepares its students to live successful lives and make meaningful contributions to society. This mission is summed up in our motto: Citizen, Scholar, Steward.

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James Pfost

https://drive.google.com/file/d/168SJ-Gns3C8mp0mtuvkjZJsvZRWXKNxl/view?usp=sharing

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BULLITT ADVANCED MATH + SCIENCE

A Close, Creative, & Collaborative Community Because of the program design, you have the opportunity to be part of a small, close-knit group of 48 students who will become lifelong friends & colleagues. Together you will have special shared experiences that aren’t afforded to other students in traditional settings

The Bullitt Advanced Math and Science Program provides a rigorous combination of online content, traditional classroom instruction, and authentic and exciting hands-on scientific inquiry experiences through Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest, General Electric, and the Kentucky Science Center amongst others. Additionally, through a partnership with JCTC Southwest, students have the unique opportunity to attain their diploma and an associates degree during their junior and senior years of high school.

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  • CAN YOU SHARE A BIT ABOUT YOUR MICROSCHOOL JOURNEY?

First year teacher who has learned so much BAMS started as a way to give Bullitt County's best and brightest a way to earn their associates degree while still in H.S, students complete their HS credits the first two years, and are full time students at JCTC earning their associates of science degree their Junior and SR year. Students pursue STEM coursework, work with community partners, and give hands on experience.

2. WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST INSPIRING ABOUT THE PROCESS?

Seeing students achieve bigger than they would ever give themselves credit for has been the highlight of my work.

3. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR US THROUGH THIS PROCESS?

THINK outside the box, involve the students in the process, what industries can you support in the process? Relying on trust between community partners is all we have and why it can be so successful. CULTURE for school spirit and how it can be connected

4. WHAT DO YOU ENCOURAGE US TO THINK MORE ABOUT?

Urged to think about staffing and resources, my coworker and I are the BAMS program, we wear many hats, we are in charge of recruitment, media, PR, club sponsors, etc. It is a large iceberg.

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  • Charter school
  • Powered by Centric Learning
    • system that allows for personalized learning by integrating curriculum and assessment
    • Project-Based Learning & Competency-Based Learning
  • Students learn at their own pace and make choices to fit their learning style
  • No more than 10 students per class
  • Authorizing body is Central Michigan University
  • 20 staff members (only 2 are listed as teachers…teaching multiple subjects. Other staff are things like “success coach” and “parent liaison”)
  • 4 people on “school board”
  • No more than 3 hours of online learning per day
  • 1-2 hours per day independently working on projects
  • 2-3 subjects per day, up to 5 hours total
  • Set up to be similar to a college
  • Students do *not* have to be on-campus, in-person
  • Aligned to state standards, taught by certified teachers