Every decision we make is guided by the following three questions: Is it meaningful? Is it sustainable? Does it support whole-child well-being? If the answer to any one of those is “no,” we go back to the drawing board.
Additionally, our school-based programs are guided by the following principles.
Mastery over memorization
Memorization is just a small piece of the learning puzzle. The future will require tenacity, ingenuity, flexibility and empathy in order to not just survive, but thrive in a world constantly changing.
Collaboration over competition
In order to create real and lasting change, communities of people and places must come together. Learning institutions must put aside their fear of competition, and corporations must put the greater good ahead of inequitable profit.
Personalization over conformity
Personalization requires neither big corporate money nor expensive technology, merely the desire to advance meaningful learning through authentic innovation, often achieved under tight restraints.
Intrinsic motivation over extrinsic reward
The reward of working to the best of our ability is a lifelong desire to continue reaching goals we are empowered to set for ourselves.