The Way Education Should Be!

In July of this year I started a new job. I am now the Assistant Head of School for Synapse School in Menlo Park, CA. The past few months have been a whirlwind of getting to know the school, the administration, the faculty and the kids. Synapse is a very young school (it is in its 7th year) with a progressive approach to learning and a mission to educate change makers. I am so happy to finally be at a school that truly aligns with my educational philosophy. Alfie Kohn wrote a wonderful article defining progressive education, I am so happy to say, Synapse fits his definition to a T.

This week culminated in a "Portfolio Day" that showcased students' first trimester learning. Each child guided their parents through the many artifacts of their understandings, becoming the teacher and showing their family members evidence of what they had learned. As I went through the day both as an administrator and as a parent (my children are in 6th and 7th grade at Synapse), I was struck by the "rightness" of this school. This is how education should be, focused on the learner, not on the grade, experiential, constructivist and project based.

If you have been reading my blog over the years, I'm sure you can identify with my feelings. I have been looking for a school like this ever since I wrote my Common Principles for 21st Century Schools. I feel I have finally found my educational home.

If you are planning a visit to Northern California, please reach out if you would like to visit.