In this episode of Dreams of Education, Kelly and Michelle dive into a thought-provoking article titled “What Do We Keep Getting Wrong in Education Policy?” Inspired by a repost of the article on Bluesky, they explore the success story of Nathan Hale High School and how its innovative small-school model unraveled due to systemic missteps and a lack of understanding of the deeper factors at play.
Through anecdotes from their own experience at Anastasis Academy, they discuss the importance of autonomy, intentionality, and community-centered design in creating sustainable educational systems. The conversation highlights the dangers of scaling ideas without capturing their full context and the need to prioritize humanity over efficiency in education.
They also reflect on the legacy of their friend, Jennifer Wagner, whose kindness and intentionality in building relationships shaped the way they view community in education.
Join Kelly and Michelle as they unpack what it takes to move from systems that focus on the “magic bullet” to those that prioritize the human element in learning.
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Michelle: Avenue 4 Learning, @michellekbaldwin.bsky.social
Kelly: Dreams of Education, KT's Place, @ktenkely.bsky.social