Q: How has education changed over the years in this country? What have teachers and parents learned regarding how children thrive best in the school environment?
A: Unfortunately, traditional education hasn’t changed. Public and private schools still focus heavily on academics and don’t focus on the whole human or preparing kids to be future adults. They lean into the traditional path of “get good grades, go to college, figure it out.” Our approach is the opposite – we focus on the whole child from the beginning, with physiology, critical thinking, real world projects, tons of free play and of course, academics.
Q: When it comes to parents enrolling their child, there are many educational options to consider. What are some tips for navigating the process?
A: Treat your child as an individual and truly ask yourself, “what environment would be BEST for them, not what’s fine or normal.” The reality is, for kids to thrive in all aspects of life, they need an education that mirrors that. Take your time, ask questions, include your kids and stay involved in their education.
Q: What are your thoughts on our state’s recent education performance metrics?
A Candidly, we don’t believe the state should dictate education requirements, especially performance metrics by grade. That motivates the wrong behaviors – teachers and districts then become solely focused on academic standards, as those are what afford them additional funding and benefits. This is also difficult because all kids learn at their own pace. If classrooms are focused on hitting a standard, kids will be held back if they’re ahead of the standard and some will fall behind.
Q: You are about to open a private school in Bend this fall. What can you tell us about your model or teaching techniques?
A: Our model is focused on
developing the whole child
into an independent thinker and leader. We do this by offering blocks vs. classes throughout the day. We start our days with physiology and physical movement before self-paced academics. Academic goals are set between students, parents and coaches. After physiology and academics, the students and coaches dive into Socratic discussions and free play before lunch. Our afternoons then conclude with real world project-based learning and campus jobs – where students learn about accountability and caring for their community. We don’t have teachers; we have coaches who guide students rather than tell them what to know or learn. We want to create a community of learners and thinkers, not a group of kids who get used to being told what to know and think.
Q: How will your school address equity gaps, particularly for underserved students?
A Great question. We are a private school and do require tuition to attend, at the launch. Longer term, our goal is to start a separate 501c3 non-profit to raise funds and offer scholarships to those who would greatly benefit from our model but cannot afford it. We have priced our tuition at a rate that is significantly less than some private schools in the area. Also, given we’re a fully private business, we’re open to discussing alternative financing options with families who want their kids to attend. We are willing to get creative, if it’s the right fit.
This article appears in Bend Nest Summer 2025.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
