The Human School Contributors
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I'm passionate about reinventing K-12 systems of schooling, moving them away from a system-dominant paradigm to a human-centered, human-friendly design that's responsive to the context of an ever-changing, technology-rich world. Thus, The Human School! The question I'm most interested in answering these days: What might the impact be on the transformation of schooling if we focused first on shifting our mindsets and becoming curious about the frictions that prevent change? I recently retired as a public school superintendent in PA. Across my career, I've learned a great deal from other educators as I worked as a music teacher, Choir Director, Musical Director, Instructional Technology Specialist, Technology Director, Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent. Currently, I'm Director of Graduate Programs in Education at Delaware Valley University and an Adjunct Professor of Education at Moravian University and Delaware Valley University. For fun, I enjoy popping into nearby New York City to enjoy the culture of this great city!
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I began my career as an 8th grade social studies teacher, an instructional coach, and then a curriculum supervisor. As a teacher I became incredibly excited by Project Based Learning and harnessing technology to provide learners more agency and choice. I currently serve an Intermediate Unit and the school districts of my county in developing their long term comprehensive plans. Our work at the Human School is an opportunity to learn in public and to live the Compass Points while actively engaging in opportunities to challenge our thinking. The collaborative and iterative design challenges that both support our learning and the desire to re-shape education are personally fulfilling and inspiring. To be able to do that with two close colleagues and friends is even more wonderful. What I love most about the Human School is that while we are testing our theories and hypotheses about more human learning environments, we are honoring the diversity and complexity that comes with each context. The Human School is not a road map. It is not a program. It is a series of mindshifts that can help us to re-envision and re-design systems that truly begin with people.
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Having wanted to work in education and be a teacher for my whole life, the start was an easy path for me. Passion drove me here. I have worked in a variety of settings and types of schools previously as a high school English teacher to now as a K-12 Instructional Coach. My drive is all about learners and their learning - my favorite moment as a teacher and as a coach is watching someone wrestle with an idea, iterate, and then slowly work toward a solution. It’s learning right in front of my eyes, and those moments are what fuel me. As such, I’m most curious about the ways in which our mindsets as instructors and as leaders can support more space for that kind of learning for our learners (both adults and children alike) - learning that is self-directed, collaborative, and passion-driven. Our work at The Human School is focused on just that - much more about questions and collaborating around ideas and possibilities. It is not a solution. It is not a single idea. It is an ever-evolving and open-walled process where humans are placed at the center of all discussions, and it is one we do in front of and with our learners.
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While I come from a media background, over the past several years I’ve dove head first into the world of learning and education, helping to develop content for students young and old, fostering human skills like creativity, collaboration, and empathy. Professionally, I’m the creator of Ringbeller, interactive social emotional lessons for K-5 learners, and the founder of Reculture: a messaging & production studio. While I believe some of my skills and perspectives can be helpful as we continue to develop this experiment called The Human School, I’ve already learned much more than I’ve contributed, a pattern I believe will only strengthen the more we explore this concept!