September 10

Changing the way we do schools requires a change from the ground up. All real reform in history begins that way. So, we need to listen to the people involved at the point of contact in education - students, parents, teachers, and school leaders.

What if schools were places where students could...

Enjoy learning,Learn at their own pace, Be challenged at their own level, Where students could complete their work - not have to come home with hours of homework, Learn more about/through things that interest them, Learn from their peers by working together, Have small class sizes, Work in small groups with “experts” in their area of interest, Have small class sizes, Be on the cutting edge learning technology, Learn how to deal/handle social/friendship issues, Discover their passions, Learn without pressure of being taught to the Star Test or other Standardized tests, Further pursue areas of education that interest them, Take any classes they would like, Be challenged without fear of failure, Not be cut from any sports, Feel ownership of the learning process, Engaged in self-directed learning, Move themselves up to higher reading groups and math groups if they choose, Grade the teacher’s performance, Feel like they’ve been let loose in a candy store,Explore their subject of interest, Learn about things they are interested in, Be mentors as well as students, Learn by helping and teaching others, Grow their leadership skills, Individual child’s level/skill, Learn at their own pace, Explore and learn at their own pace, Work at their own pace, Learn to love learning & be life-long learners, Learning style, Learn through the style that fits them best, Learn by doing, Attend class from anywhere, Truly be themselves, Form groups and give back to the community, Learn how to learn, Learn to work cooperatively, Enjoy learning, Choose what they want to study, Learn and risk without fear, Feel free to move around the classroom where they want to, Be involved in his/her own project, Be challenged more, Could explore more, Could prepare them for the future using new technology, Learn at their own pace, Feel free to make mistakes, Create for the real world, Do class work at home if absent, Be included in sports, Genuinely feel comfortable with their teachers, Learn how they learn best, Learn more than other students in other districts, Learn with ease and less stress, Learn and not be bored, Have fun learning, Pursue their own course of learn, Learn a profession, Have a voice in what they want to learn about, Able to move forward and backwards dynamically, Explore arts to a deeper level, Have 3-D/visual interaction with subject matter, wanted to read during math, could pursue a spontaneous interest, Was better prepared for the global workplace, Learn team-building skills and take risk, Create without being judged, Could actually be the priority, Become more open-minded, Could learn languages, culture, and Science, Could interact more with each other

Then we would need teachers who...

  • have time to evaluate

  • use the latest teaching concepts and are engaging

  • are willing to work after school hours

  • are able to handle multiple learning styles

  • provide students with different learning options

  • think outside the box

  • value individuality

  • know how to inspire and guide students

  • are knowledgable about each child's strengths and weakness

  • care

  • are willing to put in the time

  • are excited about encouraging their students and willing to work individually with them

  • are chosen based on talents

  • provide a safe and positive learning environment

  • had real job experience

  • are passionate about children and education

  • can handle different but still stay on track

  • are sensitive to students progress and needs

  • recognize the needs of the student

  • are able to meet the challenge

  • are flexible

  • work better in smaller groups

  • can organize and assign homework properly

  • support many ideas and creativity

  • guide children through learning rather than instruct

  • design and create challenges

  • don't teach to the test (and focus on the child's true progress)

  • have no tenure

  • want to be in the classroom

  • love their jobs

  • give encouragement

  • can teach

  • are freed from standardized tests

  • want to make learning different

  • are supportive of change

  • can teach the academics at high levels without judgement

  • can teach differently

  • believe it

  • communicate expectations well enough for students to understand

  • are paid more

Then we would need parents who...

  • are involved and a part of school

  • all want to be involved in their children's activities

  • can communicate with students and staff productively

  • that take an active part in their child's education

  • are brave enough to allow their child to be taught with a new teaching paradigm

  • are actively involved with their children's education and supportive of the teachers and their programs

  • aren't afraid to take a risk on new methods

  • are supportive

  • are involved and active

  • are willing to try something new and change their ideas about education

  • are understanding and supportive of the school and what they're trying to achieve

  • extend the learning environment to the home

  • are supportive of change

  • support the needs and desires of their kids

  • assist leaders and teachers in assisting the education of their child

  • are involved more by helping in any way they can

  • are there 100% for their kids

  • partner with teachers and students

  • are behind challenging their children

  • support the school

  • will listen

  • will get more involved at school and home

  • volunteer there teaching expertise

  • can assess teachers' work

  • can give time to the school

  • are involved in school and at home

  • are involved with their child

  • support and help their children to learn their to their fullest potential

  • could embrace a new learning environment

  • are willing to share their job experience back into the school

  • who let go

  • are open to ideas different from that they were taught

Then we would need leaders who...

  • garner local local, state, and national support and can protect a fragile experiment until it's fully developed

  • assure more funding

  • provide expert knowledge or their field

  • give support for increased learning

  • would support financially

  • support different learning avenues

  • are visionary and supportive

  • are willing to go against mainstream education thinking

  • are able to work creatively in bureaucratic environment

  • accept teachers as professionals and give them freedom to make decisions for their classes

  • understand the different needs of different kids and respect

  • guest lecture and/or help teach

  • are detailed enough to implement vision and follow through

  • are willing to be supportive of doing new things and creating change

  • design the classroom to support students appropriately

  • teach the children directly

  • listen

  • pay based on performance

  • have backbone

  • work after hours

  • are able and willing to communicate with parents and children

  • are available

  • can teach leadership, responsibility, and motivate

  • lead the child to an educational path to find answers/resources

  • do more and inspire all the kids to do more

  • motivate students, teachers, and parents

  • create/foster opportunities for learning

  • are willing to listen to the real needs of their staff

  • observe a bigger picture on a longer time frame

  • have a passion for education

  • have the knowledge to actually make it happen

  • can come and talk

  • pay for it

Parent summary of their hopes for Design39Campus

  • "Students were challenged, self-directed, have ownership, and able to discover their passions."

  • "Challenged, motivated in small class size."

  • "Learn at their own pace and manner."

  • "Kids could have fun learning what they want to learn at their own pace/level in an innovative environment while exploring arts and different subject matters on a different level."

  • "What if schools were a place where learning was fun and diverse, where creativity and teamwork were a priority preparing children for a global workplace. Children could follow their passions in an open classroom."

  • "School should be a place where students are allowed a sense of freedom and security to create and explore in a self-directed environment."