Empowering Agency for Growth→

Tyler Rablin, writing for Edutopia:

“People learn best when they have the autonomy to pursue their interests and focus deeply on topics that are directly relevant to their needs and challenges.”

I’d argue that this principle applies to everyone in our educational community—teachers, administrators, and students. When individuals are empowered to explore their interests and address their specific needs, engagement and motivation soar, leading to deeper understanding and lasting growth. By fostering an environment that values autonomy and relevance, we can enhance learning outcomes and cultivate a culture of continuous improvement across our schools.

Empowering Students to Own Their Education→

Alyson Klein, for Education Week, describes Synergy at Mineola High School:

So the Mineola team turned the district’s credit-recovery program, which had generally served kids in danger of not graduating, into a school that strives to give students far more say over when and how they learn, combined with career exploration, hands-on experiences, and mental health supports.

The Synergy program at Mineola High School is a school-within-a-school that allows students to have greater control over their learning experience. It is open to all students who want to learn in a different way. The unique aspect of the program is that it was originally designed to meet the needs of students who were at risk of not graduating, but it has also proven to be a great fit for any student who desires more autonomy and control over their education.

I’ve written about the benefits of districts investing in historically underserved schools and communities. Providing resources and attention to support students with the highest level of needs serves to create a more equitable education system while also creating a model for the rest of the district to learn from and copy.

Mineola is doing that at Synergy and students are responding. We all should do the same.