Our children are our future. Education is at the heart at developing their skills and abilities and yet year after year we hear about the degrading state of our educational system. Our nation has spent trillions of dollars on failed programs that research and experts had promised would work. Achievement gaps persist, performance declines are accelerating and so it is of paramount importance that we explore novel ideas and solutions. You might not agree with many or any of the ideas below, and we certainly are not endorsing policies – our hope is just to create a space where bright, dedicated folks from the community can share their ideas – so that we can all come together and better understand each others experiences, concerns and how we might move forward together to build a brighter future.

Takiyah Bailey

I’ve been an elementary school teacher in 3 different districts here in metro Atlanta for the past 15 years. This is one of the many reasons I began my wellness journey. Honestly, teachers are not well. They are perfectionist working with a little sleep and a little money. Everything is rushed. Most teachers scarf down food which is mostly inflammatory and lots of junk food, which is given to students as ‘rewards’. We barely get a chance to use the restroom. So of course the children feel the impact of the extreme exhaustion. School has become a system only. Read more>>

Julia Rogers

I fervently believe that every young American should take a gap year after high school. A gap year is an intentional period of time one takes to explore themselves and the world around them—typically in-between high school and higher education or the workforce. This formative period allows a person to develop on their own terms – whether it includes travel, volunteering, work experience, national service or a combination of activities. Student who take gap time come away from it more mature, confident and knowledgeable about their values and priorities. Studies show that gap year students who go on to college afterwards graduate sooner than traditional students and have higher GPAs. A gap year is basically a life hack that launches you into your future with purpose. Read more>>

Learwinson Jackson

As I am an educator and enthusiast in the spaces of web3, cryptocurrency, blockchain, and metaverse , I see so much potential in integrating STEM programs and curriculums that focus on these topics into the education system. My passion for this comes with the fact that as a student growing up in the education system I found that the access to vital information regarding the tech space and financial literacy wasn’t readily available, especially for students like myself who are of minority communities. In order to successfully serve the need to integrate these things into education, I think the concepts of curricular design, teacher training, infrastructure and resources, project based learning, and collaboration/partnerships should be the main focuses used. Read more>>

Martina Robles Gallegos

As a former undocumented immigrant then former bilingual elementary school teacher, I witnessed how poorly immigrant parents and students were treated by office staff, volunteers, other employees, and teachers who spoke only English. I firmly believe it is important for teachers to make students and parents feel valued and their culture respected. No teacher, volunteer, or any other school personnel ought to tell students not to speak their mother or native language. That’s downright disrespectful to the students and their parents. Parents are an integral part of their children’s educational journey and should be allowed to make decisions that positively affect their children. Letting parents volunteer in classrooms or school is an excellent way to show them how important their contribution to their children’s a academic achievement and social development is. Read more>>

Skylar Daye

I think it’s difficult to know anything certain about yourself until you’ve melted into the world. Not impossible, just arduous. Asking an 18 year old to decide what they want to do with the total of their life, feels a lot like asking a sapling to be a tree when it’s only a sapling. Some might have always known where the thing was, and others might have to look to find it. In opposition to the immediate demand of college, but alongside the encouragement of schooling, I believe we should encourage young people to do whatever living they can as a part of this search. Read more>>

Jonathan Irving

For me, there are many things we can do to help prepare students. There are about 5 things that come to mind such as focusing on critical thinking and problem-solving, personalized learning, practical life skills, early career exploration, and digital literacy. Personally, I did not know what I wanted to do until my senior year of high school. And I know I would have benefited from having the resources and access to get an early career exploration. Read more>>

Deborah Gregory

An educational program in Interior Design is only as good as the broad knowledge base of the educators – if Architects and Designers come directly from the Arch/Design educational system and only teach within the design program, the system becomes static. Students of course need to be brought into the fold of our design language however they also need to be shown the passion and the future of design through the lens of their elders. Read more>>

Thomas Gaupp

Without a doubt, reading, writing, history, arithmetic, science, physical fitness and health should remain a part of high school curriculum. However in reimagining high school education, a trio of fundamental enhancements would enrich students’ lives and better prepare them for the future. Read more>>