My name is Susan Werner, and I’m excited to share with you my vision for what really matters in education.It all started when I moved to Montana in the late-80s’, ignored the ‘what-ifs,’ and created the Bozeman Charter School — so named by one of its students, not because it was a true charter school, but because we were charting new waters, like the explorers from long ago following the great meandering rivers on their way west.

The Bozeman Charter School was a K-12 program that embodied these few fundamental ideas: building solid foundations, unleashing creativity, giving students personal agency in their learning, and ultimately helping them discover an optimum balance between academic discipline and creative freedom. When I closed the doors of BCS after nearly twenty years of full engagement in the project, I felt strongly that our philosophy and programs find new expression. In 2016, I parlayed the mission of BCS into Project Youth, a platform of academic enrichment programs that we continue to offer to children, K-8, in one-on-one online tutorials.  

I'm launching and hosting a series of Round Table forums. These are intimate online seminars where, every few weeks, we will focus on specific topics of interest and concern, such as motivation, creativity, technology, curiosity, building foundations, prioritizing what’s important and knowing what not to worry about, the role of parents in the process, and so much more. The K-8 years are important for children, and that time needs to be used thoughtfully. 

Finding ourselves in the middle of a pandemic, where the lines between school and home have been blurred, sometimes in challenging ways, I’m hoping that these Round Tables can empower us as parents and educators to explore questions and share what’s on our minds. We’re all on the frontlines of education now and when we come together, I think we’ll find that this whole process needn’t be so complicated and overwhelming. I want to hear what you’re experiencing and feeling, and I’m confident that we’ll come up with ideas and solutions. After all, these are years to enjoy, for our children and for ourselves. 

At the end of the day, what I really want for children as they mature through their education and beyond is to have choice in their lives—to have solid foundations in their learning that allow them the option of shifting paths as they reach for their dreams. Equally important is that they are self-motivated, so that when the tests and grades of formal education are gone, they want to pick up a book, experience art, embrace other cultures, venture out in new directions, and all with a genuine desire to learn and contribute. As parents and educators, what I want for us is to enjoy being part the exciting journey of learning, no matter how big or small our involvement may be. Above all, we must delight in these years that go by so quickly, yet hold so much!