In 1996, I started a school in Bozeman, Montana. When I look back on my life, it’s fulfilling that dream that I’m most proud of. I’m proud not only of what we accomplished there, but also because I did what I believed in. I followed my instincts and put in the steady work to make it happen. I wasn’t filled with worries about how it would all turn out, nor concerns of what others may have thought. The anticipation of each day would pop me out of bed in the morning with great excitement for what it could hold. Deep down, I always knew that if we made the best of each day, we could become the best of ourselves. And so it was at the Bozeman Charter School for nearly 20 years. 

For me, the true purpose of an education is to give young people agency over the direction of their lives, so that their contributions to the world are inspired by their voice from within. As parents and educators, first we must believe in our children, and then provide the right kind of learning environment so that they can ultimately exercise choice in their lives. We don’t need to do this all by ourselves; we can use the resources available to us, while supporting the process. But we shouldn’t overthink it and project too far ahead, and we certainly don’t want to worry our way through these precious years. The educational process can feel overwhelming, but if we break it down into the parts that really matter and make a difference, it doesn’t have to be so complicated. 

A few years back, when the grammar teacher at Bozeman Charter School asked me, “What are you going to do when the doors of the school close?” I realized I hadn’t really thought through the details of next steps. But, what I did know then was that the school would one day find new expression. I felt strongly that the philosophy and methods we explored there could be helpful to others on their own educational journeys. 

In that spirit, I'm reaching out to parents and teachers with an invitation to Round Tables, an online forum for discussion about what truly matters in education. Let’s bring our questions, ideas, and experience to the table, and focus on what can make a real and positive difference in the educational growth of our children. 

Especially now, in the midst of the global pandemic, when models of education have been upended, we have an opportunity to step back for a moment and take a good look at where we want to go from here. New windows are opening to ideas about how to make these years for our children all we imagine they can be.