{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Pitch Playground","title":"Beyond Compliance: How jacob adams’ Inner Spark Learning Lab Cultivates Critical Thinkers","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1680,"description":"What if education wasn’t about compliance but about discovery? jacob adams, founder of Inner Spark Learning Lab, believes students should have the power to question, explore, and create—not just memorize and obey. In this episode of Pitch Playground, jacob shares his journey from being labelled a “troublemaker” in school to reimagining learning environments that prioritize student agency and self-actualization.\njacob’s first teaching job was at a majority-Black elementary school in Brooklyn, where he quickly realized how rigid discipline policies and top-down control stripped students of autonomy. Witnessing kindergarteners being forced into silence, he began to question the foundations of education. His experiences led him to launch Inner Spark Learning Lab (formerly STEM to the Future), an initiative that engages students in hands-on, community-driven learning projects designed to foster critical thinking, self-awareness, and social impact.\nIf jacob wins the $50,000, the funds will support a Dreamweaver position—a dedicated team member responsible for learning about students, their families, and the broader school community to ensure programming meets real needs. He sits down with Niloy Gangopadhyay, Vice President at Teach for America, to refine his pitch and tackle key questions:  What role do community facilitators, or “Dreamweavers,” play in ensuring students feel seen and heard? How can jacob provide measurable outcomes that school leaders and funders will recognize? Tune in to hear jacob’s vision for student-centered education. \n02:54 jacob's Early Education and Challenges05:07 College Struggles and Overcoming Obstacles06:17 Teach for America Experience07:55 Questioning the System10:13 Creating a New Teaching Approach16:53 Inner Spark's Impact and Future Goals18:47 Pitching to Niloy Gangopadhyay25:57 Final Thoughts and Reflections\nLinks: jacob adamsInner Spark Learning Lab (formerly STEM to the Future)Niloy GangopadhyayTeach for AmericaAbout the Host,...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/RHUvVCiJgJMSGBHcrSAokswObgokSFYeF2yzaGy3ask/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80M2Mx/ZmU1NGI4NDhiZDFh/NmM3NjhmMjlhYzY0/MWE2OC5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}