Pathfinder: The Road to Love Based Schools

In today’s episode, Mary Jo and David continue discussing their exciting announcement about launching Pathfinder, a program to support others who are inspired to open a school, program or learning center, and need the guidance and structure to achieve their dream. 

Listen to hear some tips and tricks from David and Mary Jo to move closer to your dream of opening a school or supporting others who are committed to creating change in this way. Specifically, they speak to the importance of values and beliefs as the critical first step in moving forward with your dream to open a school. 

Mary Jo Fairhead is the Founder of Onward Learning, a K-8 micro school in Martin, South Dakota near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. She has been an educator and mentor of all ages as a coach, teacher, and most recently an elementary school principal. Throughout her career, she saw how a safe and healthy learning environment can inspire children to discover their unique gifts and find their purpose.  She deeply believes that children are capable of changing the world around them in the most profound ways. Unfortunately, Mary Jo witnessed how an educational system can extinguish curiosity and confidence by forcing all children to fit into one box without reverence for each child’s unique talents, skills, interests, and needs. She has observed this as the norm in mainstream education and thus she believes there has never been a more vital time to prioritize our children's future than now! 

Based on her experience as a mother and an educator, Mary Jo envisioned a school where children would enter an environment of complete and absolute love every time they step into their school—a school where class sizes are small and teachers know each of their students on a deep level, where curiosity and creativity are not only appreciated, but encouraged and nurtured. She yearns for her children and the other children in her community to never be forced into the same box, but instead to be guided in finding their unique strengths, passions, and purpose in this world. 

Mary Jo met David when she was first crafting her vision, and he supported her in fulfilling her dream to open Onward Learning. The school was also inspired by Phillip Moore who is the author of The Future of Children and for 42 years, led a love-based, nature school in Michigan known as Upland Hills. Mary Jo shares how she took her dream to a reality in this episode and ultimately how Onward Learning emerged in her small but mighty community of Martin, South Dakota near the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. 

You can learn more about Mary Jo and her school here: https://onwardlearning.org/

Be on the lookout for the Pathfinder website which is launching soon: www.pathfindered.com

What is Changemaker ED“U”?

Welcome to Changemaker ED“U”, a podcast about all things microschools. If you are a paradigm shifter who wants to create change in your community through microschooling, this is the podcast for you!

We share the nuts and bolts of launching and running a successful microschool as well as important tips and tricks about leadership, business, and entrepreneurship.

I am David K Richards, the Founder & CEO of Changemaker Education, an affiliate network of microschools. With 25+ years in education reform, leadership development, and entrepreneurship, I am excited to host this podcast!