62: Reimagining Education: What if Schools Were Learner-Centered and Supported with Radical Trust?

Guest: Miguel Gonzalez - Director of School, Embark Education

How does the way a school views its students impact their learning? What happens when we radically trust students and educators? How can we better integrate communities into schools? And what could alternatives to large class sizes look like?

This week, we explore these questions as we continue to Reimagine Education with our inspiring guest Miguel Gonzalez, the Director of Embark, a micro-school here in Denver, Colorado embedded into a coffee shop and a bike shop! Join us as Miguel discusses the unique origin and goals of Embark and what it can teach us about the future of education.

In this episode we explore:

• What’s a micro school and what’s so revolutionary about Embark.

• The difference between teachers and educators.

• What’s possible when we put learners, rather than the curriculum, at the center of schools.

• The power of radical trust in the school setting.

• What’s a trim tab and how we can use it to turn the ship that is education.

About Miguel Gonzalez

Miguel received his undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Colorado in English with an emphasis in Secondary Education and holds an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from Pennsylvania State University. He is excited to bring his experiences and skills to Embark as an educational leader and work as a partner to ensure all children have an authentic and positive learning experience.  He is also the founder of The Iterative Space, a professional educator residency rooted in radical trust.  Previously,  Miguel served as the Middle School Director at DCS Montessori.  Before that, he was an administrator supporting a nationally recognized Teacher Leadership program in Denver Public Schools.   Miguel has also been fortunate to be a middle school teacher both in Colorado, as well as in the international education world.  During his tenure as an international educator in Costa Rica, Miguel taught 7th grade, led the Educational Technology department and the IT department, and served as the High School principal.  

Links so you can explore more:

For more on Embark, go to www.embarkeducation.org

If you're interested in exploring this conversation about education further, check out our Reimagining Education Series for more episodes!