Reimagining Education

How One Person Can Make School Matter

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel" - Maya Angelou.

If we want children and youth to engage with school in a meaningful way, we must begin by making school matter. Education should not feel disconnected from reality or boxed in by rigid systems. It should serve as a human-centered experience that prepares a young person for life, not just for tests. We talk a lot about education reform, new frameworks, better standards, revamped assessments. These ideas are important, but change at the policy level moves at a snails pace. In the meantime, students are returning to classrooms disconnected, discouraged, and underserved.

While the school board bureaucrats revise frameworks, publish reports, and test new policies, front line educators can act. One teacher, one mentor, one youth worker can make a lasting difference in the life of a child, not by waiting for permission, but by choosing to make school matter now.

Make school relevant. When students understand why what they’re learning matters, engagement increases. They need to work on real problems. They need space to think critically, create solutions, and see how their learning connects to the world beyond the classroom.

It also means addressing basic needs. A hungry child cannot focus. A child who feels unsafe cannot learn. Educators can’t always fix systemic issues, but they can create classrooms that feel safe, consistent, and emotionally nourishing.

Children need room to express themselves. Creativity is not a break from learning, creativity is learning. Making music and the arts part of everyday education isn’t optional; it’s essential. Music improves cognitive and emotional development, builds community, and gives students a voice.

We can also make careers real, not abstract. Talk about every kind of job, from politicians and paramedics to tradespeople, artists, and local business owners. Show students that their futures are not limited to a single path or test score.

Philanthropy and community service can be embedded early. Teach students to give time, compassion, and energy. Let them see themselves as contributors to their communities, not just consumers of content.

Respect for diverse cultures, beliefs, and identities must be practiced, not just taught. Inclusivity is a behavior. It shows up in the books we choose, the conversations we have, and the way we respond when something doesn’t sit right.

In today’s digital world, we also have a responsibility to teach technology well. Students are growing up alongside AI and social media. We must help them use these tools ethically, creatively, and responsibly.

Standardized tests are still a part of many systems. But learning should never be reduced to rankings. Teachers can shift the focus from competition to growth. From comparison to capacity.

“The key is not to standardize education, but to personalize it.” - Sir Ken Robinson

Personalization doesn’t require a system-wide overhaul to begin. It requires intention, awareness, and consistent action.

Change starts small.

Every teacher or youth worker has the power to build academic skills and confidence. That means believing in students before they believe in themselves. It means celebrating progress, not just performance. A single teacher, choosing to approach education differently, can transform a student’s experience. One kind comment. One opportunity to lead. One lesson that clicks. One moment of being seen. We cannot fix every systemic problem today. But we can meet students where they are, help them feel that they matter, and remind them that their future holds possibility.

Education reform will always be a slow moving machine. But children cannot wait for the system to catch up. They need hope and purpose. One adult who chooses to show up with heart and intention can have an impact that is beyond measure. That is how change begins.

#mentor

Here is the link to our free webinar session called:

The Myth of Delinquency Revisited: No Such Thing as a Bad Kid

Discover a mentoring framework that goes beyond traditional strength-based approaches to working with children and youth. This session offers practical strategies for guiding young people, especially those facing the greatest challenges, toward growth, and resilience.  ​

Next session:

Wednesday, September 10, 2025  9PM EST