Transforming Education through Community Engagement

Jenee Henry Wood, Chief Learning Officer at Transcend and co-author of the book Extraordinary Learning for All: How Communities Design Schools Where Everybody Thrives, joins host Mike Palmer in a conversation about community-based design and how to leap ahead past the industrial model of K12 education left over from the 20th century.

Jenee shares her journey into education, which began with a background in international economics and led her to Teach for America to become a teacher and advocate for students' voice and teacher/community empowerment. We discuss the limitations of the traditional "industrial" model of education and explore the concept of community-based design, where schools partner with students, parents, and the wider community to create learning experiences that are relevant, engaging, and empowering.  

Key Takeaways:

• The current design of school is a 100-year-old model that needs to be redesigned to meet the needs of today's learners.  
• Learning experiences should be relevant, engaging, and customized to each student's needs.  
• Community-based design brings together students, parents, educators, and community members to create a shared vision for education.  
• Schools should be learning engines that constantly evolve to meet the changing needs of students and society.  

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