Ryan Delk, founder of Primer, discusses the challenges of building microschools, empowerment in education, making alternative education accessible, technology integration, teaching interactions, and expansion plans.
Primer aims to empower exceptional teachers to launch their own micro schools, providing personalized education experiences for students.
The use of technology in Primer's micro schools enhances the student, teacher, and parent experience, creating a dynamic and engaging learning environment.
Primer focuses on making education accessible through efficient use of existing real estate, reducing costs, and helping families navigate available funding and scholarships.
Deep dives
Empowering Teachers to Create Micro Schools
Primer is a network of micro schools that aims to empower exceptional teachers to launch their own schools in their neighborhoods. The founder, Ryan Delk, discusses his own experience growing up in a micro school and how it influenced his approach to education. He emphasizes the importance of empowering teachers and removing bureaucratic barriers to school creation. Primer's approach focuses on core academics in the mornings, allowing students to set their own goals and track their progress transparently. In the afternoons, students have the opportunity to explore their passions and interests through project-based learning. Delk discusses the value of experiential learning and fostering student agency. Primer aims to make education more accessible by using existing real estate, reducing costs, and helping families navigate available funding and scholarships.
The Role of Technology in Primer's Model
Primer utilizes technology to enhance the student, teacher, and parent experience. They have developed an in-house platform that integrates with third-party apps and provides a customized approach to education. The technology allows for personalized academic milestones and contextualizes learning for students based on their individual interests and motivations. While the core academics are teacher-driven, the afternoon sessions provide flexibility for teachers to design experiences based on their passions and expertise. Virtual courses and tutoring are also offered to support students who need additional assistance or want to explore specific subjects. Primer's use of technology helps maximize teacher capacity, streamline administrative tasks, and create a dynamic and engaging learning environment.
Making Education Accessible for All
Primer is committed to making education accessible to families across different income brackets. They work closely with families to help them access available funding resources such as tax credit scholarships and education savings accounts. Their platform assists families in navigating the bureaucratic process and ensures they can secure the financial support they need. Primer's model also focuses on the affordability and scalability of micro schools through efficient use of existing real estate and prioritizing the role of exceptional teachers. By reducing costs while maintaining a high-quality educational experience, Primer aims to offer an accessible alternative to families seeking a personalized education for their children.
Balancing Structure and Agency in Micro Schools
Primer finds a balance between structure and agency in their micro school model. While they provide a prescriptive approach to core academics, micro school leaders have flexibility in customizing lessons and curricula based on their own teaching style and student needs. Afternoon sessions allow students to explore their interests and passions, providing a high level of agency in choosing their learning paths. The role of technology supports teachers in delivering personalized instruction and streamlines administrative tasks. Primer's goal is to provide a supportive environment for micro school leaders, empowering them to create engaging and dynamic learning experiences while still maintaining a structured academic framework.
Leveraging Technology in Education
Technology, particularly AI, has the potential to greatly enhance education by providing virtual teaching experiences with world-class teachers, supplementing the limitations of in-person teaching. While some may argue that in-person teaching is always superior, there is a recognition that not all teachers excel in every subject. Therefore, having access to excellent virtual teachers for specific subjects can offer a better overall educational experience. The COVID-19 pandemic has unfairly soured people's perception of virtual schooling, but there is a possibility of achieving the best of both worlds by combining virtual and in-person teaching to provide personalized education and empower teachers to be more effective.
Micro Schools and the Primarily Model
Micro schools are a key component of the Primarily model, with an average of 24-25 students per micro school and a maximum of three grade levels in each class. Mixed-age classrooms are utilized, and the goal is to provide excellent education to a range of grade levels, focusing on personalized experiences for students. The aim is to create a culture where high-status actions align with desired outcomes. Primarily also implements innovative compensation structures for teachers, linking their financial incentives to student enrollment. While there are challenges in the education system, such as the politicization of the issue and regulatory barriers to creating new schools, Primarily is striving to expand its reach and make a significant impact in education by delivering better outcomes for students and families.
This week I’m speaking with Ryan Delk. Ryan is the founder of Primer, a network of microschools being built across the country.
In this episode, we talk about Ryan’s personal education experience and how it shaped and impacted the way he thinks about the schools he is building. We talk about what makes a good microschool and the most important things to be thinking about when developing schools and educational experiences for kids. We also explore Primer’s project-based approach for educating kids through skill-building, emotional intelligence, self esteem, and self efficacy. Finally, we dive into what is involved in building a network of microschools, the regulations that have made it difficult to create alternative education, and what the future of education in a world full of microschools might look like.
Chapters:
0:00 - Ryan Delk
3:00 - What is Primer?
9:30 - Ryan’s Homeschool Experience
14:50 - How to Give Kids Agency in Their Education
21:10 - Homeschooling vs. Microschooling
24:30 - How to Make Alternative Education Accessible
37:30 - Streamlining the Path for Microschools
42:00 - Finding Balance Between Structure and Agency
44:30 - Using Technology in Alternative Education
56:30 - What Do Primer Education Classrooms Look Like?
1:01:10 - The Long-Term Vision for Primer
1:03:50 - Why is America’s Education Failing?
1:08:20 - Redefining the Incentive Structures for Education
1:16:45 - How to Connect with Ryan and Primer
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Connect with Ryan Delk:
Email | ryan@primer.com
Website | primer.com
Twitter | @delk
Connect with Hannah Frankman:
Twitter | @hannahfrankman
Website | http://hannahfrankman.com
Follow along for conversations on education, lifestyle, personal development, and freedom. All in ardent pursuit of a life well lived
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