"Being in the classroom, I hated the math we were teaching our students. To me, it was useless material. Sure it's cool to know foundations, but after you graduate high school and college, you basically figure things out on your own anyways.
I figure why not start doing that in school? We are currently working on opening a network of high schools, focused on student led projects, like an Eagle Scout Project. During their senior year, students might start a business, begin working as a chef, teach dance classes, or whatever it is they are passionate about and is service based."
-Andrew 2018
Our school system is over 150 years outdated.
The world needs a school system that helps young adults explore their passions, define their purpose, and prepare for life through the development of their attitude, real-life experiences, and caring adults. This demand is seen through increases in unemployed college graduates, school choice, and unschooling.
While there is a high level of innovation happening in K-8 (less restrictions), this does not translate to high school.
We are here to bring that change.
Now, our non-profit (Vita Education Foundation) is working to create a network of innovative high schools that empower human beings to prepare for life and realize their dreams now, using the best practices from around the world.
Solution: The Vita Schools of Innovation (VSI) is an expandable high school model that asks students what their dreams are and directly helps them achieve them through real-world experience, rich community partnerships, and a strong support system of caring adults and peers. It is inspired by existing innovative schools, organizations, and the best practices from around the world. Our Four Pillars include:
- Purpose Curriculum: Exploration of identity and belief systems, exposure to diverse activities and careers, creation of Purpose Statement, continuous project work centered around their passions and service, apprenticeships, internships, and community partnerships.
- Academic Curriculum: College and career preparedness, Capstone Project(s) and Senior Research Paper, Multi-disciplinary projects, traditional courses with a twist (Flipped Classroom, Ed Tech), and student-designed courses.
- Life Curriculum: Variety of post-graduation topics, including financial education, physical, emotional, and mental health, emergency preparedness, and more. Adaptable to respective communities and times.
- Success System: Staff Success Coaches, Student Mastermind Teams, Project Progress Reports, and Student Exhibitions. Classes sizes will include about 16 students. Each school campus is capped at 128 students (based on the Dunbar number) so every person is heard and taken care of.
Some skeptics argue that students have no idea what they want to do besides become a famous athlete or rapper. Our small-scale testing has helped dozens of high school students to create mature purpose statements to guide them through life rooted in their values, unique gifts, and service.
Our team has traveled and networked with most innovative school founders and leaders from around the world to hone our school model.
Our vision is to have VSI high schools across the country, starting with 8 in Arizona, similar to High Tech High in California, and eventually expand across the country, leading the way for educational innovation.
Our vision is do high school so well, to compile case studies and stories of individual life transformations, and lead the way in what school CAN be, so that public schools have no choice but to follow our lead.
Our vision is to modernize public education to be a place where all students love going to school because it directly helps them realize their dreams and prepare for real life.
We are implementing our curriculum in various high schools. To obtain our charter, we must have our start-up funds secured in the bank (with proof), which is $200,000 (and we have worked with accountants to lean it out).
After we obtain our charter, we will have access to large pools of funding, such as the AZ CSP Grant for $1.25M, distributed over 5 years ($250,000 per year).
At that point, our school model will be self-sustaining.
We are working towards educational equity and innovation for the kids who need it the most. We need your support! Thank you in advance for your support and helping us change the world, one child at a time.
With gratitude and respect,
-The VSI Team
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