Philosophy and Values
Our mission is to bring together young people, educators, families and our extended community to create a participatory, learner-driven environment grounded in meaningful relationships, which expresses the world we would like our children to live in—a world where all are supported to be self-aware and engaged global citizens.
School Around Us recognizes and nurtures the individuality and innate learning capacities in each person. In an increasingly disconnected and polarized world, we build an intergenerational learning community that embraces collaboration, accountability and the unique awesomeness of every individual. We have been a pioneer in progressive education since 1970, are a model for education in the 21st century, and a catalyst for positive change in the world. We continually provide a non-coercive educational experience where learners are respected for who they are and allowed to grow at their own pace in partnership with their families and educators. We listen to and reflect with our community (learners, families, staff) to be able to adapt and be responsive to the world around us and embrace changes as needed. Our learners depart SAU as self-aware dynamic individuals who become engaged critical thinkers, community members and problem solvers. They go forward into the world with solid academic and interpersonal skills, readying them to embark on the path of their choice.
Our educators are passionate and driven by these insights:
Human Learning is fundamentally relational—we learn and grow because of and through our relationships.
Humans are made to learn, and we are naturally curious and self-directed.
Self-reflection is key to maximizing our learning and growing as human beings.
At the heart of learning for life is learning how to learn.
Empathy is built through the understanding of the lives of others.
Exposure is an important part of learning. We may never know what we don’t know, and even what we love, unless it is put in front of us.
Freedom to discover and dream is essential to learning.
Self-expression and learning through the arts helps us to develop the deepest sense of ourselves.
Providing ample space and time for play (which looks different across the development stages) is critical for allowing our children to develop to their fullest potential.
We believe that a thriving educational ecosystem emphasizes:
Individualized guidance that supports children to drive and influence their own intentional learning
Strong, heartfelt and personal relationships between children and adults
Connection and engagement with the broader community, including people, cultures, and ideas that are different from our own
Depth of discovery and familiarity with a subject or skill, and breadth of exposure to new experiences
Meeting learners and families where they are today, while compassionately supporting and challenging them to grow and evolve
Inspiring, encouraging and modeling learning and development throughout adulthood
Experiential, meaningful, pragmatic, creative, and personally relevant learning