One Stone is excited to announce the expansion of our leadership and 21st century skills development program with the launch of a new school, opening in the fall of 2016.
At the request of students and parents and building on years of experience with project based learning, One Stone will offer a radically different model for student learning. A planning team of One Stone students and adult coaches used the design thinking process to develop a human-centered learning experience. They studied next generation learning approaches, interviewed experts, and toured some of the nation’s most innovative schools, from the Silicon Valley to Boston. The team also did extensive research through focus groups and design thinking challenges with high school students, parents, and education entrepreneurs to help design a new and compelling learning environment.
“By seeing students as the customer in education, we can be more effective in understanding how to get high school students really engaged in learning and best prepared for the life they envision for themselves,” said Simone Migliori, One Stone Board Chair and Boise High School senior. “One Stone has been thinking about this for some time and we’ve done the design work. Through the model we’ve developed, we can take what we’re great at providing opportunities for students to learn and practice 21st century skills and preparing them for life and layering on the academics. It’s not a one size fits all model, but rather allows for personalized learning.”
The high school will be unlike any traditional model; there will be no classes, grades, teachers or classrooms. There will be rigorous learning, with an emphasis on science, engineering, technology, and math, but more importantly One Stone will be a collaborative place where coaches help each student explore their purpose and their passions. Students will be integrated into the community and will learn by doing. Boise Bicycle Project executive director, Jimmy Hallyburton, explained it as,
“What continues to blow me away about the One Stone model is its ability to foster the empowerment to create one's own path, the freedom to think outside the box, and the encouragement to say 'YES AND...!' I can't wait so see what's next for these kids, and Boise Bicycle Project can't wait to collaborate in the process.”
Like the existing One Stone model, the new school will be independent and tuition free, so that all students, regardless of ability to pay, can have the opportunity for a world class education. The school will be supported by One Stone community partners and supporters including the J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation. “We are proud to support One Stone leaders and their vision to create the first student led, design thinking powered learning environment for high school age students in the country,” said Jamie Scott, President, J.A. and Kathryn Albertson Family Foundation.
The school will be rooted in One Stone’s values of experiential service, community, empowerment, equality of voice, innovation, ownership, creativity and empathy.
“One Stone has shown an incredible ability to empower and engage youth, bringing out their best. This school will allow students to explore their passions, find their purpose and to grow empathy, and critically important real world leadership skills. Students will gain tools to lead meaningful lives, including a commitment to a lifetime of service and a willingness and a desire to take on significant challenges future generations face,” explained Jim Everett, retired CEO of the Treasure Valley Family YMCA. “One Stone graduates will be forces for the greater good.”
