Alpine Valley School Podcast: Recent Episodes
Alpine Valley School, a K-12
Alpine Valley School is a K-12 school in Wheat Ridge CO founded in 1997. We are a non-profit, independent school that follows the Sudbury Model of education. This podcast features interviews with graduates of our school, plus discussions of our unique philosophy, and ways to get involved.
In this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast, we continue our Visionaries & Voices series with a powerful speech by Cassi Clausen, founder of The Open School in California. Cassi's journey from a conventional educator to a pioneer in self-directed learning is both inspiring and thought-provoking, offering valuable insights for parents, educators, and anyone interested in reimagining education.
This is the second episode in our Visionaries & Voices series, from speeches recorded at the Global Self-Directed Democratic School Conference that happened at Alpine Valley School in July 2024.
Cassi shares her personal transformation, sparked by a single philosophy class that led her to question everything she thought she knew about education. Her story is one of courage, vision, and unwavering commitment to creating a learning environment where children truly thrive. You'll hear about the challenges of starting a democratic school, the leap of faith required to innovate during a global pandemic, and the exciting future of accessible, self-directed education.
This episode is a must-listen for parents who:
- Feel frustrated with traditional schooling methods
- Are curious about alternative education models
- Want to nurture their child's natural love of learning
- Are looking for ways to support their child's autonomy and self-direction
- Are interested in how education can adapt to meet the needs of diverse learners
Cassi's passion is contagious, and her insights might just change the way you think about your child's education. Tune in to explore how embracing trust, freedom, and individual growth can revolutionize learning and personal development.
Review the show notes for this episode online at: https://www.alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep61
Join us as we dive into the transformative world of self-directed democratic education with Larry Welshon, founder of Alpine Valley School. With 28 years of experience and a background in public education, Larry shares powerful insights on how trust and vulnerability shape a truly nurturing learning environment.
In this eye-opening episode, you'll discover:
- How Alpine Valley School creates a safe space for children to experience and process big emotions
- The importance of institutional trust and how it empowers students to push their limits safely
- Real-life examples of students shaping school policies through democratic processes
- Why allowing vulnerability in education leads to stronger, more confident learners
- How self-directed learning builds tenacity and problem-solving skills
Whether you're curious about alternative education models or seeking ways to foster trust and independence in your own children, this episode offers valuable perspectives for the modern parent. Tune in to explore how embracing trust can revolutionize the way we approach learning and personal growth.
Show notes: www.alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep60
In episode 59 of the Alpine Valley School podcast, we share an insightful interview with Addison Ault, a former special education teacher who has transitioned to a staff role at Alpine Valley School, a self-directed democratic school located in Denver. Addison shares her profound insights on supporting students with neurodiversity, drawing from her rich background in mainstream education. Through her interview, listeners will explore the importance of empathy, individualized support, and creating inclusive environments that celebrate every student's unique journey. Addison's experiences and perspectives offer valuable lessons on embracing and understanding neurodiversity in alternative educational settings, promising an enlightening listen for educators, parents, and advocates alike.
Join us at the Global Self-Directed Democratic School Conference, hosted by Alpine Valley School from July 10th to 14th, 2024, for an inspiring gathering of educators, students, and advocates of self-directed democratic schooling. This unique event offers a platform for networking, participant-driven sessions, and insights into our unique model. For more information and to register, visit our website at https://www.alpinevalleyschool.com/conference. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative educational movement!
Show notes for this episode available at https://www.alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep59
Want More?
- Episode Addison mentions in the interview: EP 34: If Our Daughter Died Tomorrow, Would We Be Happy With How She Lived?
- Podcast Episode: What Special Needs Tell Us About Schools featuring Dr. Naomi Fisher
- Book: A Different Way to Learn - Neurodiversity and Self-Directed Education by Dr. Naomi Fisher
- Article: Becoming Yourself - Neurodiversity and Self-Directed Education
In this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast, host Marc Gallivan talks with conscious parenting coach Angela Young about how to set clear boundaries with your children while still supporting their independence. This episode is a great listen if you’re looking for support and advice on how to approach boundary-setting with your self-directed children. You’ll also learn: How to explore your own self-directed path as an adult, the importance of setting clear expectations for your children (hint: you don’t have to be a doormat!), and how to identify your own limiting beliefs that may be getting in the way of your child’s education. Don’t miss this episode!
To learn more about Alpine Valley School (and come visit!) check out our webpage. We are hosting an Open House this summer and invite you to join us! Find out more on our webpage: Summer Open House.
Staff Members at self-directed democratic schools like Alpine Valley School are often asked what sorts of unique challenges students experience at places like this. While our students are free from the tests and grades that are imposed on others in mainstream education, they do encounter a totally different set of struggles. Not only that, but parents often have to deal with their own difficulties as well. In this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast staff members Larry, Katy, and Connie talk about what makes life at our school challenging and how they’ve seen students and parents find strength in their struggles.
Visit the show notes page here: Episode 57 Show Notes
To learn more about Alpine Valley School (and come visit!) check out our webpage. We are hosting an Open House this summer and invite you to join us! Find out more on our webpage: Summer Open House.
Want more?
- Read a blog post about finding strength in struggle on the AVS Blog.
- Watch a video interview with one of our graduates talking about how he struggled with boredom.
- Listen to a podcast episode about the invitations that boredom offers us.
- Read a blog post from Sudbury Valley School about boredom and entertainment.
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
Most people involved in self-directed education know that staff are the adult members of the school community, but what is the actual role staff members play in the day-to-day running of the school? What sorts of tasks do staff members do? And beyond that, why are staff members important to schools like Alpine Valley in the first place? Hear personal accounts from staff members at self-directed democratic schools all over the world on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast!
To learn more about Alpine Valley School (and come visit!) check out our webpage.
Want more?
- Read a blog post from Cara DeBusk at the Houston Sudbury School about her “typical day”
- Watch a video compilation of staff members discussing their role in the school
- Watch a video of a “typical day” at Alpine Valley School
- Listen to another podcast about the process of starting a Sudbury School
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
What are school wounds? How do they develop, and who do they affect? This is a topic we explore on episode 55 of the Alpine Valley School podcast, along with Akilah S. Richards, a podcaster, author, and self-directed parent.
Want more?
- Learn more about the Fare of the Free Child podcast (and subscribe!)
- Watch Akilah S Richard’s TED Talk
- Listen to an episode of our podcast all about competition and school wounding.
- Read a blog post from parents who share their experiences after leaving the public school system.
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
In mainstream education, parents and teachers are continually breaking down children into two separate groups: good students and bad students. In this episode, we hear from Tay Arrow and Marc Gallivan, two Sudbury School graduates who self-identified as bad and good students, respectively. Tay and Marc share their own personal journeys through the school system and how they both ultimately arrived at self-directed education, and what they found when they did.
View the show notes page for more details about this episode.
To learn more about Alpine Valley School (and come visit!) check out our webpage.
Want more?
- Listen to a podcast episode all about self-directed education and learning disabilities: What Schools Tell Us About Special Needs
- Hear from another Alpine Valley School graduate who struggled in mainstream education: Play is the Work of Children
- Listen to a recording from the original Sudbury Valley School about learning disabilities in schools: The Learning Disability Epidemic
You can get in touch with the show at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
It’s been a while, but Alpine Valley School is still here! In this episode Marc provides an update about what life at our school is going to look like moving forward, as well as the future of this podcast. He’ll also share some of the most popular episodes so you can catch up with all of our previous episodes, and maybe find your new favorite!
- To learn about Alpine Valley School’s plans for reopening, please check out this webpage.
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To listen to favorite episodes, check out the links here:
- Episode 02: The Importance of Video Games
- Episode 25: School Meeting
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Parent Panels:
- Moms (Ep 22)
- Dads (Ep 33)
You can get in touch with the show at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
Introducing a new podcast from Alpine Valley School - Lockdown Learning
As COVID-19 swept the globe from east to west this year, so has home education. Millions of children woke up one morning to find their schools closed and their new teachers are their parents. Learning at home can be a wonderfully liberating and connecting experience for families that choose it but it can also be daunting and exhausting even at the best of times. And let’s face it – this is not the best of times. No one planned for this. And whereas Home Education is usually done more out of the home than in it as families meeting up with others to socialize, play and learn together all that’s off the table right now.
East Kent Sudbury School grew from a group of home educators and as passionate advocates for alternative education we’ve teamed up with our friends at Alpine Valley School in Denver, Colorado to bring you a special podcast season to help you not just survive learning in lockdown but get the most out of this out of school experience.
Listen to the first episode now and, to get future episodes delivered right to you, subscribe now at the podcast page or on whatever program you use to listen to podcasts.
Contact the show at: lockdownlearningpodcast@gmail.com
Like many schools around the world, Alpine Valley School is currently closed. Without a physical space where we can congregate, our self-directed learning community is figuring out how to come together virtually. In this episode we talk about how our school is handling the current situation and hear advice from AVS graduates on handling boredom - something they practiced with often as students.
Visit our website: www.alpinevalleyschool.com
In this episode, we sit down with the parents of three currently enrolled students. The Shannon family shares what brought them to Alpine Valley School, and what they’ve noticed after being involved for a few years. You might be surprised by what the parents themselves have learned along the way!
Want more?
- Listen to more parent interviews on our panel episodes: Mom’s Panel & Dad’s Panel
- Read a blog post from a current parent: It Just Made Sense
- Hear from other current parents at our sister school Arts & Ideas in Baltimore
- Read more blog posts by other current parents at Sudbury Valley School
- Watch a video interview with one of our current students.
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Episode 50: Favorite Stories From Around the USA To celebrate the milestone of our 50th episode, the Alpine Valley School podcast collected favorite stories from Sudbury Schools all over the USA. These stories - funny, insightful, and thought-provoking - provide an inside look at self-directed learning environments across the country.
Want more?
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Learn more about the schools that shared stories on this episode:
- The Circle School - Harrisburg, PA
- Sego Lily School - Salt Lake City, UT
- Miami Sudbury School - Miami, FL
- Three Rivers Village School - Pittsburgh, PA
- Read about one author’s first experience with Sudbury schooling
- Read an excerpt from Sudbury Valley School’s book “Kingdom of Childhood”.
- Watch a video from Tallgrass Sudbury School about a typical day.
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Episode 49: Unschooling Sudbury schools and Unschoolers have always had quite a bit of overlap in their philosophies, but how do unschooled students manage the transition to a self-directed school environment with a lot more structure, particularly in the Judicial System? In this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast, we interview Houston Sudbury School founder Cara DeBusk on her journey as an unschooling parent into the founder of a Sudbury school.
Want more?
- Learn more about the Houston Sudbury School.
- Join Alpine Valley School for an upcoming Open House.
- Listen to our episode on Judicial Committee.
- Listen to more Founding Stories from other Sudbury Schools.
- Read a blog post about Unschooling and Sudbury from Tallgrass Sudbury School.
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Episode 48: Elections Important decisions at our school are made, not by a central authority figure, but by the democratic process of voting. All students and staff at the school cast their vote on critical issues including the election of key School Meeting officials, and the hiring of the staff members themselves. In this episode we dive deep into the elections process at school - how do elections work, why do we do them, and what do students get out of participating in this process? Find out on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast.
Want more?
- Learn more about the role of School Meeting Chair on another podcast episode.
- Hear from staff members at other Sudbury schools on our Founding Stories series.
- Read more about the process of hiring staff at one of our sister schools, Hudson Valley Sudbury School.
- Read a blog post about the power of children voting from Tallgrass Sudbury School.
- Hear more about the founding of Alpine Valley School in this video.
- Support Alpine Valley School by using Amazon Smile!
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Episode 47: Chores Everyone at Alpine Valley School (students and staff alike) participate in doing cleaning chores twice a week. On this episode, we follow a Chore-Checker (the student responsible for making sure chores are done, and to the appropriate standard) on their rounds and share our rationale behind why we have chores in the first place. Believe it or not, there are a lot of developmental advantages to doing chores, beyond the obvious benefits of having a clean place to play every day.
Show Notes Page (including a transcript)
Want more?
- Read more about chore-related successes in a blog post: This is What Innovation Looks Like
- Read a New York Times article about the importance of kids tackling chores.
- Listen to another podcast episode featuring our graduate Kelsey: Amplify Your Passion.
- Listen to a group of graduates talk about their experience with Open Campus at school.
- Watch a video featuring graduates of one of our sister schools talking about how they went on to college after graduation.
- Support Alpine Valley School by using Amazon Smile!
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Episode 46: Founding Stories - Arts & Ideas Sudbury School This is the third part of our special series called Founding Stories, in which we interview founders of other self-directed democratic schools around the world. On this episode, we are transported to downtown Baltimore, Maryland, to the Arts and Ideas Sudbury School. Founder Caroline Chavasse takes us through the early days of their school which includes a documentary film, a play group, and even a little sprinkle of divine intervention.
Want more?
- Find out more about Arts & Ideas Sudbury School
- Listen to part two of our founding stories series: The Open School
- Hear about how Alpine Valley School was founded, from Larry Welshon
- Subscribe to the Alpine Valley School podcast so that you never miss an episode!
- Support Alpine Valley School on Colorado Gives Day!
- Watch the documentary mentioned in this episode: Voices From the New American Schoolhouse
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Episode 45: Founding Stories - The Open School This is the second part of our special series called Founding Stories, in which we interview founders of other self-directed democratic schools around the world. This episode takes us to sunny California to the two (yes, two) campuses of The Open School. Hear how founder Cassi Clausen’s Master’s Degree in Education led her to the self-directed democratic schooling model. You’ll also learn about the pioneering days of The Open School OC - bet you can’t guess where they held their first day of school!
Want more?
- Find out more about The Open School
- Listen to part one of our Founding Stories Series: East Kent Sudbury School
- Hear about how Alpine Valley School was founded, from Larry Welshon
- Subscribe to the Alpine Valley School podcast so that you never miss an episode!
- Support Alpine Valley School on Colorado Gives Day!
- Read some posts from The Open School’s amazing blog.
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Episode 44: Founding Stories - East Kent Sudbury School This is the first in our series of special episodes called Founding Stories, in which we interview founders of other self-directed democratic schools around the world. On this episode, we chat with Kezia Cantwell-Wright from East Kent Sudbury School in Kent, England. Kezia shares her own family’s personal journey to alternative education, what it took to get their school off the ground, and her advice for starting an alternative school - which may surprise you!
Want more?
- Find out more about East Kent Sudbury School
- Listen to another interview with Circle School co-founder Jim Rietmulder
- Hear about how Alpine Valley School was founded, from Larry Welshon
- Subscribe to the Alpine Valley School podcast so that you never miss an episode!
- Watch a video about deciding what you want to be when you grow up (or not).
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Episode 43: Hard Lessons The notion that self-directed schools, like Alpine Valley School, involve students only pursuing the subjects they find interesting is partially true, but it’s not the whole story. There are other lessons, too - harder ones. That’s the subject of episode 43 of our show. Former AVS staff member Bruce Smith (currently a staff member at Clearview School) guides listeners through the unsought learning that happens at our school, which is in many cases just as valuable (if not more) than the passions that our students pursue.
Want more?
- Read the original blog post that inspired this talk: Unsought Learning
- Help support Alpine Valley School by making a donation!
- Find out more about Bruce’s current school: Clearview Sudbury School.
- Read more from Bruce Smith.
- Listen to another podcast episode by the students, for the students.
- Tour Alpine Valley School and come see our model first-hand.
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Episode 42: I Can Do What I Want Students at self-directed democratic schools like Alpine Valley School and others, have significant freedom. In many ways they can “do what they want” all day long. However, that freedom must be balanced with responsibility - a concept that founder and staff member Larry Welshon discusses in this engaging talk. This speech was originally given at a sister school, Glacier Lake in Montana, as part of their recent fundraising efforts, and it covers a lot of ground. Find out by what age most kids have dropped out of school, how Larry first discovered the alternative schooling movement, and more on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast.
Want more?
- Support our friends at Glacier Lake School in Montana.
- Watch the original video this talk came from.
- Read a related blog post: Freedom Does Not Mean Doing Whatever You Want
- Watch a video interview with Sudbury Valley School co-founder Mimsy Sadofsky (who is mentioned in Larry’s talk)
- Listen to a former student talk about how freedom shaped her life as a young person.
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Episode 41: Starting a School “How do I start a self-directed democratic school in my area?” On this episode, staff and founder Larry Welshon lends his twenty-plus years of experience to tackling this question and provides concrete guidance for individuals who are looking to begin the founding journey.
Want more?
- Visit Alpine Valley School and begin your founding journey with our help and support.
- Read a blog post about the founding of a Self-Directed Democratic School from Sudbury Valley School
- Look over the Planning Kit from Sudbury Valley School (used by many founding groups)
- Check out this blog post from Alternatives To School: Options for Families Without Democratic Schools
- Watch a video from Circle School staff member & founder Jim Rietmulder
- Help the diverse Alpine Valley School community continue to thrive by making a pledge to our annual fundraising campaign!
- Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Read a transcript of the episode and find out more on the Show Notes page.
Episode 40: Favorite Stories Funny, insightful, and unexpected, this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast features our graduate’s favorite stories. Hear about surprising adventures to the mall, the Asteroid Game, becoming School Meeting Chair, and much more as our alumni take a trip down memory lane.
Want more?
- Watch a video featuring an alumni panel at Alpine Valley School: Ready for Anything
- Check out this documentary all about self-directed education: Self-Taught
- Watch an interview with alumni from other schools about going to college.
- Listen to another podcast focused on self-directed education: The Education Revolution
- Read a blog post from Sudbury Valley School about the lives of alumni.
- Read an article about bullying (or, more accurately, its absence) at Sudbury Schools.
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Send us your questions, suggestions, and feedback at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
Support Alpine Valley School when you shop online by using Amazon Smile!
Just like the grown ups who love them, children are hungry for meaningful work. They want to take on jobs that have real meaning and make a significant contribution. Learn how self-directed democratic education, like we practice at Alpine Valley School in Colorado, allows all students to try on elected positions with actual responsibility. Hear how one graduate went from banging erasers together to running the most important meeting in the school - and more - on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast. Check out the show notes page for more information.
This episode is also available in video format on YouTube.
Want more?
- Support Alpine Valley School by using Amazon Smile when you shop online!
- Check out our Facebook page for details on all upcoming events.
- Read the original blog post from this episode: Give Kids Real Jobs
- Send in a question or comment for our upcoming Q&A episode: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
- Listen to another “real life” episode: Judicial Committee in the Real World.
- Watch a video about how School Meeting operates at Sudbury Valley School in Massachusetts.
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email or a voice memo to: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
We’ll be back again soon with more stories of real learning for real life.
Alpine Valley School
www.alpinevalleyschool.com
Wheat Ridge, CO USA
Episode 38: Learning Math In this final episode of our Core Learning podcast series, our guest Bruce Smith talks about how students at self-directed democratic schools learn math. Bruce has decades of experience as a staff member in self-directed education, and has worked at several different schools around the US. While at Alpine Valley School, he was the resident math teacher and he outlines how the language of numbers shows up in student’s daily lives and how classes, when they happen, are structured. You can listen to the rest of the Core Learning series here.
Full show notes page: alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep38
Also available on YouTube.
Listen to the full (un-edited) interview.
Want more?
- Send us your questions for a chance to be featured on the show and to be entered in a drawing to win a copy of “When Kids Rule the School”!
- Listen to another interview with Bruce Smith on our show
- Listen to the rest of the Core Learning series (Reading, Writing and Arithmetic)
- Watch video interviews with students and staff at another democratic school all about how they learn math
- Read an article about learning math from a sister school of ours in upstate New York
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email (or a voice memo!) at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
Don’t miss a single episode! Subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you always get the latest and greatest self-directed educational resources delivered right to your inbox!
What sorts of careers do the students of self-directed democratic education have? How do they stand out in a competitive job market without grades or transcripts? These are the questions we tackle on episode 37 of the Alpine Valley School podcast. With the help of a panel of Alpine Valley School graduates, host Marc Gallivan explores the career options available to Sudbury school students as well as the outstanding contributions our graduates make once they enter the workforce.
Also available on YouTube.
Want more?
- Read more about the lives of alumni directly from Sudbury Valley School (the original)
- Watch a video interview with a group of Alpine Valley School graduates and parents
- Hear more Frequently Asked Questions answered by a panel of AVS graduates
- Read a blog post about how our graduates go out into the workforce: An Alpine Valley School Resume
- Watch a TED Talk about how happiness makes everything in our work lives better
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
Don’t miss a single episode! Subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you always get the latest and greatest self-directed educational resources delivered right to your inbox!
We’re continuing our “core skills” series (which we started with Learning to Read) by discussing how students at a self-directed democratic school learn the essential skill of writing. We’re joined on this episode by AVS graduates Jesse and Vanessa who talk about how the extensive communication they engaged in at school translated into their adult lives as interesting communication careers. We all know written communication is foundational, and you can find out how our students engage with, and find their passion for, the written word on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast!
Also available on YouTube.
Want more?
- Hear Jesse and Vanessa share more of their personal journeys on their individual podcast episodes.
- Watch a video about the 3 R’s (reading, writing, arithmetic) in Sudbury Schooling.
- Read a blog post about how the skills learned at self-directed democratic schools translate into real-world job experience.
- Hear from another set of Alpine Valley School graduates about how they learned to read at our school.
- Read an article from Sudbury Valley School about how students at Sudbury schools go on to college.
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
Episode 35: Learning to Read Many find it hard to believe, but children at self-directed democratic schools do learn how to read, largely without any adult intervention. On this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast we hear from two graduates who learned this essential skill - from video games. Listen now and hear how these articulate adults address the all-important subject of learning to read!
Also available on YouTube.
Want more?
- Read a blog post from Dr. Peter Gray: Children Teach Themselves to Read
- Listen to a podcast episode all about Video Games
- Watch a video about how students at Sudbury Schools learn to read
- Hear from a group of AVS graduates about their experiences learning at our school
- Listen to another podcast episode with Lisa Mancuso all about creativity
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
At a recent event at our sister school (Hudson Valley Sudbury School in New York), Wendi Piper told her story about how self-directed democratic education has changed her family’s life. She started by asking the bold question, “If our daughter died tomorrow, would we be happy with how she had lived?” We share her answer, along with the full story of her family’s journey, on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast.
Also available on YouTube.
Want more?
- Watch the original video this talk came from
- Watch more videos by Hudson Valley Sudbury School
- Read a blog post about the power of being truly seen
- Listen to a podcast episode featuring a bunch of current Alpine Valley School students
- Read an article about the ways in which we go wrong trying to educate children with special needs
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
What is it like to parent a child while they are enrolled at an alternative school as free as Alpine Valley School? What struggles do dads experience as their child grows up in this environment, taking responsibility for their own lives? On this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast we find out firsthand from three dads whose children were enrolled at our school. They open up about their journey to Alpine Valley School as well as the struggles and triumphs they have experienced along the way. It’s all about fatherhood on episode 33 of the Alpine Valley School Podcast!
Also available on YouTube.
Want more?
- Read an article by a father whose child is enrolled at one of our sister schools entitled “I’m Not Afraid Anymore”
- Listen to another panel interview, this time by Moms of Alpine Valley School students!
- Watch a video by one of our parents entitled “What Every Parent Wants for Their Child”
- Read a blog post by an unschooling parent thanking her children for all the gifts.
- Listen to a one-on-one interview with AVS parent Aaron Cure.
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
When students at self-directed democratic schools like Alpine Valley School find themselves free from classrooms and curricula, they are sometimes left to grapple with a new adversary: boredom. However, boredom can also be an opportunity for growth,. On this episode of the podcast, AVS graduates weigh in on the subject of getting bored - what to do about it, and why it’s important.
Also available on YouTube.
Want more?
- Read a piece from the New York Times called “Let Children Get Bored Again”
- Watch a TED Talk about how boredom can lead to the most creative ideas.
- Listen to an episode of the AVS Podcast where a graduate discusses how boredom helped him find his passion.
- Watch a video about trusting children in a self-directed environment
- Read a blog post about the purpose of education
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
The people who know Kelsey Kiernan, dancer and AVS graduate, know that she is a force of nature. Kelsey will stop at nothing to reach her goals and live her dreams. On this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast we share her story and hear how she turned her passion for dance into an inspiring vision for people all around the world. She also shares how she felt isolated in traditional education and how, after coming to AVS, her life was enriched by a caring group of friends - a bond that she still cherishes to this day.
Also available on YouTube.
Want more?
- Listen to Kelsey’s podcast: AMPLIFY: An Artist’s Movement
- Watch a TED talk about how School’s Kill Creativity
- Listen to another episode of the podcast focused on creativity
- Watch a video interview with other Alpine Valley School alumni
- Read a blog post from Sudbury Valley about their school dance
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
Episode 30: Make Your Mark The current education system in the United States is failing some of our kids, mainly the ones who cannot fit into the preconceived mold. Many creative individuals are being shunted aside, left out, and forgotten. Keith Kiernan, graduate of Alpine Valley School, was one of those kids before he and his family found an alternative. On this episode of the podcast, Keith shares his personal journey and talks about how art led him to academic success and a fulfilling career.
Also available on YouTube.
Want more?
- Read an article from the Boston Globe about Unschooling
- Listen to a podcast episode: Nurturing Creativity
- Watch a video from Spring Valley School about how Sudbury Schooling can change your life
- Look at more of Keith Kiernan’s art on his Instagram Page
- Watch a video from Sir Ken Robinson about How Schools Kill Creativity
- Schedule a tour of Alpine Valley School
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
Episode 29: JC in the Real World How does self-directed democratic education prepare students to move on to the real world after graduation? It’s a question we are asked a lot, and we are proud to share yet another example today on the Alpine Valley School podcast. On this episode, an AVS graduate talks about her experience going to court and how years of attending Alpine Valley School helped her feel confident, prepared, and ready to defend herself. Listen now and hear how she faced a scary situation with calm self-possession and how she thanks Judicial Committee for preparing her to do just that.
Want more?
- Read a blog post: Give Kids Real Jobs
- Listen to a podcast interview with two AVS “lifers”: Episode 7
- Watch a video about the purpose of education
- Make a donation to Alpine Valley School on Colorado Gives Day - December 4th 2018
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
Alpine Valley School students have the ability to choose many things - how they spend their time, when and what they eat during the day, who they hang out with, and where they congregate. All of which begs the question - do they always make choices that are beneficial? Are there lessons to be learned in making decisions that are not ideal? AVS graduates weigh in on the topic of thinking for yourself on the 28th episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast.
Show notes for this episode are available at: www.alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep28
What should we do with children? How do we best guide them on their life’s course and provide them with the skills they will need along the journey? We believe in a radical concept: Let the children decide. On this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast we share a blog post from the Open School in Orange, California that deals with the fundamental purpose of education and how Sudbury Schools, like both of ours, approach those concepts.
Show notes for this episode are available at: alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep27
Want more?
- Read the original blog post: What Should We Do With Children? Let Children Decide.
- Check out the Open School in Orange, California
- Read our blog post on the purpose of education
- Watch a video from our sister school, Hudson Valley Sudbury School in Upstate NY
- Listen to a podcast interview with two students who have only attended Alpine Valley School
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
One of the main questions we are asked during tours is whether or not Alpine Valley School students go on to college, and if so, how do they do it? After all, we’re a school without grades and therefore without transcripts. How do our students get into college if they don’t have the standard paperwork? Hear from Alpine Valley School graduates about how they got into college and how they handled the transition to more traditional classroom learning. Believe it or not, our graduates thrive in college! Hear their stories and more on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast.
Show notes for this episode available at alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep26
Get in touch with the show! Email us at podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
Schedule a tour of our school at: alpinevalleyschool.com/tour
How do important decisions get made in a self-directed democratic school? Do students really get to vote on the budget, the hiring and firing of staff, and other essential elements of school life? Find out on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast, where we delve into the School Meeting. Listen as three past School Meeting Chairs talk about their experiences in running the meeting, and discuss times when their job was frustrating, as well as when it was most rewarding. Join James Kashevos, Em Eliasen, and Efe Osemwengie as they talk about how School Meeting shaped their lives as young people, and how they continue to use those lessons in the adult world.
Show notes for this episode available at: www.alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep25
Want to learn more?
- Watch a video from Sudbury Valley about School Meeting.
- Read our blog post: How Business Gets Done
- Check out the Alpine Valley School Family Handbook
- Read an article from The New Republic about Sudbury Schooling
- Listen to the podcast episode about Judicial Committee.
- Learn more about Robert's Rules of Order (discussed in the interview)
- Listen to James Kashevos being interviewed on another episode of the podcast
Get in touch with the show! Send us an email at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
Judicial Committee, the justice system at school, is a cornerstone of life at Alpine Valley School. How do we know that Judicial Committee is working, even when an individual’s behavior doesn’t change very quickly? What do Judicial Committee Clerks do when they feel frustrated by the slow wheels of progress? AVS alumni Xander Alford, Katy Cure, and Ellie Welshon answer these questions and more, drawing from their many years serving as Judicial Clerks while enrolled. Find out all about law and order, Sudbury style, in this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast.
Show notes for this episode are available at: alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep24
Want more?
- Watch a mock Judicial Committee in session
- Read our blog post - Law & Order: Alpine Valley School
- Listen to Ellie Welshon talk about her experience at school in the “Lifers” episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast
- Read a blog post from Sudbury Valley focusing on the educational aspects of participation in Judicial Committee
What is it like to parent a child while they are enrolled at an alternative school as free as Alpine Valley School? What struggles do moms experience as their child grows up in this environment, taking responsibility for their own lives? On this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast we find out firsthand from three moms whose children graduated from our school. They open up about their struggles and successes while their children were enrolled, as well as giving us a look at where they are now, and offering some words of wisdom for the next generation. Listen in as these moms share their stories on episode 23 of the Alpine Valley School podcast.
Show notes for this episode available at: alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep23
One of the most unique aspects of life at Alpine Valley School is our open campus for students 9 years and older. In this episode we outline the Open Campus policy, talk about how it actually works, and hear stories from a panel of graduates about their experiences leaving school in the middle of the day. Hear firsthand what these former students learned by experiencing a free range childhood!
Show notes:
- Free Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy: Book | Blog
- Lenore Skenazy on Free Range Kids (video)
- AVS Podcast EP01: 20th Anniversary w/ Gina Mancuso
- AVS Podcast EP02: The Importance of Video Games w/ Josh Mann
- AVS Podcast EP14: Raising Entrepreneurs w/ Aubrey Suter
Email the show at: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
When students are free to pursue their interests and choose how they spend their day, there is often a feeling of empowerment. However, beyond that there can also be a feeling of comfort and control that is out of reach for many students in traditional school settings. In this episode we explore the idea of safety at school with Alpine Valley School graduate Jaime McNear. She shares stories of her transition to AVS from a school for the gifted (where she experienced bullying), and learning to feel safe around people again. Jaime opens up about the power of Judicial Committee and how the ability to write up everyone (students and staff alike) helped her relate better to adults, which set her up for success when she eventually moved on to college.
Show notes for this episode available at: alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep21
On the 20th episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast, we depart from life on our own campus and explore how things are done at the Circle School, a fellow democratic school in Harrisburg, PA. Guest Jim Rietmulder is both a founder and a staff member at the Circle School and he talks extensively about the philosophical tenets of the school. In addition, he shares how their graduates go on to successful college careers and tells a story about the day where the Circle School had no rules at all! Jim is an inspiration to many in the democratic schooling community, and after hearing this episode you will definitely know why!
Show notes available at alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep20
How do students at an alternative school with no classes get exposed to new information? How do they find out what they’re truly interested in with no adults in the role of teacher? Find out on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast! Guest Andreas Suter talks about his experience trying on many different activities at school and adjusting to a social environment after being unschooled at home for many years. We also answer a listener question regarding classes themselves. We’re all about dabbling on episode 19, so tune in and find out more!
Show notes for this episode available at: alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep19
Storytelling is a powerful tool we use often in our adult lives. Students at Alpine Valley School tell stories through games, role-playing, and creative works on a daily basis and it has a strong impact on their lives. AVS Graduate, Bronwen Abbatista, shares how her love for art and passion for storytelling helped start her on a path to design work. She talks about how the wide variety of activities she undertook as a student helped her find fulfillment and connection with others during her time at our school.
Show notes for this episode available at: www.alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep18
Determined, passionate, self-directed - these are all terms that have been used to describe Alpine Valley School students and graduates. But how are these traits realized during a student’s time at school? And how do they benefit the student even after they’ve moved on to other pursuits? Guest Hannah Williamson, one of the first AVS students, shares her answers to these questions and much more on episode 17 of the AVS Podcast. In particular, Hannah addresses one often-asked question about how AVS students transition to college life - and you may be surprised by the answer!
Show notes for this episode available at: www.alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep17
What does it mean to place radical trust in your children, supporting their independent decisions even if they don’t always seem ideal? How do parents best support their children who enrolled in an alternative school like Alpine Valley School? We tackle these questions and more on episode 16 of the Alpine Valley School podcast. Guest Connie Cook talks about raising her three children (all AVS grads) and how she handled her own worries when they arose. She also talks about strategies for dealing with the rocky transitional period that can sometimes happen as newer students adjust to our radical model of education. Connie has been a staff member at AVS for many years, and she has a wealth of valuable information to share on this episode!
In addition, we’re rolling out a new feature and we want to hear from you! Leave us a message at the Podcast Hotline with your question or comment and it may be featured in an upcoming episode.
Five current AVS students of varying ages share their perspectives on life at school - the good, the bad, and the Taco Bell. Hear directly from kids that attend Alpine Valley School about their lives before enrolling and what activities they get up to every day in this alternative environment. Also, giggling. So much giggling.
Show notes for this episode available at: www.alpinevalleyschool.com/podcast/ep15
Individuals who are driven to follow their passions do extremely well in our model of education; they can spend all of their time involved in their interests with a supportive crew of adults waiting in the wings. Aubrey Suter, alumni and software developer, was one of the original AVS entrepreneurs. While enrolled, Aubrey started many businesses, founded corporations, and held nearly every official position available in our school - she even created marketing materials that are still used today! Tune in to this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast to hear how being respected from a young age helped shape Aubrey into the motivated, curious, and successful person she is today.
Often, students and parents at places like Alpine Valley School are concerned that kids will not know how to function in the “real world” without participating in classroom learning. AVS graduate and salesman Brandon Murphy was one of those students, and so he took a year off from AVS and transferred to a traditional public high school. He wanted to prove to himself that he could come up to speed with mainstream students and successfully complete the required coursework. As he shares with host Missa Gallivan, not only did Brandon meet the standards of public high school, he excelled. He also learned that the monotony of traditional schooling was not for him, and returned to AVS to earn his diploma. Hear all about how he transitioned from democratic education to public school, and back again, on this episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast!
Over the last twenty years, many students have left their mark on Alpine Valley School, but none quite so visibly as graduate Ethan Welshon. Not only did he build the pergola in the school’s back yard, but Ethan also led the way on a mining project which spanned multiple months and even involved heavy equipment. Hear the story of these undertakings and more as Missa Gallivan talks projects on this week’s podcast. You may be surprised to learn about some of the wacky, entertaining, and downright awesome activities that have unfolded here at school!
What is it that has kept Alpine Valley School going strong for so many years? How do the mountains of day-to-day tasks get done? The answer is simple: Staff members. On this episode we go behind the scenes with former AVS staff member and Sudbury schooling expert Bruce Smith to find out what it’s really like to work at a school like AVS. Hear how Bruce’s journey in teaching at a traditional high school led him to discover Sudbury schooling - a passion that has led him across the country to different schools for twenty years. Bruce’s personal account is truly inspiring and not to be missed!
Links mentioned in the show:
- Sudbury School Families Google group
- Sudbury Moments Facebook Page
- Bruce’s twitter account
- Bruce’s YouTube playlist
- Colorado Gives Day
On the 10th episode of the AVS podcast, host Missa Gallivan interviews ten Alpine Valley School graduates from all over the world about their experiences at school. Together, these graduates answer the most frequently asked questions we receive on a regular basis. How do AVS students go on to college? What sorts of activities do students do at school all day? And how do kids deal with boredom? Find out the answers to these queries and more on this very special episode!
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/gjUq-o0IFTM
Everyone wants their children to grow up in touch with their creative side, but in the modern over-scheduled world it can be hard for kids to find the space they need to be artistic. On today’s episode, host Missa Gallivan discusses how students at Alpine Valley School harness their creative energy and use their time at school to dabble in many different pursuits. Her guest, AVS alum Lisa Mancuso shares how spending her childhood at AVS helped shape her as an artist. She also talks about how her sewing hobby grew into a full-fledged career as a costume designer, all from projects she used to do as a student!
Links mentioned in the show:
- Lisa’s costume design: 1 2 3 4
- Alpine Valley School’s instagram account
- Podcast email
- Help support the Houston Sudbury School via Paypal: houstonsudbury@gmail.com
Youtube link: https://youtu.be/u9gDkSACokc
For as long as Alpine Valley School has existed, all students and staff have experienced the phenomenon of the Main Room Table. The real magic is not the table itself, but rather the gathering place it represents for a diverse group of students, and the conversations that occur around it. On this episode host Missa Gallivan explores the eye-opening effect those Main Room table conversations can have on even the youngest students. Her guest, AVS graduate James Kashevos talks about how joining in on these discussions helped him overcome his social awkwardness. In addition, he shares how video gaming and building computers at school helped prepare him for a rewarding career in internet security. Come on in and pull up a chair for another mind-expanding episode of the Alpine Valley School podcast!
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Alpine Valley’s YouTube Channel
On this episode, host Missa Gallivan interviews two Alpine Valley School graduates who spent their entire schooling career at AVS. Ellie Welshon, youngest child of AVS founders Tammy and Larry Welshon, shares how being respected from the earliest age helped her to have more compassion. Christy Mann, daughter of an AVS staff member, talks about how interacting with people of all different ages prepared her to enter the workforce armed with the knowledge of her own value. Together, they share their favorite memories from their time as students and talk about how they even planned their own prom so they wouldn’t have to worry about missing out. Join us as we discover what it was like to grow up experiencing real freedom and how it shaped these two amazing young people.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Amazon Smile
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/bNjiZaiw_9Y
We’ve all heard the line ‘children need structure’ repeated by many well-meaning individuals. But, is it really true? Can students learn the necessary skills for a happy, effective adult life without every minute of the day being scheduled by an adult? We at Alpine Valley School know that they can, and we have many graduate success stories to illustrate this point. On this episode, host Missa Gallivan explores how free play can be of enormous benefit to young people in finding themselves and determining their place in a community. Her guest, Jesse Alford, an AVS alum working as a software engineer in Silicon Valley, talks about all the time he spent playing and how developing games helped him shape the beginnings of a successful career, in addition to providing a happy childhood. Hear for yourself the necessity of ‘wandering’ and how a real experience of freedom day-to-day shaped Jesse into the articulate, mature, and playful person he is today.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- Free to Learn by Peter Gray
- Freedom to Learn - Peter Gray’s blog on Psychology Today
- Pivotal (where Jesse works)
- Jeffrey Freed
YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/sEFVA8WEvF0
On this podcast you’ve heard from many graduates of Alpine Valley School, but in this episode listeners have the opportunity to hear from a current student. Host Missa Gallivan interviews ten year-old Alder Bloomfield and his mom, Stacey. A former unschooling family, they share how their lives have changed since enrolling in Alpine Valley School three years ago along with some of the benefits and challenges they have experienced along the way. Alder also shares his personal experiences with Judicial Committee and other aspects of life at school. This episode is perfect for any families with unschooling backgrounds considering the move to democratic education at schools like Alpine Valley.
Links mentioned on the show:
- Show email address: podcast@alpinevalleyschool.com
What does it mean to belong at school? How can a young person’s life be shaped by the unique brand of support and acceptance available in democratic schools like Alpine Valley? These are the questions host Missa Gallivan takes on in episode 4. Her guest, Vanessa Reich-Shackelford is an AVS graduate who talks about her experience as a teenager at Alpine Valley School and how finding a community that saw her and accepted her for who she was helped shape her young life and propelled her into a successful academic career.
Links mentioned on the show:
- AVS Blog eBook
- Free at Last
- WWEST Organization
- Life Lessons with Brene Brown
In this episode, host Missa Gallivan talks about the cornerstone of Alpine Valley School community. How do you know that your child will benefit by their alternative education? Look at the graduates. Better yet, come to an event and talk to a graduate (or just keep listening to this podcast)! Guest Aaron Cure is the parent of an AVS grad, not to mention an employer of two more AVS alums, and he shares his uniquely positive take on the role of community in democratic education.
Links discussed in this episode:
- Enroll at Alpine Valley School
- Get involved with the Friends of AVS
- Free at Last Book
In this episode host Missa Gallivan tackles the subject of video games at school. How do students learn what they need to know if they spend all day playing Minecraft? It's a question we get all the time! AVS Graduate Josh Mann joins in on the discussion and shares his perspective as a student who played video games for much of his time as a student at our democratic school. Believe it or not, video games actually taught him to read! Join us as we list the benefits of video games (and, yes, there are many) and talk about how growing up with great freedom also demands great responsibility.
Resources discussed in the show:
- "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal: https://www.amazon.com/Reality-Broken-Games-Better-Change/dp/145583291X
- "Why Video Games are So Important" blog post by Missa Gallivan: https://www.alpinevalleyschool.com/2014/06/why-video-games-are-so-important/
The first episode of the Alpine Valley podcast is here! Join host Missa Gallivan (AVS alum and staff member) for a march down memory lane to twenty years ago when Alpine Valley School (a Sudbury school located in Denver, Colorado) first opened its doors. This episode also contains an interview with Gina Mancuso, Alpine Valley School's first student! Gina graduated in 2009 and talks about her journey after AVS, including her time in college and the valuable skills she took away from her democratic education.