Alpine Valley School Podcast

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...

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 a...

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...

At a recent event at our sister school ( Hudson Valley Sudbury Schoo l 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 A...

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 jou...

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...

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 educati...

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 sha...

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...

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 yourse...

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...

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 th...

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...

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, dr...

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 strug...

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!  ...

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 h...

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 suc...

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...

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 activit...

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...

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 grad...

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...

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 offici...

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...