Imagine your learner…
‍Reading complex texts and learning complex math to solve challenging word problems...
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‍So they can...
‍Make connections between new knowledge and what they already know...
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‍And later they...
‍Use their learning to develop thoughtful solutions to actual issues in the community.
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‍This is academics at LEAD! We provide deliberate practice in literacy and in math to support real-world problem solving in humanities and STEM blocks.
When young people have explicit instruction followed by quality practice of their skills, they become masters of their abilities, and able to do higher ordered thinking later on.

In their transdisciplinary time in humanities and STEM, learners are charged with integrating and applying their knowledge to address a community challenge, like water usage, climate change, waste reduction, health and wellness, and more.
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We use an explicit approach called DEEDS (Discover, Examine, Engineer, Do, and Share) to guide these impact projects.
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When young people step into the role of a community changemaker, they develop the skills to wield power, economically thrive, and shape the world they live in.

Changemakers live at the intersection of their individual knowledge, skills, and passions. Cultivating the arts creates a balance between work and community engagement with self-expression and self-understanding.
At LEAD, these experiences include:
Dance
Digital and fine art
Music
Theatre / performance
Fashion design

To thrive in the world, it's not only about your knowledge, it's also about your character. Feeling balanced, purposeful, and fulfilled allows us to show up as our best selves and achieve greater feats.

At LEAD, we uphold the importance of personal development, which is why we engage in daily practices led by learners, like:
Meditation
Group circles to develop trust, deepen relationships, and explore critical moments in our growth / development
Badge work for self-understanding
Passion activities (e.g. tennis, soccer, dance, art, interest-based clubs etc.)

As we build a bridge to generational success, it’s important to expose young people to high earning careers.

That’s why we developed Micro-Apprenticeships–6-8 week partnerships between small groups of LEAD students (3rd-6th grade) and industry professionals.

Learners work on a real client project and gain resume skills under the guidance of their career mentor. Past Micro-Apprenticeships include:
Working with a Graphic Designer to create a printed tri-fold menu for the local deli
Working with a Chef to develop new sandwich recipes for the local deli
Working with Environmental Educators to teach the community about local wildlife
Working with a Structural Fabricator to create prosthetic prototypes using a 3D printer

Oh, and learners get paid, too! We assist in the creation of custodial bank accounts and providing meaningful lessons on financial literacy: the importance of earning, banking, and saving money.

To ensure that all of our learners are set up for success, we supply useful resources to LEAD students for free. Things like:

• Backpacks
• Books
• Laptop or tablet devices