The Possible Zone, located in the heart of Boston, is a non-profit organization founded with a mission to advance economic equity by empowering young people to develop entrepreneurial skills, spirit, and networks. Operating outside traditional K-12 schooling but in collaboration with schools and community organizations, The Possible Zone provides a 35,000 square foot Innovation Center where students engage in project-based learning, hands-on experiences with cutting-edge technology, and real-world business development. The organization aims to create a world where young people can shape their own futures, offering them exposure to various professions, tools, and opportunities they might not otherwise encounter. Through partnerships with Boston Public Schools, the possible zone also provides avenues for students to earn high school and early college credits, bridging the gap between education and future career paths.

In this episode, Meg Riordan, the Chief Learning Officer, Janet Hollingsworth, the Vice President of STEAM and Innovation, and two high school students, Elijah and Khalil, share their experiences with The Possible Zone. The conversation reveals how the organization's approach differs from traditional schooling, providing a safe, supportive environment where students feel free to express themselves and explore their potential. The students share powerful stories of learning practical skills like 3D printing and graphic design, developing business ideas, and gaining a new sense of possibility for their futures. Their accounts highlight the transformative impact of the program, showcasing increased confidence, expanded worldviews, and a rekindled love for learning. This episode underscores the potential of alternative educational models like the possible zone to nurture young talent and promote economic mobility, raising the question: Could similar programs in other communities help bridge the gap between education and real-world success for youth across the nation?

The Possible Zone
The Possible Zone on CBS
The Possible Zone in Huntington News

A Revolution in Education

The Eagle Rock School in Estes Park, Colorado, was founded in 1993 by the American Honda Motor Company and continues to be solely funded by them, with the mission: to help the most disengaged students rediscover their appreciation for education. A tuition-free residential high school serves as a fresh start to 60+ students each year who have struggled in their traditional educational, and in many cases social, settings. Embracing a holistic approach to youth development that nurtures personal growth, leadership skills, and community engagement, the school supports a highly diverse, inclusive community where students are supported to bring their authentic selves to their personal and academic learning, with a focus on social justice and personal development. Through their activities and experiences, including community, Eagle Rock supports students to think of themselves as being catalysts for change. As a "liberating force in education" the school and community supports students to transform themselves and the world around them, preparing them for lives of purpose and impact.

In this episode, I talk with three students – Kai, AJ, and Senaida – about their experience at Eagle Rock, including why they are there, how it differs from their past education experience, and what they are gaining from their experience. The stories are powerful. You can hear the difference it is making in their current and, most likely, future lives, helping them to identify their strengths and aspirations and, perhaps, who they want to be in the world. Perhaps most compelling is their newfound confidence, expanded worldviews, and rediscovered love for learning. I interview these young men and women because there is nothing better than to hear directly from them about what they are getting out of their experience and the impact that experience is having on them. In this case, Eagle Rock is assisting them to have a new view of themselves, and their possibilities. Why couldn't more schools act as a chrysalis to the unfolding growth of young men and women everywhere? Hear their stories.

Honored – Vidal Carrillo's Story at Eagle Rock
Dan Condon on Eagle Rock School and PD Center – Getting Smart Podcast
About the Eagle Rock School in Education Reimagined

A Revolution in Education

Kerry McDonald is, quite simply, a powerhouse in the world of school choice, alternative schooling, innovation and entrepreneurship in education – a voice that bemoans the outcomes of government compulsory schooling. This may sound harsh, but it’s a reality. And without alternatives, educators, parents, and learners have to look to starting, building, and accessing their own learning opportunities. Her diligent pursuit of such stories has provided us with a wellspring of examples of how entrepreneurial educators can innovate outside of our public school ecosystem, with the most recent explosion of microschools across the country, partly fueled from the pandemic. In this episode she shares a ton of what she has learned and eloquently gives language to the need for the growth of these alternatives and points us to the stories of how these alternatives can take root. And, once again, her commentary speaks to the need for a revolution in our public school ecosystem.

Besides her numerous personal efforts to identify and showcase how new learning environments can take root and how entrepreneurs can start and scale their efforts, Kerry is also a Senior Education Fellow at the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute's Center for Educational Freedom, author of Unschooled: Raising Curious, Well-Educated Children Outside the Conventional Classroom, several case studies of entrepreneurship in education, and writes across several well-known publications including Forbes, and actively contributes to X (formerly Twitter) where she shares her insights and work. Her podcast LiberatED is available on various platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube and can be found on her website, LiberatED.

A Revolution in Education