Skill - Alec Resnick - Director of Powerderhouse Studios

Self Directed Education --- K12 --- Entrepreneurship

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Is innovation possible in the traditional K-12 system? Listen, and decide for yourself.

Today, a conversation with Alec Resnick. Alec is the co-Founder and Director of Powderhouse Studios in Somerville, Massachusetts. Powderhouse Studios sprang out of an education non-profit called sprout & co., which Alec founded along with Shaunalynn Duffy in 2009.

Conceived of as a radical take on making a creative, R&D organization with youth, Powderhouse was nearly the first self-directed, public, in-district high school in the country.

The school began with an invitation from Somerville's Mayor. Over the course of more than five years, the Powderhouse team (with support from a wide variety of community organizations, foundations, experts, and policymakers) worked closely with Somerville Public Schools to develop a detailed, practical, and piloted plan to open a new high school.

Unfortunately, in March 2019, their efforts were thwarted by Somerville's Superintendent, Mary Skipper, who suddenly reversed her support of their proposal on the eve of the vote, leading to a unanimous rejection by Somerville's School Committee (which up until that point had supported the Powderhouse initiative).

Alec explains his team's radical ideas for re-inventing high school, interwoven with shedding some light on the strange tale of trying to start a new, in-district district public school.

Where to learn more about the Alec and Powderhouse Studios:

Powderhouse Studios Website: www.powerderhouse.org

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/alecresnick

Twitter - @AResnick

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This select episode of the Skill Podcast is presented by Skill FM.

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