Michelle Rose Gilman, Founder of Fusion Academy & Learning Centers, an alternative private one-to-one middle and high school in 17 locations in California and the east Coast explained to Lon Woodbury, from Parent Choices for Struggling Teens on L.A. Talk Radio, her vision of revolutionizing education into what a school can be.
Michelle Gilman
Michelle Rose Gilman, the President and Founder of Fusion Academy, started Fusion Academy in 1989 with six students who were transitioning out of psychiatric hospitals. She holds a BS in Special Education from the University of South Florida and a certification in Special Education.
The Quest For Revolutionizing Education Into What A School CAN Be
Michelle began the interview by talking about what was involved in revolutionizing education into just what a school can be by explaining her school's alternative technique to today's mainstream education, which she believed was far too focused on an impersonal strategy for excellence in scholastics.
Although traditional education talks about the idea of no child left behind, it fails to understand the needs of each child. Consequently, at Fusion, things are done in a different way:
First, enrollment is year round, with every student setting their own schedule. Alternatively, students have the option to choose the conventional school year as starting in September and ending in June. Besides when students start, students can also choose what time they can start. For instance, students who are athletes, actors, or have other special needs or interests can begin the day at noon if they want to free their morning up for their other pursuits.
2. Mastery learning is all about offering one-to-one tutoring in a setting which looks more like the teacher's living room than a classroom. Educators use creative ways to engage students in the learning project and the courses do not proceed until a youngster masters earlier skills. This system works equally well for those have learning troubles or those who are unusually gifted.
Third, many unique structures are put in place to help students develop trust in a school environment. One instance is the Arts and Music Programs foster creative expression with the art studio featuring a multitude of mediums, while musicians are supported with student music labs and a state-of-the-art recording studio. Another instance is the Homework Cafe which allows students to finish all their homework in school. Homework is no longer a source of contention with parents or a source of frustration at having no time to play after school.
Michelle Gilman
Michelle Rose Gilman, the President and Founder of Fusion Academy, started Fusion Academy in 1989 with six students who were transitioning out of psychiatric hospitals. She holds a BS in Special Education from the University of South Florida and a certification in Special Education.
The Quest For Revolutionizing Education Into What A School CAN Be
Michelle began the interview by talking about what was involved in revolutionizing education into just what a school can be by explaining her school's alternative technique to today's mainstream education, which she believed was far too focused on an impersonal strategy for excellence in scholastics.
Although traditional education talks about the idea of no child left behind, it fails to understand the needs of each child. Consequently, at Fusion, things are done in a different way:
First, enrollment is year round, with every student setting their own schedule. Alternatively, students have the option to choose the conventional school year as starting in September and ending in June. Besides when students start, students can also choose what time they can start. For instance, students who are athletes, actors, or have other special needs or interests can begin the day at noon if they want to free their morning up for their other pursuits.
2. Mastery learning is all about offering one-to-one tutoring in a setting which looks more like the teacher's living room than a classroom. Educators use creative ways to engage students in the learning project and the courses do not proceed until a youngster masters earlier skills. This system works equally well for those have learning troubles or those who are unusually gifted.
Third, many unique structures are put in place to help students develop trust in a school environment. One instance is the Arts and Music Programs foster creative expression with the art studio featuring a multitude of mediums, while musicians are supported with student music labs and a state-of-the-art recording studio. Another instance is the Homework Cafe which allows students to finish all their homework in school. Homework is no longer a source of contention with parents or a source of frustration at having no time to play after school.
About the Author:
Lon Woodbury, the founder of Struggling Teens, has recorded the entire interview on his weekly L.A. Talk Radio show for people to listen to at their convenience.
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