Imagine yourself in a school with 160 unsupervised teenagers, who are expected to stay in their rooms and work on a project. What do you see? Now picture this lasting two hours. Does the word “chaos” describe your image? Let me try to change that image? Let’s place three grade 11 students in each room and ask them to lead and teach the grade 10 teenagers for that time. How does that change your image?  Do you imagine some confrontations and a lot of off task students? Today at the ELC I witnessed the opposite of what most would imagine. I saw a school of self–motivated students. It was a wonderful vision that made me extremely proud to be a part of this campus of learning.

What I experienced today was a vision that started two years ago, when our staff began planning this program. Our primary focus was to create a school that was student centered, engaging and motivating for all. The teachers were willing to get in the sand box with the students and learn together. The teachers have made students partners in the educational planning, research, teaching, evaluating and decision-making. The teachers were able to broaden the students’ sense of responsibility through this process of community building. All these steps have created the beginnings of an environment where all the members of the community share ownership of the learning. This learning process is what some would describe as action research and will continue to improve because of the buy-in from all the ELC community members.

Today while the teachers were all collaborating for two hours, the 160 grade 10s led by 20 grade 11s, showed that they owned their learning and lived up to the expectations of AIR – Accountability, Integrity, and Respect. The grade 11 students were not door bouncers, drill sergeants or show offs; they were student mentors and facilitators of learning. What I witnessed today left me awe struck and speechless. I expected the students to do well but they exceeded my expectations. We have empowered our students to be self-motivated. The members of our community will continue to play in the sandbox to get the tools that will help us continue to think outside the box.

All the members of the ELC deserve a huge thank you! You are the reason I love to come to work.

Sheldon Steele