Revolutionizing Education One Student At a Time

Welcome to another edition of the Founders Pack Wolfcast! Today’s esteemed guest is Tanya Sheckley, the visionary force behind UP Academy.

Tanya is revolutionizing education with personalized learning, inclusive classrooms, and a commitment to empowering students of all abilities. As a passionate advocate for educational reform, she also hosts the Rebel Educator podcast, delivers inspiring speeches nationwide, and leads professional development initiatives.

Check out the full episode below! 👇

Today we shine a spotlight on Tanya Sheckley, the visionary founder of Up Academy. With her rebellious spirit and a burning desire to challenge the status quo, Tanya is transforming the world of education and creating meaningful change in a system that has long been stagnant.

What is Up Academy?

Up Academy is a progressive, project-based school that caters to students from kindergarten to fifth grade, with plans to launch a middle school this fall, expanding its reach to eighth grade. Tanya's motivation to establish her own school stemmed from a personal journey as a mother. Her oldest daughter, born with Cerebral Palsy, faced challenges in finding an educational environment that could cater to her unique needs, both academically and therapeutically.

Witnessing the possibilities that emerged from advancements in neurodevelopment, robotics, and mind-machine interfaces, Tanya envisioned a place where students could thrive and excel, regardless of their abilities. Drawing inspiration from a project-based public school that showcased the effectiveness of mixed-ability classrooms, Tanya laid the foundation for Up Academy.

How does Up Academy learning differ from the rest?

At Up Academy, project-based learning takes center stage. Unlike traditional education that often revolves around rote memorization and regurgitation of information, Tanya's approach delves deeper. Students engage in trimester-long deep dives into interdisciplinary concepts, such as ecosystems, the galaxy, the economy, and currently, a captivating civilizations unit. These projects provide students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in a topic, explore their interests, and collaborate on delivering meaningful and impactful outcomes.

The school embraces a holistic approach, fostering mentorship and apprenticeship experiences for students. Collaboration with experts, community members, and professionals enhances the learning journey. Through partnerships with individuals like the sand shortage expert from London, students gain real-world insights, engaging in Zoom calls and even participating in local beach cleanups.

Tanya's instinctual belief in project-based learning is supported by research and neuroscience. When students are actively engaged in projects, their minds and bodies enter a heightened state of learning, making knowledge acquisition more effective and long-lasting. By capitalizing on this connection between hands-on experiences and memory retention, Up Academy cultivates a dynamic learning environment where students thrive and grow.

Tanya’s Resilience:

While Tanya's visionary approach has been met with resistance in some quarters, she remains undeterred. Change is challenging, particularly when it involves reshaping an entire education system. However, Tanya sees a future where educational practices evolve, and standardized outcomes become a thing of the past. She emphasizes the need for societal transformation, including changes in teacher training and a shift away from traditional methods, to truly revolutionize education.

The impact of Tanya Sheckley's work is already evident. Students at Up Academy demonstrate remarkable progress, and their retention of knowledge extends far beyond what is traditionally experienced in the classroom. By creating a space where project-based learning thrives and students are empowered to explore their interests, Tanya is paving the way for a future where education is engaging, personalized, and transformative.

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👉 To learn more about Tanya and Up Academy check out her website.

👉 If you want to get in touch with Tanya find her on Linkedin.

That's all for this week's edition. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories of founders who are reshaping the world around us :)