09/04/2026
Being a Learner-led school isn’t just something we say. At EAA, our Learners TRULY are leaders. They are mentors, mediators, supporters, problem-solvers, and accountability partners. They step up every day to take ownership of THEIR studios, THEIR campus, and THEIR culture. As we begin a new school year, we always start “fresh.” We revisit the important things that make our campus what it is so that every Learner, new and returning, has the opportunity to understand, contribute to, and continue building the culture together. Our Learners have built an incredibly strong culture over the past two years, and this week reminded us that it’s only getting stronger. I’d love to share one example of that. Today, our schedule from 11:15-11:30am simply said, Town Hall Introduction. Around 70 of our Basecamp Learners arrived and were ready to begin. About 10 seconds before our scheduled start time, Jack grabbed a chair, sat down at the front of the room, and, in a nice, loud voice, asked “Is everybody ready?” The entire room fell silent. Then, Jack took it from there. For the next 10 minutes, he explained what Town Hall is. He gave examples of the kinds of ideas, changes, and rules Learners might bring to Town Hall and explained how to submit them. He walked everyone through the roles on Town Hall Council, knowing Learners would soon have the opportunity to sign up to run for those positions. Then he wrapped it all up with: “Does anyone have any questions about Town Hall or the roles?” Not a Guide. Not an adult prompting him from the side. A Learner saw what needed to happen, stepped up, and led. Typically, a Guide might have started this conversation by asking, “Would anyone like to share what Town Hall is?” We never had to. Jack stepped up and crushed it. And THAT is what Learner-led looks like. It’s not adults creating opportunities for children to pretend to lead. It’s creating an environment where Learners recognize that this place belongs to them, too, where they take ownership and pride in what they have built and feel responsible for continuing to build it. These are the moments that make us incredibly proud of what our Learners are creating at EAA.
