The Evolution of an Idea
From Maine to the World: How The Pathways School Took Shape
The Pathways School didn’t come out of nowhere—it grew from a lifetime of experiences, beginning with my childhood on a self-sufficient farm in Maine. Life on the farm taught me so much about learning: how to ask questions, solve problems creatively, and adapt to the challenges of the moment. It was messy, beautiful, and deeply educational—everything traditional school wasn’t.
Fast forward to my career in education, and the vision for Pathways began to take shape. I’ve worked in a variety of schools around the world, each offering lessons that built toward this dream:
Green School Bali: A progressive mothership of experiential learning, showing what’s possible when education steps outside the box.
Elsa High School in Hong Kong: Asia’s only Jewish international school, where I saw how a strong community could be a foundation for learning.
IB Schools like CDNIS: High-achieving environments with global perspectives, but often focused more on metrics than meaning.
Oakley School in Utah: A therapeutic nature-immersion school, demonstrating the power of outdoor learning.
Vermont’s 1-to-1 Program: Working with some of the state’s most troubled high school students taught me the importance of individualized attention.
NYC Public High School: Where I saw firsthand the challenges and resilience of students in overcrowded classrooms.
These experiences confirmed what I’d felt since childhood: education should be about igniting curiosity, building resilience, and preparing kids for the world they will inherit—not the one we’ve always known.
And then came the most personal piece of the puzzle: my own children. Watching them navigate a school system that often feels rushed, uninspiring, and detached from real-world skills reignited my determination. I don’t want my kids—or any kids—to just survive school. I want them to thrive, to find their passions, to connect their learning to the world around them.
Pathways is my answer to all of this. A school where every student charts their own journey, supported by educators, mentors, and a community of like-minded learners. A place where creativity and curiosity are celebrated, where sustainability and global citizenship are woven into the fabric of learning.
It’s a bold idea, and I’m at the very beginning of bringing it to life. This post is the first in what I hope will be a journal of the journey. If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I’d love your feedback, ideas, or even your questions. Let’s build this together.
