Message from Research Partner: American College of Education

Message from Research Partner: American College of Education

Dear MRE Parents:

Embracing change requires a different kind of courage, and it’s rare to find a community seeking innovation.  As individuals, we tend to be more comfortable with the familiar.  Yet, technology is driving change, not only in the way we communicate, but in the way we think.  Just ask a grandparent about the challenges of learning a new app!

We know schools will need to change for the next generation of learners.   Technology is literally and physically changing the way the brain is wired.  Approaches which worked for students fifty years ago will not be effective for 21^st century learners.  Creating ways to build stronger, more enduring relationships is important.  Exploring the quality of information is vital.  Giving our students the tools to be critical thinkers in a world flooded with knowledge is essential.  The teachers, now designers, at MRE have taken up the challenge to be innovators and our team from American College of Education (ACE) is excited to be part of the journey.

ACE is a regionally accredited college created by teachers and administrators who understand the needs of the education field.  We offer graduate programs, including a doctorate in leadership, but our main focus is on schools and ways to support the needs of students.  I serve as the assistant provost, a position focused on curriculum and ways to enhance learning.  I come from a K-12 background, holding a Texas teaching certification and was once licensed as a Texas Reading Specialist and Master Reading Teacher.  Now, I leverage my forty years of experience to offer ideas to support innovation in learning to our public schools primarily through our College.

My colleague at ACE happens to be a parent whose child attends Madeley Ranch Elementary. She is also an educator with a passion for alternative schooling models. She immediately recognized the unique value of adopting the house concept and shared her excitement with me.  Multiple discussions later brought us to MRE with hope of developing a partnership for the purpose of gathering insights from faculty and parents through research in order to share how the house concept influences teaching and learning.

In the months to come, you will be seeing our logo and opportunities to provide us with input, relate your perspectives, and offer us insights.  We know other schools are seeking effective possibilities to educate 21^st century learners with the unique tools they will need to succeed in our ever-changing society; MRE and the house concept provides one.

Sincerely,

Lee Tincher, PhD
Assistant Provost, Curriculum Development
American College of Education