School Leadership
What is the leadership style at Passages Centre for Self-Directed Learning? How do the school leaders shape the culture, priorities, and daily life of the community? How does this leadership style compare to that of other private and independent schools, and how might it influence your choice of school?
Page Contents
Facts and analysis
MESSAGE FROM THE LEADERSHIP
We asked Kristina House, Founder/Executive Director at Passages Centre for Self-Directed Learning for their message.
They shared an overview of the vision, values, and guiding principles that shape both their leadership and the student experience at Passages Centre for Self-Directed Learning.
Kristina House, Founder/Executive Director
As the founder of Passages Centre and a long-time homeschooler for my children (now teens!), I could see the need for an alternative education in Toronto where young people can come together within a community to work on what is meaningful to them.
Passages is a unique space full of creative young people who have a strong sense of justice and challenge themselves to be more aware of social issues that impact their lives. They embrace the democratic nature of our school, taking ownership of decision-making, committees, financial planning and the culture of the space.
As young people choose to take the reins of their education, it takes a special kind of staff to support them without taking over or letting their egos get in the way. It takes support from below to trust that these young people know what they need for this moment in their lives, are capable of finding the answers, or asking for help.
Allowing someone to flourish on their timeline is far from the typical approach to education, where the expectation is that everyone has the same knowledge because they’re in the same grade. We allow space for people to flex and grow, and to dive deep into an interest, driven by an innate desire to learn.
It is an honour to witness young people move through their days and learn holistically. On a typical day, conversations throughout the space can range from art techniques to world religion to forming committees. We flex, adapt, and work within our democratic approach to meet the needs of everyone.
As we’ve progressed through the years, the people who join us have typically felt ‘othered’ in their traditional school community for various reasons. Others just felt the education system didn’t feel right, and they may have already been fully resisting attending school.
Focusing on the individual, we create a connection centred on autonomy and choice, respecting young people, and providing community within a safe(r) environment, which allows for an unmatched learning experience in the city.
I feel privileged that we have provided a space for all kinds of young people where they can feel valued and accepted as who they are. This acceptance permeates their self-image, which in turn positively influences their learning goals.
We look forward to more families joining us and growing our small but mighty community!
