1.6 - Grace

# of Students

# of Teachers

 

10,000 K Ss last year…

25k+ Ss this year

 

Grace - A’s, T’s, Ps - There are soooooo many kids signed up right now because this option was better than the other one that was presented to them. We already know it will not be right for everyone. We already know that being self driven, persistent, a problem solver are keys to EPIC success.

Virtual learning is hard. As to Bs and Cs

 

A teacher filled with love and understanding over spreadsheets and to-do lists. The standards do matter and we will teach them, but it will require the village to do it. This 

 

We are not a school without problems. We try really hard to shut out the noise of the haters and do the job ahead of us. We know that nothing of consequence can get done without a little bit of courage and a heck of a lot of grit. 

 

We have graduated a west point scholar and a student 6 months into a prison sentence. We have graduated more 19-21 year olds AND more 15 and 16 year old than any other school in the state. 

The tyranny of how is our biggest challenge at Epic...and not just this pandemic school year. 

Teacher question: How do you teach every grade level and every subject to every student? How do you satisfy the requirements of the  world of standardization in an environment of personalization? 

You need a strategy

 

You need to train your brain and the brain of the kiddos, students, and families we work with to be, keep, and stay flexible. When a plan isnt working around here, we dont keep trying to force our way...we try to find a new way.

You have got to keep the state of your being in a constant state of gratitude for the ability to think outside of the box. We are NOT the status quo. For 10 years we have and will continue to push every boundary in front of us to do what’s best for students. Period.

I’m here to make a scene. Paint a picture. Disrupt what is downright ridiculous and archaic in this day and age. 

Those that came before me fought too hard to see me squander any opportunity I have to remake what is out of date.

 

I give my all to the projects I know have great potential. I give myself room to make mistakes in public. I know that paying attention to the quality of my presence is more powerful than trying to be perfect. 

 

I want people to feel my heart in all I do, whether or not they are impressed with what I got right is none of my business. I know that practice is essential. 

Preparedness is priceless. 

 

But without witnessing the moment, they’ll most likely fly by without me actually enjoying them. Each opportunity that I get to show the world what I’ve got is only going to come once. I want to enjoy it. 

 

There will be pressure, but I can learn to roll with that too. There will be chaos, but every creative moment is a full-on mess. There will be moments of epic doubt, but those are usually a good sign. What monument was ever built without a little reconstruction?