Lead the Path is an educational consulting firm that is dedicated to developing teacher-powered, student-centered learning cultures that focus on independence, autonomy, and responsibility.
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Opportunity
Put students first and allow them the opportunity to make decisions regarding their education
Relationships
Treat students as people
Values
We all act like decent human beings.
Challenge
Increased freedom means increased responsibility.
Adventure
Adventure = Learning by doing, being involved, and taking initiative
Place
School is not just a building. It is a place students have deep connections and want to be.
Confidence
Help students develop a learning path that they OWN.
An Improbable School
Transforming how Teachers Teach & Students Learn
In a time of testing and one-size-fits-all standards, comes the success story of Wildlands, a school in the Wisconsin woods where just about everything is different. From its project-based, science-focused curriculum driven by the students themselves to school policies that amount to "just be a decent human being," Wildlands breaks the mold while producing students who are successful in school, in the field, in college, in life.
In this compelling narrative, educators Paul Tweed and Liz Seubert share how a vision that began in a school bus turned mobile lab became a public charter school, and how their "Seven Essentials" have led to engaged students, pleased parents, and a trusting Board that empowers this teacher-led learning community.
The perfect book for educators interested in how innovative teaching and learning really CAN work—and everybody who understands that true learning is far more than test results.
CONSULTING
No matter how complex your organizational needs, we have the capabilities and experience to ask the right questions and help you discover the answers you need to move forward. Lead the Path will help you take decisive action and achieve sustainable results. Our primary focus is education, but the organizational, cultural, and developmental tools we offer translate to organizations of all sizes and types.
Teacher-Powered Schools - Uncover and understand the dynamics of teacher-powered schools. Learn about new teacher roles, responsibilities, and organizational structures to help make your teacher-powered school successful.
Creating Culture - The culture can make or break a school. Develop an essential foundation for staff and student responsibilities, independence, and ownership. Create a place where staff and students alike want to be every day.
Building Project Learners - Discover ways to move students from passive and compliant to active and independent learners. Learn about critical skills needed for project-based teaching and learning, as well as how to manage it all.
Development and Sustainability - Each school faces unique issues. Lead the Path will identify your school’s unique needs and work with you to chart a plan for the long-term viability of your school.
What's your question?
"Paul and Liz were instrumental in the development and start-up of our charter school. Their expertise in creating a school where students have a voice and value their own education is second to none."
-Joel Dziedzic - Principal & Director of Next Generation Learning: Wayne Elementary School
"In my 15 year entire teaching career I have never come across a school that has such a positive culture of respect and student ownership. This book is a reminder of the real reasons we all became teachers.”
-Jeremy "Pete" Peterson - Lead Teacher: Northern Lakes Regional Academy
"I thought they were great! I loved the flexibility of the entire workshop, the honesty and candid nature of everyone and their genuine desire to help in whatever way they could.”
- Workshop attendee
"This training was real, not only in PBL training but also in culture building. Best training I have been to.”
- Workshop attendee
"Working with Paul and Liz makes me rethink what I do in the classroom in our traditional school setting. "
- Workshop attendee
"This was an extremely worthwhile institute to attend. I learned a lot and was able to walk away with some great plans for future school years.”
- Workshop attendee
PAUL TWEED
Paul Tweed is a visionary in student and teacher areas of inquiry based science, active learning, project-based learning, and community-based science research with over 30 years experience. He founded Wildlands School in 2005 with two colleagues and was active in the science teaching community for 20 years before Wildlands. He has presented at conferences all over the country, taught at the secondary and university level, has been on textbook authoring teams, and consulted with school districts and state education departments in the areas of science, constructive and inquiry learning, project-based learning, and school culture change. Paul has been recognized for his efforts with awards such as Wisconsin Biology Teacher of the Year, The Wisconsin Presidential Award in Science, Genentech Access Excellence Fellowship, GTE GIFT Program Fellow, Kohl Teacher Fellowship, and Wisconsin Charter School Teacher of the Year, and more. He has worked closely with Project Foundry to develop more effective means for managing and assessing project-based learning. A founding and current board member of ISN he also coaches and consults with schools to help them develop student-led project-based learning communities, teacher led (teacher-powered) schools, and relationship based learning cultures.
LIZ SEUBERT
Liz Seubert is an experienced project-based learning advisor and member of a teacher-powered school staff and is an innovator in the field of student-centered learning. As one of three founding staff member of Wildlands School she has led many expeditionary learning trips with students, developed community-based learning and service connections, and been a project-based teacher since 2005. She has consulted with Project Foundry to develop better PBL management strategies and tools, presented at numerous conferences, and developed and taught summer institutes for teachers in the areas of PBL, student-centered learning, and school culture. Liz also coaches and consults with schools to help them develop student-led project-based learning communities, teacher led (teacher-powered) schools, and relationship based learning cultures.
