Woodbury Reports, Inc.
Bonners Ferry, ID

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Revolutionizing Education
What A School Can Be

January 13, 2014

On today's LA TALK radio show- Parent Choices for Struggling Teens, Lon Woodbury's guest was Michelle Rose Gilman, the founder of Fusion Academy and Learning Centers, located throughout the United States, which offers students one to one individualized learning with a personalized curriculum. Posed with the question of what a school can be and what's become obsolete in public schooling? Michelle was quick to answer "the number one thing kids are missing out of is the ability to be well rounded individuals and to have their creativity piqued to become entrepreneurs. We focus beyond academics and try to create a better human being who is socially and emotionally ready to enter the world. How can you be a successful adult when all your given is an academic education? Our schools follow the components of a therapeutic model and we build on the emotional side of the child with personal attention and love given to every student."

Describing the school, Michelle pointed out that the academy looks like a home, not a school-purposefully. Each teacher decorates their office to reflect their own homes, with pictures and knick knacks. No primary colors, but rich jewel tones, so the students feel safe and cozy. They have two "café's" for the kids: one is a social café and the other is a homework café. One is used for studying and tutoring, while the other is for socializing.

"Kids with learning differences, kids with diagnosis or kids that just don't fit into a traditional model of education do well in this environment. With the personalized curriculum, we take a look at everything about the child- what kind of teacher do they need? What do they enjoy? And we tackle the issues one thing at a time. We hear their story and see what they need. We create the shape of where the student fits (rather than a square peg into a round hole) such as public education is. We offer rolling enrollment and we are a year round school. "We do not have a traditional start and stop time, every student is on their own schedule." With one to one education, our students receive "Mastery learning", whereas a student works at their own pace, until that child shows a mastery in that subject. We will teach and re-teach until mastery is achieved."

"The number one cause of stress at home with families is homework! We don't send homework home.

The students complete their work in the student café. We give them back their childhood…after school they can go out and be a kid, which is a very important aspect of their life."

With the hope that the future will bring 100 Fusion Academies throughout the USA, she would also like to see more models like Fusion and to someday be able to offer scholarships to those in need for a Fusion education.


To listen to the full interview, go to Revolutionizing Education: What a School CAN Be on LATalkRadio.
Also available in Podcast

Lon Woodbury is the owner/founder of Woodbury Reports, Inc. and www.strugglingteens.com. He has worked with families and struggling teens since 1984 and is the host of Parent Choices for Struggling Teens.

Michelle Rose Gilman is the founder of Fusion Academy and Learning Centers- alternative private, one to one middle and high schools that were founded in 1989, now with 17 campuses located throughout the United States. Prior to Fusion Academy, Michelle worked with emotionally disturbed and learning disabled students. Michelle is also the author of ten books geared towards students and their parents.

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We are excited to announce that we have several openings for on-air sponsorship during our show on LA TALK Radio: Parent Choices for Struggling Teens. If you are interested in reserving some air time to promote your school, program or services, contact Kristie Campbell at kristie@woodbury.com or 208-267-5550

If you know somebody (including yourself) who would make a good guest on our show and might be interested,

Contact Lon at lonwoodbury@gmail.com or 208-267-5550

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Upcoming shows:

Jan. 20: Sam Dahlin and Derek Bowles- Owners and Clinical Director and Program Director of Crossroads Academy- Healing Through Natural Highs

Jan. 27:
David LePere, Ex. Dir., Cherokee Creek Boys School- Boys in School

February 3:
Dr. Ron Taffel, Author of "Childhood Unbound"

February 10:
Nicole Shelton, Med, MS- Advocate Consultant

February 17:
Dr. Laura Kastner, PhD- author- "Getting to Calm: Cool Headed Strategies for Parenting Tweens and Teens

Attention:

The following books are available on Amazon.com:

Part 1 - The Introduction to the Parent Empowerment Handbook

Part 2 - Single Sex Schools

Part 3 - Wilderness Therapy and Outdoor Education