With almost 20 years of experience in education, Nana Campana knew she wanted to see a change. She wanted a place for children to come where they learned–but not by rote memorization and reading books. Nana wanted a space where they could thrive through support and guidance, experiential learning and enrichment, therapy and…yes…the academics.
As this podcast episode goes live, Nana is opening the doors to Untethered Minds, a mission-driven micro-school in Miami, Florida. There she plans to educate the full child through therapy, play and individualized support.
I’m honored to have played a part in this school opening and thrilled to watch children in the Miami area have a new place to call their school home. Listen in to hear about where the idea for her school came from and how she put all the pieces together through my Build Your Micro-School program. Maybe you’ll find the motivation and drive to start your own!
About Nana Campana
Nana Campana is an accomplished creative and certified educational therapist and therapeutic art facilitator with a proven track record of empowering struggling learners to become competent and independent without limitations. She is currently committed to accomplishing her mission of reforming education one student at a time through cognitive programs offered at The Paper Tree House.
Since the brain is a muscle and everyone is able to learn to thrive and master the skills needed to leave their mark on this world, it is Nana’s utmost desire to break the belief that learning disabilities are permanent and that children (and adults) have to forever struggle with their limitations. Visit her website or follow her on Facebook and Instagram. You can also connect with Nana on LinkedIn.
Jump Through the Conversation
[1:35] Description of Untethered Minds micro-school
[5:24] Summer intensives as a smaller stepping stone
[6:30] Not every brain learns the same
[8:43] Mindset is the biggest challenge to starting a micro-school
[12:15] Puppies and painting prep
[14:09] Creating a tribe
[20:53] Nana’s Magic Wand: Inject creative curiosity back into education
Links and Resources:
- Salsa Kings
- Nature Postings
- School of Rock Miami
- UNICEF Foundation – Learning Through Play
- Edutopia article – How to Use Play in Learning
- Makerspace Resource: Renovated Learning
- Episode 2: Inviting Imagination and Our Agilities into Teen Goal Setting
- Sir Ken Robinson TED Talk: Do Schools Kill Creativity?
- Email Maureen
- Facebook: Follow Education Evolution
- Twitter: Follow Education Evolution
- LinkedIn: Follow Education Evolution
- Maureen’s book: Creating Micro-Schools for Colorful Mismatched Kids
- Micro-school feature on Good Morning America
- The Micro-School Coalition
- Facebook: The Micro-School Coalition
- LEADPrep
Thanks for listening! Don’t forget to subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Android. If you like what you heard, please leave a review on iTunes and share what you liked about the show.
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