29 STUDENT-LED LEARNING At NSU University School, students in grades 3–5 are the ones who present and lead parent-teacher conferences. Children create PowerPoints or videos and walk parents through, “This is what I learned. This is how I’ve grown through the year.” We also have a unique culture that allows students to do a lot of things. A few years ago, a child won a swimming and diving district championship on Saturday morning and, that night, acted as the lead in our play. Our coaches and teachers showed flexibility with schedules so this could happen. EMPOWERED EDUCATORS Our staff has a tremendous amount of flexibility and true care for our students, what they are going through in their lives, and who they are. With the teacher shortage in the United States, empowering and taking care of our teachers is part of ensuring that USchool has the best teachers to educate our students. So, we educate young administrators to train teachers and staff members. And we adapt young educators to our independent school features that intertwine technology with experiential learning approaches and a broad liberal arts program. Top left: Building a bottle rocket is a first grade engineering challenge. Students pair up to produce prototypes and then test them outdoors. Top right: Middle school students use 3D printers to create and construct prosthetic hands that are then donated to a place that can code them. Above: Preschool students gather for a lesson in their outdoor lab and gardens, recently recognized as a Certified Schoolyard habitat by the National Wildlife Foundation.
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