EP322 A school framework where learning feels different and students thrive

Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers

Angela Watson

Teachers, Courses, Education, Teaching

4.9 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 6 April 2025

⏱️ 33 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What if school was designed around student agency, real-world learning, and deep relationships—instead of compliance and test scores? In this episode, I take you inside Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School, a Big Picture Learning school in the South Bronx that is reimagining what education can be.

I spent two days observing classes, talking with students and teachers, and experiencing firsthand how this school operates within the constraints of the public school system while centering student voice and engagement. You'll hear about:

How Fannie Lou’s advisory system, looping, and block scheduling create a close-knit, supportive learning environment
Why students don’t take standardized tests and instead defend portfolios of work
How extended learning opportunities (ELOs) and internships connect students to real-world experiences
The role of AI and technology in supporting student-driven, competency-based learning
What it actually looks like to make relationships the foundation of a school

Fannie Lou’s approach isn’t a magic bullet or an exclusive model—it’s a public school choice within NYC’s Department of Education that any student can opt into. Listen in to hear what’s possible when we trust students, empower teachers, and rethink what high-quality learning truly looks like.

Get the shareable article/transcript for this episode here.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to Episode 32 of Angela Watson's Truth for Teachers.
0:06.2	I'm your host, Angela Watson, and I'm here to speak encouragement into the hearts of educators
0:11.1	and get you informed and energized for the week ahead.
0:14.0	Today, I'm sharing about a school design where learning feels different and students are truly thriving.
0:20.0	Visit truthforteachers.com for an easy
0:23.2	to read, easy to share version of this podcast. Part of my mission with this podcast. Part of my
0:35.1	mission with this podcast is to highlight what is actually working in schools,
0:39.6	to find educators doing great work and shine a light on them.
0:43.6	I want to offer a counterpoint to the negative narratives about public education
0:47.4	and showcase models that you can learn from and apply in your own school.
0:52.2	My friend Michelle Cummings from the Brisk Teaching AI tool told me I should check out the
0:57.6	big picture learning design because there's a lot of overlap between that organization's
1:02.7	mission and the work that I do.
1:04.7	When I looked into big picture learning, not only was I amazed and really excited about
1:10.2	what I saw, I also noticed they were offering a two-day
1:13.3	immersive school visit for educators at a school near me in New York City. So I reached out to
1:19.3	BPL's Director of National Partnerships. His name is Son Sam, S-O-N-N-Sam, and he set me up.
1:26.5	In this episode, I'm sharing what I saw during my two days
1:30.0	at Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School in the South Bronx. I observed classes, I talked with
1:36.7	students and teachers, and I experienced the BPL design firsthand alongside other educators.
1:43.5	I'll tell you a bit about this particular school,
1:46.0	provide an overview of big picture learning, and share key takeaways and resources that I think
	...

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