In this episode of Swimming Upstream, host Tom Luna sits down with MacKenzie Price, an innovative educator and co-founder of 2hr Learning and Alpha School, who is redefining how we approach K-12 education. MacKenzie shares her journey, from growing up in a small-town school to attending Stanford and ultimately pioneering a model that challenges the traditional education system.

MacKenzie’s 2hr Learning methodology focuses on efficiency and mastery, using AI-powered adaptive learning tools to condense academic instruction into just two hours a day. This approach frees up time for students to explore their passions, develop life skills, and excel in unique projects. Her schools, including Alpha School, have achieved remarkable results, with students learning up to six times faster and consistently performing in the top 2% nationwide.

Tom and MacKenzie discuss the challenges and opportunities of scaling this innovative model, including its potential impact on public education through charter and virtual schools.

Tune in to hear how MacKenzie’s passion and transformative ideas are reshaping education—and why she believes every child can thrive with the right approach.

Key Moments

00:00 "Tom Luna's Educational Podcast"

03:06 Lack of Passion-Driven Education

06:13 School System's Motivation Problem

11:17 Accelerated Learning Through Sports

13:14 Paid Learning for Ukrainian Refugees

18:04 Teaching Grit Through Triathlon

19:42 Cultivating Life Skills and Masterpieces

23:36 Philosophical Alignment in EdTech Education

26:45 "Advocating for Diverse Education Choices"

29:15 Children: 100% of Our Future

Connect with Mackenzie Price

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenzielprice/

Website: https://2hourlearning.com/