In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we welcome back Jason Blair, arts educator and founder of the Agents of Change, to explore what happens when schools are designed around student agency instead of compliance. Jason shares how the festival brings students from across Central Ohio together to showcase learning rooted in voice, ownership, purpose, and authentic connection with their communities.

We discuss why meaningful learning cannot simply be scaled through a one-size-fits-all model, and why educators should instead create conditions where ideas can spread and adapt to individual learners. Jason also shares how giving students authentic audiences builds confidence, resilience, and a stronger sense of mattering.

Join us to explore how listening to students, embracing experimentation, and letting go of control can create classrooms where learners truly come alive.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• Designing learning environments around student agency rather than compliance
• Creating authentic audiences for student learning
• Helping educators move past fear and give students greater ownership
• Why successful educational ideas should spread and adapt rather than simply scale
• Viewing school as a place where students are continually becoming
• Building community support by making powerful student learning visible

Resources:

• Agents of Change

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Chaz Van De Motter, Vice President of Operations at New Reach, to explore how community-based learning can help young people move more quickly from education to meaningful income. Chaz explains how New Reach combines education, live events, technology, mentorship, and peer support to create practical pathways into entrepreneurship, real estate, skilled trades, and other careers.

We also discuss the skills students need to become workforce ready, including financial literacy, focused problem-solving, relationship-building, and the responsible use of AI. Chaz shares why access to information alone is not enough and how accountability, personalized guidance, and strong networks can help learners turn knowledge into action. Join us to explore how educators can prepare students to navigate new technologies, build career confidence, and take greater ownership of their futures.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• Creating alternative pathways from learning to earning
• Building community, mentorship, and accountability into education
• Teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship at an earlier age
• Helping aspiring entrepreneurs define their audience, value, and financing needs
• Preparing students to use AI responsibly in the workforce
• Replacing passive content consumption with practical, outcome-driven learning

Resources:

• New Reach’s Website
• New Reach’s LinkedIn
• New Reach’s Instagram
• New Reach’s TikTok

Produced by NOVA

In this episode of Learning Unboxed, we’re joined by Garrett Smiley, founder and CEO of Sora Schools, to explore how education can move beyond delivering content and give students meaningful reasons to learn. Garrett shares how Sora combines online learning with strong relationships, interdisciplinary projects, and opportunities for students to connect academic concepts to real-world interests and challenges.

We also discuss what traditional public schools can learn from Sora’s model, including offering families multiple learning pathways, replacing high-stakes testing with mastery-based assessment, and giving students greater control over their schedules and projects. Garrett explains how meaningful, useful work helps young people develop the independence and confidence they need for college, careers, and life. Join us to explore how student agency and project-based learning can make education more relevant.

To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org

We unbox:

• Why access to more educational content has not automatically improved student engagement
• How Sora Schools combines online learning with community and meaningful relationships
• Using interdisciplinary projects to connect academic standards with real-world challenges
• Replacing high-stakes testing with mastery- and competency-based assessment
• How public schools can offer flexible pathways without losing their community role
• Helping students build agency, independence, and college readiness

Resources:

• Sora Schools
• Connect with Garrett Smiley on Linkedin

Produced by NOVA