I'm Dr. Jade Ann Rivera; for nearly fifteen years, I've designed, launched, and led micro-schools in Oakland, CA, where I provided unique and engaging strength-based learning environments that children adored.
I am an abolitionist educator (Love, 2020), meaning I’m committed to redesigning the school experience as one of healing and liberation for all children, particularly those harmed or held back by the current educational structures and assumptions.
My work focuses on neurodivergent children, specifically twice-exceptional children: quirky beings with minds that make sense of the world differently from others their age or those who need an unusual amount of scaffolding to accomplish simple-looking tasks, yet inspire us with boundary-pushing insights and creations.
My training in Nonviolent Communication and my Montessori credential inspire my educational philosophies and practices, including strength-based pedagogy, project-based learning, dual-differentiation strategies, and gradeless classrooms.
Micro-schools are a viable strategy for meeting the unique constellation of neurodivergent children's needs. When developing solutions to equity problems inherent in our current educational models, micro-schools are a piece of the puzzle. Meaning we, in partnership, must design systems that care for the intellectual, physical, and spiritual well-being of all members of our community equally; freedom and liberation are my most firmly held values regarding education.
In addition to regular posts exploring questions about pedagogy, philosophy, and ethics, free subscribers will also get updates about community events and offerings.
If you’re interested in specific information about the design and launch of micro-schools or issues related to the well-being and education of neurodivergent children, consider signing up for my paid newsletter. It comes with access to an ongoing chat where subscribers can ask questions and receive tailored responses to individual concerns.
I’m thankful you found your way here.
With gratitude,
Jade
P.S. For every one hundred paid sign-ups I receive, I comp ten paid subscriptions for people who can't afford it, so if you're interested in being comped, please sign up here.
Reference
Love, B. (2020). We want to do more than survive: Abolitionist teaching and the pursuit of educational freedom (Illustrated). Beacon Press.
