What's in Store For Summit?
As you all know, we go to Summit Denali. But have you ever wondered about the whole Summit organisation? How did it start? Why do we use self directed learning? What’s in store for the future? To find out, I sat down with the CEO of Summit, Diane Tavenner, to ask her some questions about Summit as an organization.
The Grizzly: When did you first found Summit Public Schools? Why?
Diane Tavenner: We opened in the fall of 2003, though we started work in 2002. We founded the school because we felt that the public school opinion were not offering a diverse college preparatory education. The private schools weren’t offering a diverse community, they were expensive, there wasn’t a good option anywhere.
The Grizzly: What changes have been made over the past 12 years, how has Summit evolved?
Diane Tavenner:The biggest change is the adults running everything to the students running everything, and so that’s really the core of the change.
The Grizzly: Do you see these as positive or negative changes?
Diane Tavenner: Very positive. I think that the most important piece of getting ready in our world is to own and drive your own learning, and I think that if people are going to be successful they need to learn to do that.
The Grizzly: What do consider your most important accomplishment with Summit, and why?
Diane Tavenner: I think that we have our own graduates that have gone on to college and now we want to hire them. I mean that's a huge accomplishment.
The Grizzly: What are you working on for Summit over the summer?
Diane Tavenner: Training teachers and school leaders in the Summit approach. We will be training in 13 different cities across the U.S with about 3,000 people.
The Grizzly: Can you describe Summit Basecamp?
Diane Tavenner: We call it the Summit Personalized Learning Plan now. We offer to any school in the country who wants it, for free. We offer the curriculum, as well as training and mentor support of staff and teachers.
The Grizzly: Do you think the education community is taking notice of your work?
Diane Tavenner: Yes, I do. We work with a lot of the education scientists and teachers. We have thousands of schools across the country who are working with us.
The Grizzly: What are your opinions on the current state of education? Do you admire a current organization’s or country’s progress?
Diane Tavenner: I don’t actually see a lot of evidence of people designing schools for the needs of the future. I think the most inspiring thing is Minerva. Minerva is a startup university that leverages technology that spectacular and a approach to student life that is noble and self directed and really focused on preparing people for the future.
The Grizzly: What changes are you currently working on for Summit? What changes can we expect to see next year?
Diane Tavenner: You're gonna see some changes in goal setting planning in the platform that are super cool.
The Grizzly: As we live in Silicon Valley, home of innovation, what advances do you see in the future for education, if anything?
Diane Tavenner: I think you're seeing the advances that are being made at Summit. I think the big thing is a focus on career and as a whole person, but really technology will be used to enhance the human experience, not replace it.
