5 Questions with Microschool Founder J. Juelis

Meet J. Juelis, founder of Do.Think.Learn.  

We emphasize Regenerative Education. This means a school that reignites and reinvigorates learning for students.

We offer middle and high school students (and families) something different which blends the best of independent schools and homeschools. We focus on nontraditional learners,  regenerative education, and students who want more from school.

Do.Think.Learn. (DTL) provides a flexible learning community to allow each student time and space to explore and develop their ideas and skills. This reinvigorates learning for students. We also focus on depth instead of breadth of learning and skills development over subject mastery. 

We help them ask, analyze, and answer any question. This way each student is prepared for whatever future they create for themself. 

DTL helps students learn in a way that works for them. Students don’t learn the same way, so we don't teach them the same way. 

We adapt and shape how we teach and what we teach to each student. It’s not quite our mission statement but our goal is: To change education one student at a time, because school doesn’t have to suck.  DTL provides a school experience with more success and less BS.

What is one unique (or uncommon) feature of your microschool experience your learners and families tell you they especially value?

For students and their grown ups, the feature that keeps coming up is - DTL works for them. The school adjusts to the needs of each student. 

Usually it’s the other way around - the student has to adjust to the wants of their school.  Not us - we craft learning to meet the student where they are and what they need. They also like having ownership over how they learn.  

For students, learning at DTL is more meaningful. They aren’t just going through the motions. Parents enjoy having students who like going to school and they’re psyched because their students have empowering and successful experiences in a supportive environment. Parenting teenagers has some challenges, but a supportive school eases some of those challenges for parents.

What is one favorite aspect of your work that would have been especially difficult to deliver in traditional school settings?

In this setting I can follow a “less is more” philosophy. This DTL delivers more on skill development and a deeper level of understanding instead of worrying about covering an insane amount of subject specific information. 

Skills translate outside of school, subject specific information not so much. At DTL I can work with students to build a strong foundation of skills that they can take with them wherever they go. Our “less is more” approach wouldn’t fly at most schools.  However this allows us to go deeper into specific aspects of each subject and build the skills each student needs as we go. 

Since I have control over what I teach, how I teach, and how long each project will take. I ask and listen to my students as they navigate the process of learning and make adjustments each, each week, and each term. Since no two students learn the same way or have the same goals each student has different skill development needs. . So, I approach each student differently and make alterations to requirements or my teaching style to help everyone exceed their goals.

Share a story about what success looks like in your microschool.

At DTL students don’t have to choose between their lives outside of and inside of school. Now that student  is a touring musician. Since he joined us, he has toured, recorded two albums, done music for tv, maintained good grades, and published an article in an academic journal. On Friday, he graduates feeling good about what he’s accomplished in school without having to turn his back on his life outside of school.  Seems like success to me.

Success looks different for each student. I had a middle schooler a few years ago, who had her sense of self and willingness to learn crushed by her former school. Rebuilding her confidence and reigniting her spark was huge.  

Success is also happening as we speak. We are getting ready for our first high school graduation.  That student came to us after his last school told him he had to choose between his school work and her growing music career. 

What is one piece of advice you give new microschool founders?

When I was first trying to get this going someone told me, “Remember, it’s ok to bet on yourself.”  I find myself coming back to that advice every few months.

Please describe one facet of your microschool’s experience that you’d like people to think of when your microschool comes up in conversation.

When you ask that question I hear Frank Sinatra singing “My Way.”  I’d like people to talk about how DTL supports students as they figure out how they learn best and helps them realize how much they are capable of in school and beyond. Some students want or need something different and that's ok. Do.Think.Learn exists to support these students. Cookie cutter schools don’t have a monopoly on high quality education.  School has to work for each student.  So at DTL we do things our way.