Join Mount Vernon Ventures for a professional learning experience inspired by our latest research on sustaining joy and creativity in schools. Designed for educators and school leaders, this design sprint explores how to reignite the spark of the first day of school and carry it throughout the year.
Participants will examine the gaps that often form between expectations and experiences in classrooms, discover strategies to bridge them with clarity and trust, and practice tools that nurture imagination, connection, and optimism. Walk away with practical approaches to bring joy back into the daily rhythm of teaching and learning—fueling stronger relationships, deeper engagement, and a renewed sense of purpose.
As a school of inquiry, innovation, and impact, Mount Vernon School continues to reimagine what school is and does. Closing the gap between real life and school life, we have been on a transformational journey for over a decade and can empathize with the opportunities and challenges that you are navigating.
On this expedition, participants will join members of the Mount Vernon team for a half-day of deeper learning and connect with expert practitioners on a guided Learning Walk. Experience how Mount Vernon looks at the whole child (PK-12) through the lens of real-world project work.
Topics will include Design Thinking, Inquiry Based Learning; Inter/Multi/Transdisciplinary Learning, Innovative & Flexible Spaces, Maker, Design & Engineering, and Competency Based Education with a focus on personalization.
Engage in an experiential workshop using Mount Vernon’s focus on regenerative school culture. Participants will use Mount Vernon’s design thinking methodology, Compass, to discover, define, design, and deploy prototypes of future goals and initiatives for their unique school communities.
Schedule for October 22 Experience MV:
8:30 -8:45 am: Sign-in and Welcome – Please arrive at 510 Mount Vernon Hwy NE, Atlanta, GA 30328 and park adjacent to the Upper School Building. (Please note Upper School carpool will be finishing. Allow for extra time.)
8:45 – 11:00 am: Guided Learning Walks with MVV team members
11:15 am – 12:15 pm: Lunch, Debrief, and Share Out
12:15 – 12:30 pm: Reset and Break
12:30 – 2:15 pm: Design Sprint – Bringing Back the Joy in Learning
2:30 pm: Depart Mount Vernon (Please note, carpool will be beginning. Allow for extra time.)
