For many people, understanding health begins with a personal challenge. For Ashton Tate, founder of The FORM Curriculum (TFC), that challenge began during his middle and high school years, when he struggled with his own health. At that stage of his life, Tate weighed nearly 300 pounds, and building healthy habits felt complicated, overwhelming, and difficult to sustain. The process of transforming his own health eventually led Tate to lose approximately 120 pounds. While the achievement changed his life, it also created an opportunity to help others. As people began approaching him for guidance, he discovered a passion for helping individuals better understand fitness, nutrition, and healthy living.
Pre-Schools
For over four decades, Adventure Days Preschool has nurtured children through meaningful play, strong family partnerships and a close-knit community that prepares them for kindergarten and beyond. It believes kindergarten readiness begins with confidence, curiosity and resilience. Rather than relying on desk-based instruction and worksheets, the school creates meaningful experiences where children ask questions, solve problems and discover their own abilities. More than a preschool, it functions as an extension of the family. Teachers partner closely with families to develop consistent strategies that help children navigate transitions, build emotional regulation and feel secure across home and school. This approach helps children feel secure across both environments. “We believe that children thrive when families and educators work together,” says Jill Giles, director. As a Christian preschool, faith is woven into the foundation and guides how teachers nurture children every day. Through Bible stories and worship, children are encouraged to practice kindness, compassion, gratitude, forgiveness, respect and love for others.
Special Education Schools
Every child who walks into a classroom comes with innate gifts that the metrics of a typical report card can't capture. Across the classroom, some are natural leaders, while others are inquisitive, innovative, or encouraging by nature. At Main Preparatory Academy , education begins by recognizing those differences and identifying and nurturing each student's distinct strengths. By developing the whole child through meaningful relationships, purposeful learning experiences, and a supportive community, the academy helps students build the confidence, resilience, leadership, and compassion needed to thrive long after they leave the classroom. Recognized as the Top K8 Public Charter School, Main Preparatory Academy was founded with a vision of developing scholars who learn today, lead tomorrow, and serve in the future. As a tuition-free public charter school serving students across Akron, Ohio, the academy has built its culture around ensuring that every child is known as an individual, not simply another student in a classroom. By focusing on academic excellence along with leadership, character, and community, the school develops young people with the foundations for becoming confident leaders, effective team members, and caring members of their communities. “We believe learning goes beyond academics,” says Allison Glass, director. “We want our students to become better versions of themselves by the time they leave us.”
Public Schools
Every child learns differently, and effective education begins by recognizing those differences. As it enters its 45th anniversary year, The Harbour School continues to put the needs of each child first, through a student-centered, competency-based teaching approach. “No matter what we're doing, the children's needs are what we pay attention to,” says Linda J. Jacobs, executive director. Since opening its doors with just four students in a rented room, the Maryland-based special education school has grown into a thriving community that now helps 360 students with a staff of 171 across three buildings.
Cosmetology School
Skilled professionals are the key to educational excellence in cosmetology. Their expertise equips students to master core techniques, stay current with trends and step into the field with skill and confidence. Innovate Salon Academy embodies this principle through its team of educators, who bring deep proficiency and strong commitment to helping students hone their craft with confidence, precision and a sense of purpose. Founded by seasoned professionals with four decades of experience as stylists, Innovate Salon Academy was born out of the need for trend-aligned education in cosmetology. The academy delivers technically rigorous, industry-aligned education that meets the profession’s evolving demands. It offers courses in cosmetology, esthetics, barbering, manicuring and educator training. “We adapt our training to what’s fresh,” says Sean Sickles, owner. “Updated techniques and real-time industry shifts shape the curriculum and the professionals we prepare.” Innovate Salon Academy’s team comprises licensed cosmetologists whose active industry engagement keeps them updated on the latest techniques and product lines. Their expertise is continually sharpened through quarterly in-service days during which they attend training events from leading brands like Dermalogica and Redken and beauty influencers like Johnny Stellato. Educators also participate in workshops at the Redken Exchange and International Dermal Institute in New York. The acquired knowledge is shared with the team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth. Its curriculum integrates trends sourced from social media and real-world practice. Trending styles and preferences, such as foxtail tips and new hair colors from Pulp Riot Hair, bring relevance and client preferences into the learning process. An open feedback loop fuels organic learning, ensuring the training remains current and aligned with the industry.
Professional Development Services
Insights From A Career Rooted In Education And Equity
Nicole DiRanna, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, San Marcos Unified School District
Public Schools
Understanding Student Learning Levels by Analyzing Data
Ann Mariano, Director of Technology, Framingham Public Schools
Art and Design Colleges
Building a Culture of Caring in Higher Education
Emily Jarvis, Assistant VP Student Health and Wellbeing, Georgia College & State University
Career Colleges
A Tasty Trip through Time: The History of School Lunch
Kaci Kelly, Director of Child Nutrition, Ocean Springs School District
Special Education Schools
The Sound Of Learning: How Listening and Frequency Support Emotional Regulation
Joy Davis, Director of Special Education, Twin Rivers Unified School District
School Services
Rethinking Data Protection in K-12
Joseph A Catania, Director of Data Management & Technology, Washingtonville Central School District
School Services
Leading With Purpose in Athletics and Student Engagement
Zachary Wekilsky, Director of Athletics and Student Engagement, BASIS Independent Schools
IN MY OPINION
Professional Development Services
Leading Through Relationships: The Foundation of Meaningful Learning and Lasting Change
Bridget (Hall) Dooley, Principal Northport Elementary School, Robbinsdale Area Schools
LAST WORD
Professional Development Services
Rebuilding Culture through Purpose and Grace
Jillian Pratt, Director of Digital Learning & Library Services, Comal Independent School District
IN FOCUS
Innovating Health Education: Digital Tools and Inclusive Practices
Health education is evolving towards practical, tailored learning that addresses various challenges, leveraging digital tools and ensuring accessibility for all students.
Play-Based Preschools: Pioneering a New Approach to Early Learning
Play-based preschools leverage personalized learning, technology, sustainability, and inclusive practices to enhance early childhood development outcomes globally.
EDITORIAL
Educating for Lifelong Success
Our cover story spotlights The Form Curriculum (TFC), recognized as the Top Quality Health Education Solution 2026. Using The FORM Curriculum, it is assisting in ensuring schools enhance their health education using readily available and effective materials that make wellness easy for teachers and students.
This edition also features Adventure Days Preschool, awarded Top Play Based Early Childhood Preschool 2026, for fostering confidence, curiosity and emotional growth through play-based learning, strong family partnerships and social-emotional development. Alongside, Main Preparatory Academy, honored as the Top K8 Public Charter School 2026, demonstrates how whole-child education, project-based learning and leadership development prepare students to become capable learners and responsible citizens. Rounding out this distinguished group, The Harbour School, named Top Special Education School 2026, continues to show the value of student-centered, strengths-based education that helps every child achieve meaningful academic, personal and lifelong success.
Our leadership perspectives further reinforce this issue’s focus. Emily Jarvis, Assistant Vice President for Student Health and Wellbeing at Georgia College & State University, explains how a culture of caring, empathy and belonging can strengthen student well-being and academic success. Joy Davis, Director of Special Education at Twin Rivers Unified School District, examines the role of purposeful listening and sound-rich environments in supporting emotional regulation, language development and learning, particularly for students with diverse needs.
Together, these stories demonstrate that meaningful education is built on strong relationships, thoughtful teaching and an obligation to every learner’s potential. We invite you to explore this edition and discover the ideas and practices shaping increasingly inclusive, healthier and future-ready learning communities.
