New school academy combines online and outdoor education

A new academy that combines online and outdoor learning in a one-room schoolhouse concept starts Jan. 11.

Montana Hybrid Academy is open to ages 10 to 14 (grades 5-8). At the helm of Montana Hybrid Academy is director Paz Chentnik of Whitefish. The academy has partnered with Jenn Sutherland, CEO of Beyond School, to develop a curriculum and connect the academy with instructors from around the world.

The impetus for starting the academy was the after-effects of unprecedented school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chentnik said she has seen the growing pains many traditional brick-and-mortar schools have been going through in negotiating remote learning for the first time and parents on the other end struggling to keep up. School closures and remote learning meant many parents had to step into the role of co-teacher and students either adapted or fell behind.

“With COVID, I think a lot of things were brought to the surface on how the education system wasn’t working,” Chentnik said.

WITH AN extensive background in online and world schooling while she lived abroad with her family for six years, she sought to help other families by establishing a program drawn from the success she found.

“You don’t teach the same way you would in person as you do online. There has to be engagement. There has to be collaborative work time. You still need to be able to create those real connections but using technology to do that. That’s what we saw happening so poorly in various districts. As they progressed things kept getting cut,” she said.

“This is something the world schooling community has been doing successfully and remote teachers are doing,” she added.

With a degree in international studies and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages certification, she held a position developing cross-cultural training for corporate employees and their families who were relocated abroad for their work.

“I’ve been living in the virtual world and teaching virtually for about 10 years,” Chentnik said.

HANDS-ON learning and off-screen time will play a key role at Montana Hybrid Academy. Students will be supplied with materials and kits to do hands-on activities as part of the curriculum.

“There are certain methods to make the time in front of a computer more productive and activities to get them off the screen,” she said.

Living in the Flathead Valley provides many opportunities to learn outside, which is why academy students may opt to participate in “Bushcraft Wednesdays.” On these days students will be outside learning “homesteading” and wilderness skills such as foraging, building shelters and fires, tracking and leather crafting.

“It’s so important for kids to connect to nature, especially as we move to a technology-based society, so we want students to continue to unplug and be confident in nature,” Chentnik said.

Sutherland said one reason she is excited to partner with the Montana Hybrid Academy is the inclusion of an outdoor and community engagement component.

“In a lot of ways this could be the future of education,” Sutherland said about a hybrid model. “I think it can be challenging, but we’re working with setting up a model that could be replicated,” Sutherland said.

In addition to academics, there also will be an emphasis on teaching practical skills and instilling a love of lifelong learning. Both said this is crucial to prepare students to navigate a future where it isn’t clear cut what jobs will exist.

“We want people who are able to adjust to the changing economy and changing skill set for whatever 2030 looks like,” Chentnik said. “We obviously want to master the fundamentals, but it’s important to be comfortable continuing to learn beyond anything they would do with us because that’s what they’ll need to do in all honesty.”

Class size is limited to 15 students and there are nine spots remaining. Classes will be taught using Google Classrooms by teachers who hail from Montana and around the world. While not all teachers will have formal degrees in education, everyone will be subject experts with teaching experience such as a software engineer teaching technology and a recording artist teaching music.

Since the academy will implement the one-room schoolhouse concept, students will be learning from each other and at their own pace. Classes will cover math, chemistry, technology, language arts, geography, history, Spanish, music, art, outdoor education, health and nutrition and yoga.

Chentnik said one of her children will be attending the academy, while her other child has decided to enroll in Whitefish School District.

Aside from traditional grading and testing, many subjects will be portfolio-based, where students will be able to see their progress tangibly.

“Really what we’re looking for is forward advancement. We’re looking for each student to advance from where they were previously,” and understanding skills before they progress, Chentnik said. “The one-room model allows us to do that in a more holistic way. No one’s getting left behind, or bottlenecked, staggered or bored.”

One area where students might cheer is the goal of no homework, but there is intent and purpose behind it. The goal is that children have time outside of school set aside to be with family and friends or engaged in clubs, sports, volunteering or other activities so they aren’t over-scheduled.

“Do chores, help around the house, call grandma, go to activities if you’re in 4-H or a rock climbing club,” Chentnik said.

Families who enroll will still need to register as home-school students in their respective states. In Flathead County, this would be done with the Flathead County Superintendent of Schools.

For more information on the academy visit www.montanahybridacademy.com and Beyond School at https://beyondschool.co/.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@dailyinterlake.com.