103: Purpose-Driven Learning with Ross Wehner Rebel Educator®

Ross Wehner is a writer, teacher, and social entrepreneur who is the Founder of World Leadership School, which “partners with K12 schools to reimagine learning and create next-generation leaders.” Ross also co-founded the nonprofit TeachUNITED, which works to transform learning at rural schools around the world. Ross is guided by the question: How can K12 school become the ultimate platform for launching students into lives of purpose? 

Ross began his career by working as a journalist in Chile and Peru in the 1990s. He received a Master’s in Latin American literature and has worked as both a classroom teacher and a wilderness educator at the National Outdoor Leadership School. He has worked alongside executive coach Richard Leider, author of Power of Purpose, on leadership development programs for Fortune 50 executives around the world. He lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife and two children.

Join us for this uplifting conversation about the evolution of education, increasing student agency, and moving towards purpose-driven education.

IN THIS EPISODE, WE DISCUSS:
Ross’ experiences as a journalist, classroom teacher, and wilderness educator and how they led him to founding the World Leadership School.Purpose-driven education and it’s place in reimagining education.The major shifts that have occurred in education and what the next step is.The pros and cons of technology and artificial intelligence in modern society, particularly on our youth.World Leadership School and how it’s working with schools to create more purposeful learning opportunities.
RESOURCES AND LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Connect with Ross on LinkedIn or send him an email at ross@worldleadershipschool.com Visit www.worldleadershipschool.com and www.teachunited.org to learn more about Ross and his workGet your copy of Rebel Educator: Create Classrooms Where Impact and Imagination MeetLearn more about Rebel Educator, explore our professional development opportunities for educators and students, and check out our project library.Visit us at UP Academy to learn more about our personalized and inclusive learning environment.Connect with Tanya and UP Academy on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram and learn more about her journey here.
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MORE ABOUT THE REBEL EDUCATOR PODCAST:
In each episode of the Rebel Educator podcast, I deconstruct world-class educators, students, and thought leaders in education to extract the tactics, tools, and routines that you can use as teachers and parents. Join me as we discuss how to shift the classroom, the learning environment, the mindset, and the pedagogy, to resist tradition, reignite wonder, and re-imagine the future of education.
This podcast is dedicated to all of the educators who work thankless hours to make our next generation the best it can be.  It was designed to begin conversations on how we can redesign education for the future of work and the success of our students.  It is meant for teachers, students, administrators, homeschoolers and anyone who interacts with and teaches youth. 

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IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins Univer