The remarkable true story of the high school junior who started his
own school--and earned acclaim nationwide--"will make you laugh, cry and
cheer" (John Merrow, author of The Influence of Teachers).
Samuel Levin, a teenager who had already achieved international fame for
creating Project Sprout--the first farm-to-school lunch program in the
United States--was frustrated with his own education, and saw
disaffection among his peers. In response, he lobbied for and created a
new school based on a few simple ideas about what kids need from their
high school experience.
The school succeeded beyond anyone's wildest expectations and went on to
be featured on NPR and in Newsweek and the Washington Post. Since
its beginnings in 2010, the Independent Project serves as a national
model for inspiring student engagement.
In creating his school, Samuel collaborated with Susan Engel, the noted
developmental psychologist, educator, and author--and Samuel's mother.
A School of Our Own is their account of their life-changing year in
education, a book that combines poignant stories, educational theory,
and practical how-to advice for building new, more engaging educational
environments for our children.