After the final bell rings, students at the STEAD School fill the halls. In no rush to leave, they linger as a roar of excitement reverberates through the barn-like structure. “For me, it’s almost a home away from home. I spend so much time here, not just learning but being here,” says Kennedy, a freshman. “No one really dreads coming to school here. It’s a safe space.” Amy Schwartz (EdD ‘21) co-founded STEAD, a STEM-like school with a twist. Through project-based learning, STEAD which stands for science, technology, environment, agriculture and systems design is reimagining the future of agriculture and preparing students to solve global food, health energy and environmental issues. Its unique student-led approach to learning cultivates a strong sense of community. “One of the things I learned through my career, and certainly during my time in the Educational Leadership and Policy Studies program at DU, great leaders put great teams together,” Amy Schwartz says.
Kindergarten is the perfect time to start the kids off with reading. Here's an expert-curated list the best kindergarten-level books for young readers.