Spotlight at Sewall Gear: Avalon Charter School
Avalon School is celebrating the start of the new school year with an expansion and excitement. Avalon is located in the South St. Anthony Park neighborhood of St. Paul. They are an award-winning charter school with over 20 years of history, and we chatted with their Executive Director Carrie Bakken to learn more about their education model, history, and goals for the coming school year.
Avalon’s mission “seeks to establish a just world by nurturing an equitable school community for students that inspires active learning, social justice, engaged citizenship, and hope for the future.” To accomplish this mission, Avalon upholds five key values: identity, sustainability, engagement, equity, and nurturing community. The school is proud to serve as a national leader is student-centered learning. Carrie added that Avalon’s mission and vision “guide our work in centering our students in our project-based learning model. Students live the mission at Avalon by engaging in community-based internships, exploring their interests and identities in self-directed projects, doing service projects, and building relationships with each other in advisories and student clubs.”
Avalon’s project-based learning approach creates a rich learning environment that supports students in their endeavors to contribute positively to the community and future. Avalon serves 300 students in grades 6-12, and all students engage in hands-on activities in class. Carrie said, “Avalon school operates as a teacher collaborative where educators are the decision makers. Our model contributes to outstanding teacher retention. We enter the school year fully staffed. Over the past two decades, we have maintained a 90% teacher retention rate. This helps us build long term relationships with students and families.” Carrie stated that multiple employees and volunteers at Avalon are alumni themselves.
We asked Carrie how Avalon has changed throughout their 20+ years, and she said they “have grown and the technology is better! But there are many aspects of our program that our first students would recognize 25 years later. Students still experience the school day supported by a strong advisory model, self-directed independent projects, and community-based experiences.” One change at Avalon is their expansion at the Sewall Gear building. Carrie commented on the new space, saying “We are thrilled with the new space. It is a beautiful light filled space. It will also give us an opportunity to increase unique programing and community partnerships like music, the arts, and additional co-located mental health services.”
Avalon hosts tours and open houses for families looking to enroll their children. For a full calendar of these events, visit their website here.
We are thrilled by Avalon’s success throughout the years and are proud to provide them with a space that meets their needs. Of their location at Sewall Gear, Carrie said, “We absolutely love the proximity to both downtowns, the parks, the river, and the transportation. We often take students on field trips and do not need to rent buses because the proximity to museums, theater, and the resources of Minneapolis and St Paul are outstanding.”
We wish Avalon staff and students continued success with the new school year!
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