Arlington Liber Academy
Arlington Liber Academy is a community-created school that provides weekly, supplemental classes with a liberal arts focus where students are mentored by their peers' parents and have stewardship over what they learn through mentored projects (mentors are second witnesses to what the parents are teaching). It is an agency-based educational environment where students are invited to own their education and choose to learn rather than feel forced or compelled to do so. It is founded on the philosophy and principles of Leadership Education or Freedom Education as outlined in the books, A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille and Leadership Education: The Phases of Learning by Oliver and Rachel DeMille.
A community of families seeking truth and knowledge.
Teaching their own with freedom and choice.
Striving to become and mentor leaders of virtue.
Arlington Liber Academy Board of Directors -
Chair/Principal Mentor - Kandice Johnson
Scholar School Director - Rebekah Kowis
Junior School Director - Amanda Lee
New Member Coordinator/Registrar - Rachel Potts
Parent Representative/Public Relations/Event Coordinator - Angie Nelson
Treasurer - Emma Yeager
Secretary - Bethany Cowin
What is Leadership Education?
Leadership Education presupposes:
Each individual has a unique & important mission and consists of discovering, preparing for and fulfilling this mission.
Each individual is a genius-Literally! The ultimate goal is the development of the inherent genius inside each student.
It is for everyone- not just for a few elite.
It is agency-based--not compulsory. It uses freedom and choice where mentors inspire, invite and draw forth the amazing potential and abilities of each student.*
Leadership Education uses the principles of the Seven Keys of Great Teaching:
Classics in all subject areas
Mentors who guide rather than dictate
Inspired learning rather than forced
Structured Time rather than content objectives
Quality in what and how students learn
Simplicity rather than complex, contrived systems of learning
Life-long learning for students and mentors
Leadership Education follows four phases of learning:
Core Phase
Love of Learning Phase
Scholar Phase
Depth Phase
Resources for further reading:
What is Liber?
Latin for tree bark; it was used to make papyrus (paper) onto which one would write contracts; those who could read, write, and engage in contract were known as the "liber" or the "free people"; root word of library, liberty, liberal arts.
To become Liber is to gain the education necessary in order to become and remain free. It is understanding the structure and anatomy of freedom in order to recognize, promote and defend freedom. It is a liberal arts education that comes from a broad and deep study of "the classics in history, law, government, and the arts. This kind of education consists of not only knowledge and information, but wisdom, understanding, character, competence and vision." (A Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion, Oliver DeMille, p. 149)
Our Vision & Mission
Vision
To build liber communities of families endeavoring to:
promote freedom,
continue in lifelong learning,
stand for truth,
fulfill personal missions and
impact the world for good.
Mission
Education for Freedom--To provide an educational environment that:
promotes freedom and choice,
fosters a love of learning,
offers opportunities for positive peer interactions and friendships,
recognizes learning happens in phases,
individualizes education,
invites students to take responsibility and ownership for their education,
develops virtuous Statesmen and Leaders who
understand the nature and anatomy of freedom and
acquire knowledge, skills, abilities and vision to fulfill their unique missions.
What is a New Commonwealth School?
A New Commonwealth School is a Community-Created school that provides weekly, supplemental classes with a liberal arts focus where students are mentored by their peers and parents and have stewardship over what they learn through mentored projects (mentors are second witnesses to what the parents are teaching). It is an agency-based educational environment where students are invited to own their education and choose to learn rather than feel forced or compelled to do so.
New Commonwealth Schools also create an environment in which families of like culture can study the classics and become great citizen-leaders by gaining a greater vision of their country and themselves. A commonwealth signifies "the common good or happiness; thus it is a form to secure the public good.[1]" While usually associated with governments of countries, "commonwealth" can be applied to many other aspects of society. It takes the "co-op" group to the next level: to a community that self-governs, that exists beyond the creators whose children are now raised and gone, and can stand the test of time.
There are currently over 30 well established New Commonwealth Schools in the United States with more than 30 in different phases of the journey to becoming a New Commonwealth School.
Junior School is for children aged two to twelve. The focus of Junior School is igniting passion for learning through play and exploration. Junior School classes are play and project based.
Scholar phase is the natural transition that occurs in students, ages approximately 12 to 14, who have had a strong Core and Love of Learning phase. During the scholar phase a student begins to think more abstractly and transitions from needing strong guidance into a self-directed learner. This is accomplished through reading of classics in all different academic areas, in-depth discussion and writing about what they have learned, and mentored projects.
Arlington Liber Academy has a strong fine arts program. Offerings can include classes in visual arts, theatre, and music.
ALA meets at:
First Christian Church Arlington
910 S. Collins
Arlington, TX 76010
For the 2020-2021 school year, classes are on Thursdays from September 10th to April 29th. Junior School takes place from 9:45am-3:00pm, and Scholar School takes place from 8:45am-3:00pm.