Jeff Hopkins, the founder and co-principal of the Pacific School of Innovation and Inquiry (PSII), visited our class to talk about the school’s unique vision: challenging conventional ideas about education and offering a school that can truly center student curiosity and individuality.
Photo credit: PSII
PSII is far from the typical schools I’ve been in, from my own high school to the Link2Practice observations I have had at Royal Bay Secondary School. Its philosophy is rooted in the idea of designing education around the needs, interests, and potential of each learner, emphasizing the zone of proximal development (ZPD). Jeff explained that ZPD, the space where learners are just beyond their comfort zone but supported enough to succeed, requires recognizing three key components:
Photo credit: Eliott Reyna
- Every student is unique.
- Learning and progress happen at different rates for everyone.
- A variety of environments and approaches are essential for fostering growth.
At PSII, students are encouraged to pursue their interests and questions at their own pace, with guidance from educators, creating a dynamic educational experience.
Photo credit: Yan Berthemy
Jeff’s presentation has me rethinking how I can incorporate elements of PSII’s philosophy into my future teaching practice, especially in drama and creative writing. One way to do this is by giving students autonomy in their assignments. For example, instead of assigning the same project to everyone, I could offer a range of options or let students propose their own ideas. Whether it’s writing a script, creating a short story, performing a monologue, or designing a storyboard, students could choose the format that best aligns with their interests and strengths.
Photo credit: George Pak
I have had some interest in working in International Baccalaureate education in the future, and PSII’s philosophy really reminds me of the goals, values, and mission of IB. I would be interested in visiting PSII in the future and seeing how they achieve their mission in practice!