Screens Aren’t Failing Students. Design Is.
We didn’t fail students by giving them screens. We failed them by designing learning that ignored how the brain actually works. That can change.
A Lawn Mower, a Twelve-Year-Old, and the World We Didn’t Know Was Coming
Ten years ago, I watched my twelve-year-old daughter steer our John Deere tractor with a confidence that made the world feel steady. Life looked predictable then. The future no longer moves with that kind of ease. Artificial intelligence is rewriting the expectations placed on our students, our teachers, and our systems at a pace that demands a different kind of leadership. The years I spent guiding a non-classroom-based school taught me that students will need far more than content knowledge to thrive in a world shaped by rapid change. They will need the human skills that AI cannot imitate. Illuminate XR was built from that belief. The Power Six reflect the strengths that give young people the ability to think deeply, communicate clearly, and move through uncertainty with courage. My grandchildren deserve a world where those abilities are taught with intention. Every student does. This responsibility continues to guide the work we are building at IXR.
Meghan K. Freeman: From My Living Room to the National Stage
What began in Ms. Meghan Freeman’s living room with a single vision to do education differently has grown into a nationally recognized story of innovation and heart. As Elite Academic Academy prepares to be featured on All Access with Andy Garcia this December, I’m reflecting on the journey that turned humble beginnings into a movement redefining how students learn, connect, and thrive.
Personalized Learning Is Not a Trend — It’s the Future
Personalized learning is not a program or a slogan. It is a system built around people. At Elite Academic Academy, where I serve as Co Founder and former CEO, we proved it can be real, measurable, and scalable. In one year, English Language Arts proficiency rose 8 percent and Math climbed 14 percent, even as enrollment grew by 35 percent.
Through innovation, courageous leadership, and programs like Elite X, we built a culture that empowers teachers, centers students, and delivers results.
When schools trust teachers, personalize learning, and lead with integrity, everyone wins.
I shared more about this journey and how it can be replicated in my latest blog. I invite you to read it and join the conversation about the future of learning. Personalized learning is not a trend. It is the future.