Humanized Education: A Mastery-Based Framework to Promote Student Growth and Strength (A framework for growing healthier, whole students)

As anxiety and depression rise in students, impacting their cognitive development and academic performance, actionable steps are needed. In Humanized Education, educators can learn a holistic approach emphasizing growth-based schooling, strength-based teaching, and mastery-based learning practices. With practical tools, key insights, and implementation strategies, this framework will have teachers and leaders on their way to making a healing and resilience-centered school model a reality.

K–12 teachers and administrators can use this book to:

• Understand the relationship between students’ mental health and their achievement
• Learn growth-based schooling, strength-based teaching, and mastery-based learning models
• Embody qualities shown to positively influence student well-being
• Design instruction that welcomes diverse perspectives and experiences
• Empower students to take ownership of their learning and well-being

Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: Mental, Psychological, and Academic Fitness-Centered Education
Chapter 2: Growth-Based Schooling
Chapter 3: Strength-Based Teaching
Chapter 4: Mastery-Based Learning
Chapter 5: The Flywheel Started
Epilogue
References and Resources
Index

Mike Ruyle, EdD, has served as a classroom teacher, athletic coach, school principal, alternative program director, university professor, and school consultant for over thirty years. He led the creation and implementation of personalized, competency-based schools in Montana and California, has authored an array of books, and is a recognized authority in the areas of healing-centered schooling, instruction, assessment, and educational leadership. Mike’s leadership experience and dynamic presentation style have made him a sought-after national and international speaker for numerous schools, districts, state agencies, and conferences.

Awaachiáookaaté (Jason D. Cummins, EdD), an enrolled member of the Apsáalooke Nation, is an assistant professor of educational leadership at Montana State University. He recently served as the deputy director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Native Americans and Strengthening Tribal Colleges and Universities. Jason has helped lead an array of schools toward authentically serving students and communities by implementing culturally sustaining, trauma-informed, and restorative approaches.

Libby Child has spent over twenty-seven years in education as a high school special education teacher, a special education program coordinator, and an educational consultant for the Montana Office of Public Instruction in the areas of inclusive education, secondary transition practices for students with special needs, paraeducator development, and co-teaching. She is a co-author of the book The School Wellness Wheel: A Framework Addressing Trauma, Culture, and Mastery to Raise Student Achievement.

Donyall D. Dickey, EdD, is a nationally recognized authority on curriculum, instruction, organizational development, and district improvement. Unparalleled levels of student achievement and school improvement distinguish Dr. Dickey’s twenty-plus-year career as an educational leader. Dr. Dickey and his team are a leading provider of standards-informed instructional materials for early and continuing literacy, the core content areas, as well as targeted professional development for teachers, school leaders, central office personnel, superintendents, state departments of education, and professional associations.

Hawar Khalandi, EdD, brings an abundance of experience and passion to the field of education both as a teacher and as an administrator. Since 2007, she has been dedicated to fostering an equitable and inclusive learning environment for all students. She helped lead the full implementation of a mastery-based learning policy and a discipline philosophy centered around restorative practices in the North Kansas City Schools district and was a driving force in creating an educational experience that empowers all students to reach their full potential. Her diverse background, extensive knowledge, and practical experience uniquely positions her to provide practical and insightful perspectives that bridge the gap between educational theory and the real-world challenges faced in classrooms and schools.

Nancy Weinstein is the founder and CEO of MindPrint Learning, an education technology company that identifies student learning strengths to support differentiated instruction and improve learning outcomes. Prior to that, Nancy worked in industry at Bristol-Myers Squibb, The Walt Disney Company, and Goldman Sachs. She is coauthor of The Empowered Student: A Guide to Self-Regulated Learning and is a national speaker on using science of learning best practices to improve student outcomes. She is the principal investigator on four National Science Foundation grants.