Sebastian Cognetta holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California and was instrumental in launching Aveson Charter Schools, a nationally recognized model for Personalized Mastery Learning, and two of California’s first educator cooperatives, Aveson Educational Cooperative and Educators Cooperative. He is the school director for Aveson School of Leaders, Aveson’s elementary campus. Dr. Cognetta started his career in education as a teacher in Fontana, California before transitioning into consulting and school leadership. Believing deeply in more innovative and active support for teachers, Dr. Cognetta has also helped reshape professional development for teachers through a groundbreaking personalized professional development model.

 

Sebastian talks about his career path and how he went from consulting to leading schools (2:20)

Sebastian explains some of the things he did in his work as a consultant to schools (13:20)

What founding Aveson Charter Schools was like, including some of the challenges presented by rampant misconceptions about charter schools (15:38)

The Aveson Charter Schools Personalized Mastery Learning Promise (22:00)

Why Aveson schools don’t give letter grades (23:20)

The huge role that conferences play at Aveson schools (26:50)

The collaborative process between students and teachers at Aveson schools, and why teachers are called advisors (31:53)

Some Personalized Mastery Learning success stories (44:38)

Sebastian’s advice for people who’d like to start a successful charter school (54:02)

The importance of treating your staff with dignity and providing them with direct, specific, and honest feedback (56:20)

If something isn’t working at your school, start by assuming it’s your fault (1:03:36)

The importance of cultivating an environment where all teachers and administrators are constantly engaged in reflection (1:07:14)

Why Sebastian thinks every educator should read Learning Personalized: The Evolution of the Contemporary Classroom, by Allison Zmuda (1:09:15)

As much as possible, get to know each of your students personally (1:11:19)

Don’t settle for buy-in from your teachers – aim for ownership (1:14:06)

If Sebastian had a time machine, here’s the advice he would give himself if he could go back and talk the younger version of himself (1:16:22)

 

Books mentioned in this episode

Learning Personalized: The Evolution of the Contemporary Classroom by Allison Zmuda, Greg Curtis, and Diane Ullman

The Seventh Sense: Power, Fortune, and Survival in the Age of Networks by Joshua Cooper Ramo

 

Connect with Sebastian Cognetta

@SEBASTIANCOGNET

Aveson Charter Schools

Relevant Ed

 

 

About EducatorsLead:

Educators Lead is a podcast created to help launch educators into the next level of leadership. This show is for you if you are interested in educational leadership as an assistant principal, principal, superintendent, teacher or someone who hopes to be a school leader one day. Educators Lead offers inspiration and practical advice to help you lead more effectively. Jay Willis interviews school leaders three days a week to discuss why and when these educators made the decision to move into school leadership, challenges along the journey, and stories that made it all worthwhile. Educators Lead is a great resource for any educator looking to make a greater impact.

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