Happiest [Co-Learning] Space on Earth
The SMART Lounge is established based on over a decade of experience and deep-seated conviction that families can “have their cake and eat it too” — children can both be wildly successful and passionately happy in high school, college and life beyond. It’s not that hard or mysterious. The secret sauce is in knowing your identity, finding your purpose (early on) and loving your family (which includes friends and neighbors). The SMART Lounge enables all this in a warm yet effective and exploratory yet efficient co-learning environment...
Great Education: Family in the Driver's Seat
GREAT EDUCATION is great because it goes above and beyond the norm and helps our dreams come true!
Every stakeholder in your children’s education has different motives and goals.
-
Government & School Administrators — the purpose of education is to raise good citizens that contribute to society. They must do this while keeping within the budget, abiding by State and national mandates, and keeping kids safe and out of trouble.
-
School Teachers — (more often than not) the purpose of education is to make a living by ensuring that their pupils are finishing the school year and collectively achieving the State and/or nationally mandated learning outcomes.
-
Parents — the purpose of education is to give their individual children a better life.
-
Children — the purpose of education is to be happy.
What the government and schools provide is necessary education. It’s a fundamental and basic right that we deserve as citizens of this country. Some schools across the country even offer good education. However, for many smart families, education that is merely good and necessary is just not good enough.
"Good is the enemy of great. And that is one of the key reasons why we have so little that becomes great. We don't have great schools, principally because we have good schools."
— Jim Collins, Good to Great
What smart families deeply desire is GREAT education. For example, if my child wants to get into Stanford, write the next Broadway hit musical or become the next Elon Musk, then education should help my child achieve these goals. As sappy as it sounds, GREAT EDUCATION is great because it goes above and beyond the norm and helps our dreams come true!
GREAT education is possible when and only when families are in the driver’s seat. Children from families that take an active interest in education (no matter how small or limited) simply have a higher chance of success. Moreover, children who take charge of their own education AND are from supportive families that take an active interest in education can achieve anything they set their minds to.
Education Experts and Family Partners
The SMART Lounge™ facilitates great education. Teenagers are the captains of their own destinies and every family charts their own path of learning within our co-learning community. However, families aren’t alone. Education experts and learning coaches are a big part of the picture.
Sensei. It means “one who walked the road ahead” or “Master” when roughly translated into English. Sensei is the honorable and fun title we give at The SMART Lounge™ to mentors and project managers who are dynamic civic and business leaders, noted scientists and researchers, artists and athletes, activists and philanthropists, technology innovators, high achieving college/grad students, professors, and trailblazers in all walks of life.
Irrespective of specialty and background, every Sensei who is bestowed that venerable title is trained (by us), has a proven track record and has taken an oath to be dedicated to the happiness, well-being and education of your children and family. Here is our promise:
SMART Sensei will:
-
Make learning fun
-
Curate the best tools, experiences and technology to serve the above #1
-
Be great hosts and role models to the entire family