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Fernleaf is special to me for so many reasons.  First, I love the emphasis on mindfulness practice.  It is so important to me to practice mindfulness for my own well being and it is so valuable to teach children how to be mindful in various ways.  In the past, I had to justify teaching mindfulness and holding mindfulness practices to my administrators so it feels so good to have that as an expectation. I also love that FernLeaf gives me the freedom to create my own schedule for the most part.  I need creative freedom in my day and as a human, in order to thrive. I appreciate the emphasis on nature and exploring the natural world as that is a huge passion of mine and I loooove exposing children to the love of nature. One of my biggest goals is to have children look at insects and bugs as miraculous creatures of the universe rather than scary or gross. I also truly enjoy the freedom to choose fieldwork every single month or more!!!  What a huge gift it is to get children out into the world to experience so many different things.  I am grateful for the trust we are afforded and that we are treated like adults rather than another child to control.  FernLeaf feels like a really safe place to work.

p.s. Jenn Love is a dream come true as an administrator and I absolutely am beyond grateful for her and hope that she stays with us forever and ever!

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There are so many things about Fernleaf that I love.  The community is super positive and fun.  Very few parents complain about things. I think mostly because they waited so long to get here and they are happy.  You have the autonomy to decide what and how to teach the standards.  The leadership alway has the staff in mind when making decisions.

The calendar is amazing.  We never go more than 7 weeks at a time before we get a break.  This is great for staff and kids.  It also helps you think about your students specifically when you are out of school.  For example seeing things that remind you of them and sharing it with someone.  That is a different kind of bond in the making.

The fernleaf staff is always smiling or laughing.  So little negativity with this crew on the creek campus.  Even on the hardest days you can find a way to smile or laugh just because someone supports you to do that.The culture committee creates so many super fun activities that help us get to know a little bit more about each other.

Jenn has done such an amazing job. She stepped right in without any hiccups, that I know of that is and I’m sure she would tell us differently.  She never seems to get flustered.  Her demeanor is always positive even when things are going berserk.

I’m really enjoying my teammate.  I feel like we are very much on the same wavelength most of the time.  He is positive and fun.

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Fernleaf has such a strong sense of community, and I have made many strong connections with my co-workers.  The people here will go out of their way to say hello and ask you how you are doing. What is really special is that they actually take the time to listen to your response.  More than that, they actually care what you have going on in your life.

Administration at Fernleaf is fantastic. Whenever I have a review or a conference, I always end up telling my life story.  I talk about my relationships, parenthood, adulthood, and even the dark things.  My son is a kindergartener at Fernleaf this year.  Jenn Love is always willing to give me great advice and insight into bettering his school experience.

I enjoy that we spend so much time outside, and I think this gives the students and the teachers time to soak up the sun and recharge their brains and bodies. Sometimes we just get soaked, and I love that too.

We have the resources and ability to make learning fun and interactive.  Limiting the amount of screen time the students have gives us a greater opportunity to teach hands on and project based lessons.  The kindergarten team created a project based learning opportunity based on the life cycle of a Monarch butterfly.

The important thing about Fernleaf is that you can be yourself.

It’s like talking to a great friend,

You see it in your students,

You can hold it in your heart.

But it isn’t boring.

It shows you what really matters..

But the important thing about Fernleaf is that you never feel alone.

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Why is Fern Leaf important to me?

First I want to say that it means a lot to me since Michael was interested in me and he wanted to sponsor my visa. If I did not get that visa I would not be able to stay here in the United States and I really enjoy living and working here. So when he was interested, my door opened.

Fern leaf is a very special institution and I have to say that I enjoy many of the new ways that they teach here, for example being outdoors as much as you can. I think this is great for children to enjoy nature, the sun. and everything that this school has in its yards or even when you go out on a fieldwork day. I also like that they have choice time, which at the beginning,Ii did not understand quite well how it was done here and I tried doing it the way I used to do it at the two schools that I worked for in the Buncombe County system. I like how the children socialize, solve problems on their own, and get really creative with the materials they have. I also like that the system is not as rigorous as it was at the other schools. Children are children and they deserve to have play time and not just academics. I also like the system where I only teach math.

The important thing about Fern Leaf is that it welcomes you as you are.

It’s like a new family

You get to know  it every day

You can enjoy  it in the interactions with people

But it isn’t easy

It needs effort and your best attitude.

But the important thing about Fern Leaf  is that you will feel so happy to work here..

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FernLeaf is special for so many reasons. My whole family comes here. Teachers are supportive of each other. Administration lets you be creative and also encourages you to be creative.

My whole family comes here! My daughter is in 7th grade. My son is in 9th grade. My husband works in aftercare and on the food truck. I love that we all have the same vacation days. It is also fun that we all know all the same people. Unfortunately, my kids are kind-of tired of going here. They think the grass is greener at another school. They don’t really understand how good they have it compared to other middle or high schools. I could not imagine not having my family here. It would be so hard to manage being a mom and also managing my job.

The teachers that work at FernLeaf are kind and helpful to each other. We do alot of team building and it shows. Teachers support each other through tough times and good times. We share resources and feedback.

I love the fact that teachers are allowed to be creative and teach in ways that are not the average teaching style.

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The important thing about Fernleaf is you can be yourself.

It’s like a dream come true

You take it home with you in a good way

You can use your creativity to reach all kids.

But it isn’t for everyone

It is like a family.

But the important thing about Fernleaf  is that you can be yourself.

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FernLeaf is a special place to me because it’s not like any other school I’ve ever observed, worked at, or been a part of. FernLeaf is a K-10 charter school located in the beautiful WNC and being able to drive alongside these breath-taking mountains each morning fills my cup with joy. I was introduced to Fernleaf during my year with Buncombe County; my mentor teacher and I were struggling with the astronomical expectations that we were given for our students, drilling curriculum down their throats, not being able to have morning meetings, not being able to fully be there for the students and plenty more. My mentor teacher told me about FernLeaf, which she found online, and we both applied together. We spent days / weeks researching and observing the school via the website. After all those weeks of waiting, we were both given the amazing opportunity to interview and eventually given positions for the next school year. Fernleaf is a place where we are able to be the best kind of teachers our students need us to be. Here, I am able to support my students in any way they need. Fernleaf is not mainly focused on drilling curriculum down student’s throats, but making sure these students are the best possible version of themselves. This school is so special to me because each day I arrive at work, I feel like I’m just getting an opportunity to hang out with my best friends, regardless of it being kids or other staff members! Fernleaf allows me to be in charge of my own classroom, my own student goals and how our day is utilized. I am allowed to have free expression in anything I do. Like I said earlier, my school cares more for the student’s well being  so we are able to do things like morning meetings, free play, academic centers, and much more. Fernleaf creates an environment where everyone is just happy to be there and happy to co-exists. The entire staff is nothing but friendly and we are all able to express ourselves for who we truly are, which I did not get at any other schools that I’ve worked at.

The important thing about FernLeaf is that you can be yourself.

It’s like a breath of fresh air.

You create a positive environment.

You can share it in everyone’s life.

But it isn’t for everyone.

It is a place that brightens everyone’s day.

But the important thing about FernLeaf is that you create a special community.

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The important thing about FernLeaf is that it is growing young minds and souls.

It’s like planting seeds of peace.

You teach it in your classroom.

You can see it in the choices children make and the smiles on the teachers’ faces.

But it isn’t fake.

It is real and authentic.

But the important thing about FernLeaf is that it is growing young minds and souls.

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FernLeaf is special because there is so much of the color green. Green is equivalent to happiness. I  mean visually,  haha. However it is also special because we are truly allowed to put the children first in so many ways that feel more than other schools. Less emphasis on how other schools are lacking and moreseo about how it starts from the foundation up here, which is shown through admin, its choice in teachers, curriculum, core values, and actions. Big emphasis on the actions.  We as teachers can support kids by making direct  and free handed choices that are best for them. If we need a nature walk we take a mf’n nature walk. Not only that though, we have an amazing community of educators that quickly become like friends and potential family to help us and guide us and to learn from. We also get to experience so much community in our classrooms, teaching teams, grade levels, buildings,  and other connections with other enrichments, and grade levels. PLUS all the extra stuff that we get to do outside with staff to get to know them. FernLeaf is also special because we get to continue growing as professionals with no judgement or harsh critics on our backs unless it is for our own good and growth. We also get to help kids grow with huge emphasis on SEL growth. We also get to contribute to new ideas for kids and school related things. Lastly, ,we get the freedom to express our selves as individuals without harsh guidelines,  and get to be our true authentic selves and be celebrated for our diversity. This is so huge in the education realm and world. FernLeaf is very very very special and I love it here.

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I knew that Fernleaf was special from my initial interview. It was the most relaxing, natural interview I ever had, and I was immediately put at ease. I wasn’t asked the typical teacher interview questions, I was asked about myself–who I am as a person. This is the core of why I think FernLeaf is special. Here at FernLeaf we honor the individual, and teachers are not put in a typical teacher mold.

Another sign for me that FernLeaf was not the typical school was the mission statement. The core values  in the statement not only reflect the kind of environment in which I want to teach, it reflects the kind of world in which I want to live.

The important thing about FernLeaf is that you can be yourself.

It’s like a little world,

You create it in your classroom,

You can feel  it in your heart.

But it isn’t boring.

It isn’t for everyone.

But the important thing about FernLeaf is that you can find your family here..

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The important thing about Fernleaf is that it is green, like happiness.

It’s like a nature walk when you need one

You feel it in your heart

You can make it your own.

But it isn’t confining.

It changes lives.

But the important thing about Fernleaf is that it is a space  of celebration no matter who ya are.

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Fernleaf is a special place because it was built on the idea that each individual matters, that a student is not a product, and that a teacher is not a machine. It emphasizes humanity in all its forms: ways to deepen it, explore it and discover oneself in it. It is a school built on a dream of bettering education and vocalizing a safe haven for nature, creativity, and independence. This is especially important in a world where computers, prescriptions, and artificial thinking are taking over the world of childhood. I think that in some ways, Fernleaf aims to change the script of education. It asks us as adults to be truly reflective of our pasts. As current educators here, we have learned from our former school environments and past experiences–both as teachers and students–in order to provide a better experience for the next generation. One thing I love about this school is that it makes time for the little things that bring us together, like Fernlympics, while allowing a sense of independence and autonomy in the classroom. I think this concept is found in the Project Based element where we see students rising into leadership roles, problem solving, and discovering their interests. It is a place where ideas are explored, solutions built, and failure is accepted because it is a natural part of life. I love how we do not send homework home, as we want students to spend quality time with family. I love that we find a way to incorporate movement into our classrooms.

The important thing about Fernleaf is that it celebrates individuality.

It’s like telling each child they matter,

You practice it in each lesson plan,

You can expand it to families and communities beyond.

But it isn’t a simple strategy

It requires reassessing your own experience as an educator and student.

But the important thing about each child is taught the value of kindness, creativity, and humanity.

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The important thing about FernLeaf  is that there isn’t judgment. 

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The important thing about FernLeaf  is that there isn’t judgment. 

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It’s like a hidden gem.

You hold it in your heart.

You can put it in your resource toolbox.

But it isn’t for those who can’t think outside the box.

It promotes a supportive community.

But the important thing about FernLeaf is a great place to work and learn.

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The important thing about a Learning Environment is that it is accepting.

It’s like a person who unconditionally loves you,

You live in it and shape it with your mind,

You can be yourself and make mistakes,

But it isn’t where you ever fail .

It picks you up and helps you right your wrongs

But the important thing about a Learning Environment is that you grow in it.

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FernLeaf is special because it gives teachers the space to be creative with the teaching and learning that takes place in their classrooms. This allows teachers to relax and feel at ease when engaging students in varying activities. This disposition is in turn passed down to students. Teachers are more able to provide an environment where students feel free to explore their ideas in a safe space. This mix of focus and freedom creates a special place for all who inhabit it. It helps students express themselves and allows them to develop their individuality while also getting to experience the individuality of others. This helps build a community of individuals who value the collective space as a place full of many similarities and differences. This is preparing students to be more compassionate as they age into adulthood. It prepares them to be open, accepting, and nurturing of each other's differences. Ideally this promotes a world where all are valued.