Sudbury International

05/11/2026

A new episode of Sudbury in Depth has been published! Join us as we interview four staff members from Sudbury schools about the concepts of equality between students of all ages, as well as equality between students and staff.

Welcome to the Sudbury in Depth series, where we take a deep dive into the philosophy and practice of the Sudbury model. Each episode, 3-4 staff members from...

04/26/2026

We just published a new blog post! Aaron Browder from The Open School reminds us that what our kids are doing right now is educational, whether it looks like it or not.

"Social and emotional skills are far more complex than practical skills, and take a long, long time to master. Conventional education, which spends tremendous resources and years of kids’ lives teaching them to do simple things like read and calculate, would have us believe otherwise. But kids learn to read and do math quickly and painlessly when they are ready and truly interested. Conversely, social and emotional affairs are minefields of confusion even for the most emotionally intelligent kids. That is why free children choose to spend so much time in social play."

Read the full article:

Kids are always learning, whether they are studying, building, playing, talking, or just contemplating.

04/09/2026

In the new blog post Lisa Lyons is a retired staff member at in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, U.S. talks about her experience being a staff member at a Sudbury school for sixteen years and what she’s learned in the process. Link to the blog in bio

04/03/2026

We've just published a new blog post: The reflections of a retired staff member (Lisa Lyons of Fairhaven School) on her many years at Sudbury schools and what they meant to her.

"Every day I shared my knowledge and experience, and every day students shared right back—their poetry, art, passion, humor, intelligence. The enormous resource we have in children is unseen in the larger culture. Only at Sudbury schools, and in some families, are young people treated with the respect all human beings deserve."

Read the full article below:

A retired staff member's reflection on her many years at Sudbury schools and what they meant to her.

04/01/2026

Mattering — the fundamental human need to feel valued and add value — unlocks purpose, connection, and wellbeing.

As humans, we have a deep desire to know that we belong, that we are needed, and that our community accepts and values who we are.

How can we build cultures of mattering in our homes, schools, and communities?

How do Sudbury schools help to provide a “mattering core”: recognizing impact, being relied on, feeling prioritized, and being truly known and invested in?

This month we are reading Mattering by Jennifer B. Wallace. We also identified a few related articles, videos, and podcasts. As always, the readings are optional, the important thing is the conversation. REGISTER 🔗 LINK IN BIO

03/16/2026

The latest Sudbury in Depth video is now available on our blog with a transcript! Take a deep dive into the process of conflict resolution and discipline in the Sudbury model.

An explanation of how Sudbury schools handle conflict resolution and student discipline.

02/27/2026

Stephanie Sarantos helped found The Clearwater School in Bothell, Washington, U.S., and has staffed there for 30 years. She is also a mother of three children (now adults) who attended Clearwater. In this article, first published in 2006, she gives an insightful overview of how Sudbury schools work and benefit the students.

Students in the Sudbury model learn on their own initiative, exhibit confidence, develop responsibility, and push themselves to overcome challenges.

02/25/2026

We've published a new episode of Sudbury in Depth, this time discussing how Sudbury schools handle conflict resolution and discipline.

Sudbury in Depth gives you a deeper understanding of the Sudbury model with interviews of staff members from several different schools.

Welcome to the Sudbury in Depth series, where we take a deep dive into the philosophy and practice of the Sudbury model. Each episode, 3-4 staff members from...

02/24/2026

Stephanie Sarantos helped found in Bothell, Washington, U.S., and has staffed there for 30 years. She is also a mother of three children (now adults) who attended Clearwater. In this article first published in 2006 she gives an insightful overview of how works and benefits the students.
Read the full rain our blog - link in bio 🔗

02/19/2026

Say hello to The Open School in Santa Ana, California! ☀️ Growing from a living-room startup to a thriving community, they’ve just reached a massive milestone: purchasing their very own permanent campus.

Whether they are cooking and serving the community lunch, smelting metal, navigating the “Monday Walk” to local shops, or building their new school home from the ground up, these students are proving that when you give kids freedom and respect, they become exactly who they are meant to be.

Check them out at or visit openschooloc.com to learn more about their journey into their new forever home! 🏠✨