School Founders
We are generating lots of floating clouds.
We need to ground our ideas so that they can change the world.
Nothing changes unless it is grounded and manifested.
Angeles Arrien
To move toward a world where all life thrives, we need more vitality-centered schools globally. A vitality-centered school puts the power of Life at the center of its design and makes fostering vitality the top priority. These schools are a place to practice a way of living that is more aligned with life.
It is important to note that when we say “school” we mean a place of long-term learning. Vitality-centered schools are rooted in place over time, holistic, intergenerational, and seek to foster cultural diversity in ways that make sense in their respective place.
Are you interested in founding a vitality-centered school using Sourced Design and Sourced Education?
Founding a vitality-centered school is an intensive, comprehensive, long-term journey. To determine whether or not this journey is for you, please consider the following questions:
Are you committed to taking care of your life in body and in the sacredness of Life, and are you growing your self-awareness in some way?
Do you have a team of two or more people to work with in building this learning community?
Do you have a place in which you are committed to building your learning community? A region and even an actual location?
Are you ready to commit at least five years to this work – knowing that, with a long-term generational effort like this, it will actually be much more than a five-year commitment?
If you answered yes to all of these questions, this journey might be for you.
Next Steps
If you have not participated in a long-term program at Springhouse (high school, young adult, or 8-month adult programs), the first step is to join the 8-month True North program, which will give you the chance to learn more about Sourced Design and Sourced Education as well as get to know and participate in the Springhouse community.
If you are interested in starting a school after your participation in True North, the next step is to have a one-on-one conversation with Springhouse Co-Founder and Executive Director, Dr. Jenny Finn to discuss next steps.
If you have questions about the True North program, please contact Carolyn Reilly. If you have any questions about the general school founding process, please sign up for a 15-minute conversation with Jenny Finn.
School Founder Facilitation Team
Jenny Finn has designed structures that foster vitality in people, communities, and organizations for nearly 30 years. She holds a Ph.D. in Sustainability Education and is a co-founder of Springhouse. Jenny Finn’s research, mentoring, and teaching invites people to strengthen the relationship they have with themselves in order to serve the world with greater clarity, courage, compassion, and creativity. Her work has taken many forms including non-profit leadership, trauma and hospice care, chaplaincy, clinical private practice, community-building through the expressive arts, and education. Jenny lives on a farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains with her husband Andy and their many furry friends, and she is the mother of Andrew and Lizzie. She loves riding the Peloton bike, swimming, spending time with family and friends, and watching a good British mystery.
Sarah moved to Floyd in 2017 to get involved with Springhouse’s adult programming and became a full-time staff member later that year. She holds a bachelor's degree in Religion with a focus in Buddhism and Western philosophy from Colorado College. Before coming to Springhouse, Sarah studied permaculture design at Quail Springs Permaculture; completed an 18-month sustainable agriculture fellowship with the Allegheny Mountain Institute in 2016; and worked in the field of garden-based education. In 2021, she completed a master’s degree in Ecological Design Thinking at Schumacher College, where she loved meeting people from around the world and exploring where theory and practice meet. Currently, she is the Head of School at Springhouse, where she leads the High School and Elementary School Programs and co-facilitates the School Founders Program. She also leads Sacred Dance and loves working on Springhouse’s sustainability efforts alongside dedicated teenagers.