Developing LEADers: Focus on iLEAD Online’s Learner Outcomes

At iLEAD Online, a TK-12 free public school in Southern California, we believe education is about more than just memorizing facts. Our Learner Outcomes — our goals for iLEAD Online learners — is that they will LEAD by becoming…

1. Lifelong Learners
2. Empathetic Citizens
3. Authentic Individuals
4. Design Thinkers

These outcomes shape learning at every stage of development at iLEAD Online, from our youngest explorers to our most experienced learners.

Let’s dive into what each of these outcomes truly means for an iLEAD Online learner.

Lifelong Learner: “I am a self-directed learner, focused on personal growth and development.”

In our rapidly changing world, it’s important to keep learning — in other words, to be lifelong learners. At iLEAD Online, we tap into kids’ wonder and curiosity to cultivate their love of learning for a lifetime.

What does this look like in practice? It means encouraging our youngest learners to explore and investigate new things. It means fostering an inspiring environment where learners of all ages take an active interest in learning. We encourage every learner to identify strengths and areas of growth, to persist through difficulties, and importantly, to see risks as opportunities to fail forward — because true learning isn’t about avoiding mistakes but about learning from them and growing stronger. Ultimately, our learners become adults who are eager to continue learning, both for professional and personal fulfillment.

Empathetic Citizen: “I seek to understand and appreciate what others are thinking, feeling, or experiencing.”

In order to thrive as a citizen of our world of diverse cultures, beliefs, and ways of thinking, it’s important to be an empathetic citizen. At iLEAD Online, we encourage our learners to seek to understand and appreciate what others are thinking, feeling, and experiencing.

Our learners embrace diverse cultures, beliefs, and perspectives, finding ways to make their community a better place through responsible action. We emphasize the importance of listening carefully, using kind words, and treating others with respect. By encouraging learners to work to understand what other people think, even if it’s different, we are cultivating individuals who can build bridges, foster collaboration, and contribute positively to both local and global communities.

Authentic Individual: “I am true to myself, my personality, values, beliefs, and principles.”

At iLEAD Online, we celebrate authentic individuality. We encourage learners to be true to themselves, their personalities, values, beliefs, and principles. We believe that when individuals can genuinely express who they are, they are empowered to make their greatest contributions.

We support authentic individuality by providing opportunities for learners to share their strengths to help others and to follow their dreams and passions. We foster an environment where learners can speak their thoughts and ideas in a healthy, respectful way, and where their actions match their words, beliefs, and values. We emphasize the importance of self-care, encouraging learners to take care of their minds, bodies, spirits, and hearts, because being authentic starts with nurturing oneself.

Design Thinker: “I am a creative, imaginative individual who explores original ideas, takes risks, and develops innovative solutions that I share with others.”

The challenges of our current and future world require creative, innovative solutions. To work toward our design thinker outcome, our iLEAD Online team works to inspire individuals who aren’t afraid to explore original ideas, take risks, and develop innovative solutions that they share with others.

We are focused on empowering learners to be problem-solvers. Through project-based learning, we give kids ongoing opportunities to use the design process to solve problems and create products. We encourage them to explore many different ideas and to think outside of the box. We also instill a mindset of continuous improvement, where learners seek to continually improve processes and products. We foster an entrepreneurial spirit, encouraging learners to think of ways to share their products or ideas with others. We also provide opportunities for kids to demonstrate what they learn through artistic expression.

The iLEAD Online Difference: Preparing for Life

Our Learner Outcomes are not isolated concepts but are interconnected pillars that support a comprehensive educational experience for each of our learners at iLEAD Online. By fostering Lifelong Learners, Empathetic Citizens, Authentic Individuals, and Design Thinkers, we are committed to developing individuals who are not only academically prepared but also socially conscious, emotionally intelligent, and capable of navigating and shaping the future of our world. This is the iLEAD Online difference – preparing learners not just for a test but for a fulfilling life.

About iLEAD Online:

iLEAD Online is a free public TK-12 school providing personalized online education with flexible schedules, allowing learners to pursue their passions like acting, athletics, and dance, alongside their studies. Founded in 2017, we emphasize individualized and project-based learning, leadership, and social-emotional growth. Learners benefit from technology, arts, and deeper learning, developing collaboration and critical thinking skills through our flexible virtual independent study model. Certified educators and college counselors offer personalized support, including guidance on college applications and financial aid. We also offer NCAA and UC a-g approved courses. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook and find us at www.ileadonline.org.

Join our innovative school today!