Our brains and hearts are full! Saint Louis Sudbury School staff and volunteers participated in the 2026 Global Self-Directed Democratic School Conference in July at Tallgrass Sudbury School in La Grange, Illinois (near Chicago). The conference was a great opportunity for educators from Sudbury schools, Sudbury inspired schools, democratic schools, and Self-Directed Education centers to come together and share their knowledge and experience.
Schools, centers, and research institutions that were represented included: Alpine Valley School, Arts & Ideas Sudbury School, the Alliance for Self-Directed Education (ASDE), Chicago Free School, Clearview Sudbury School, Deeper Learning Associates, Diablo Valley School, Embark Center for Self-Directed Education, the Erikson Institute, Liberté Natural Learning Center, Macomber Center, Miami Sudbury School, Passages Centre for Self-Directed Education, Playground China, Saint Louis Sudbury School, Sunset Sudbury School, Tallgrass Sudbury School, The Circle School, The Open School, Village Free School, and vibrant homeschooling parents and public school teachers.
The conference opened with a cook-out dinner, a fascinating Self-Directed Education research presentation, and a fun fire-pit welcome gathering.
On Thursday, July 23, in democratic school tradition, the group got together to propose conference session topics and voted on which ones they most wanted to participate in. The Open School staff member Aaron Browder designed an app that we all used for the voting and scheduling process!
Discussions that day focused on perspectives on technology use, the living structures of Self-Directed Education communities, first impressions and communicating what we do with new families, expanding into preschool programs, staffing for the long haul, measuring success when there are no grades or tests, the philosophy of rhizomatic learning, and an energizing dream big session about the accomplishments and future programs of Sudbury International.
The remaining days of the conference were filled with more memorable and meaningful conversations, stories, laughter, a few tears, practical ideas, and plans for the future. Sessions focused on: conflict resolution, restoration and judicial committee practices, nurturing students in their last few years at a Sudbury school, framing of motivation, student activities to share among our different schools (including student exchanges!), finances and sustainability of Self-Directed Education schools and centers, game play, staff well-being, supporting young people in a volatile time in our world, fundraising, marketing, school culture and values, child development, social justice, and much more.
One session was filled with staff members talking about the value of our schools and what we offer that makes us so unique. People shared examples of mattering, becoming, trusting, witnessing, letting go of outcomes, being present, trust in others and in the process, together in community, joy, dignity, human worth, respect, authenticity, offering space, safe to be vulnerable, and sanctuary that are a deep part of their school or learning center culture. It was such an affirming discussion—reminding us all of what important work we do with young people every day!
On the closing evening, our group and parents from the Chicago region enjoyed an excellent presentation about Self-Directed Education by author of Free to Learn and research professor at Boston College Peter Gray. Sudbury inspired schools and Self-Directed Education learning centers frequently share Peter Gray’s academic articles, books, and presentations about children’s natural ways of learning and the value of play from an evolutionary perspective with their families. We are so grateful for his lifetime of work in helping the world see young people and learning in an entirely different light.
Tallgrass Sudbury School staff member Rick Olson offered conference participants a special bonus excursion the next day—sailing on a tall ship which departed from Navy Pier in Chicago. What a beautiful and sweet ending to a vibrant conference full of connecting, learning, and growth. Many thanks to conference organizer Tallgrass Sudbury School for all their incredible work in bringing us all together!
