Why Reggio?

Some days are meant for thinking—and for me, that day is today (so buckle up).

I have a lot of big opinions when it comes to American education—public, private, all of it. And I have a habit of oversharing those opinions, so consider this your friendly warning. But truly, I think we’ve spent far too long as a country trying to force an outdated educational system to keep working. Who is it really serving? Not the children. Not the parents. Not the teachers.

So why are we continuing to force a system that’s clearly broken on our children? I don’t have that answer. But what I do know is that it’s time to stop pretending it’s fine. It’s time to change, adapt, and pivot. It’s time to move forward.

We need to remember that education should be about children, families, and educators… not standardized systems, test scores, or Ivy League dreams in first grade.

And that’s where the Reggio Emilia Approach comes in—it feels like a breath of fresh air in a world of stale systems. Reggio isn’t about cramming facts into little heads, it’s about drawing curiosity out of them. It’s about seeing each child as capable, creative, and full of potential.

Reggio is different because it trusts children. It trusts them to wonder, question, problem-solve, and lead their own learning journeys. Instead of handing them step-by-step directions, we give them the space, materials, and time to explore deeply. Teachers aren’t the all-knowing authority—they’re co-researchers, guides, and fellow learners.

When we loosen our grip on rigid structures, incredible things happen. Children collaborate, negotiate, invent, and think critically in ways that no worksheet or standardized test could ever measure. They develop confidence in their own ideas and respect for the ideas of others. They learn how to learn, not just what to learn.

And honestly, isn’t that what we all want for our children? Not just to memorize facts, but to build a lifelong love of discovery? The Reggio Emilia Approach reminds us that education should be beautiful, meaningful, and alive. It should honor childhood itself as something valuable, not just a stepping stone to something else.

And then there’s the parent piece—because as much as we’re reimagining education for children, we’re also reimagining what it means to truly support families.

Traditional school models often run on schedules that make zero sense for modern life. Short days, long breaks, minimal flexibility—and somehow parents are expected to patch it all together with childcare, camps, and caffeine.

In our Reggio-inspired model, families are an essential part of the learning community. That means creating a school structure that actually works for real people. We offer extended hours because parents work (shocking, I know). We follow a year-round learning model because curiosity doesn’t clock out in May. Life keeps moving, and so should learning.

This structure doesn’t just make logistics easier, it makes learning richer. Year-round schooling allows projects to unfold naturally, giving children time to dive deep into their interests without the abrupt stop-and-start of the traditional school calendar. It means children return each day to a familiar rhythm and community that feels like home.

The Reggio Emilia Approach reminds us that education isn’t something separate from life—it is life. It’s the way we explore, connect, and grow together. When we design schools that honor the needs of children, the realities of parents, and the strength of teachers, we build communities that thrive.

And that’s the change I want to see—schools that feel human again.

Love,

Jessi