Jim Bailey: Schooling Ojai & Beyond

Jim Bailey, founder and director of Rock, Tree, Sky - an immersive school located in upper Ojai, has been a key participant in an exciting new approach to education, called Education Reimagined. Jim was among the invitees of distinguished educators who attended a seminal conference in Rhode Island earlier this year, called "Exploring Ecosystems in Community: Insights, Questions, and Collaborative Learning." Bailey, who came to Ojai several decades ago as a science teacher and who has also taught at Oak Grove School, is known as an influential, transformative teacher, so he was exactly the kind of educator we need reimagining education for the modern era. He said the approach is to "work for the many, for all learners, not just some; we need to bring in more student agency and self-determination." We talked about the many lessons he's learned as a caring, thoughtful teacher, and how it's possible to ignite a love of lifelong learning in unexpected ways. The wide-ranging discussion touched on key issues that confront Ojai and a society at large. We did not talk about pickerel mating habits, Japanese salt cures or the shifts in ocean currents. Learn more about Bailey and his innovative school at https://www.rocktreesky.org/