Why Our Schools Are Failing and How to Fix It with Dr. Caprice Young episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 4, 2026 · 1H 33M

Why Our Schools Are Failing and How to Fix It with Dr. Caprice Young

from The Edge of Possible with Cameron Atlas · host Cameron Atlas

Millions of students across the US and the world are currently unable to read at or above grade level.We are witnessing a massive disconnect between a 100 year old industrial education model and the actual needs of our children.But what if we knew exactly why this was the case and had a blueprint for how to solve it?In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Dr. Caprice Young, a transformational education leader and the CEO and Superintendent of Navigator Schools.With more than 20 years of experience in public education, Caprice is a former president of the Los Angeles School Board, and in this essential conversation, we explore the powerful framework that has enabled her schools to consistently achieve student scores three to six times as high as their neighbors.If you are a parent, a teacher, or someone who is ready to apply a highly successful model of transformation to secure the future for our children, this episode is a must-listen.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why a “strength-based” interaction is the only way to build lasting excellence in others.The “Squads Model”: How grouping students to teach each other increases engagement.How AI is being used to analyze the “process” of solving math problems rather than just checking the right box.The “hair tie” trick: A kinesthetic tool for adults to maintain control during emotional escalations.Why unbundling traditional education paths is the future of personalized growth.The profound impact of a 20-minute daily “no-cell-phone” ritual for families and teams.What We Discuss:00:00 – Introduction01:22 – Interview with Dr. Caprice Young: Transforming Education02:30 – The Stark Reality of the Current Education System04:37 – Personal Mission and Background of Dr. Caprice Young09:31 –  Innovative Approaches in Charter Schools10:56 – Innovative Teaching Methods and Technology16:34 – Addressing Learning Differences with AI and Brain Science21:10 – Scaling Personalized Education and School Choice31:39 – Personalized Education Through Unbundling33:17 – Innovative School Programs and Extended Hours35:45 – Addressing Mental Health and Family Challenges39:05 – The Importance of Communication Skills42:28 – Effective Teamwork with Squads48:18 – Adapting Education for Individual Needs50:05 – Creating Individualized Learning Programs51:00 – Nurturing Children’s Strengths and Beliefs59:21 – The Importance of Unconditional Love1:04:50 – Building a Healthy School Culture1:09:18 – Teaching Metacognitive Skills1:11:11 – Effective Parenting Strategies1:29:40 – Rapid Fire Questions1:32:03 – Conclusion and Final ThoughtsFollow Dr. Caprice Young: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caprice-young-eddNavigator Schools on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigator-schools/Navigator Schools on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NavigatorCharterSchools/Website: https://www.navigatorschools.orgFollow Cameron:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cameronatlasYouTube: https://youtube.com/cameronatlasFacebook: https://facebook.com/cameronatlasLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/cameronatlas Newsletter Sign Up: https://cameronatlas.com/newsletterBook Cameron to Speak: https://cameronatlas.com/speaking

Millions of students across the US and the world are currently unable to read at or above grade level.We are witnessing a massive disconnect between a 100 year old industrial education model and the actual needs of our children.But what if we knew exactly why this was the case and had a blueprint for how to solve it?In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Dr. Caprice Young, a transformational education leader and the CEO and Superintendent of Navigator Schools.With more than 20 years of experience in public education, Caprice is a former president of the Los Angeles School Board, and in this essential conversation, we explore the powerful framework that has enabled her schools to consistently achieve student scores three to six times as high as their neighbors.If you are a parent, a teacher, or someone who is ready to apply a highly successful model of transformation to secure the future for our children, this episode is a must-listen.In This Episode, You Will Learn:Why a “strength-based” interaction is the only way to build lasting excellence in others.The “Squads Model”: How grouping students to teach each other increases engagement.How AI is being used to analyze the “process” of solving math problems rather than just checking the right box.The “hair tie” trick: A kinesthetic tool for adults to maintain control during emotional escalations.Why unbundling traditional education paths is the future of personalized growth.The profound impact of a 20-minute daily “no-cell-phone” ritual for families and teams.What We Discuss:00:00 – Introduction01:22 – Interview with Dr. Caprice Young: Transforming Education02:30 – The Stark Reality of the Current Education System04:37 – Personal Mission and Background of Dr. Caprice Young09:31 –  Innovative Approaches in Charter Schools10:56 – Innovative Teaching Methods and Technology16:34 – Addressing Learning Differences with AI and Brain Science21:10 – Scaling Personalized Education and School Choice31:39 – Personalized Education Through Unbundling33:17 – Innovative School Programs and Extended Hours35:45 – Addressing Mental Health and Family Challenges39:05 – The Importance of Communication Skills42:28 – Effective Teamwork with Squads48:18 – Adapting Education for Individual Needs50:05 – Creating Individualized Learning Programs51:00 – Nurturing Children’s Strengths and Beliefs59:21 – The Importance of Unconditional Love1:04:50 – Building a Healthy School Culture1:09:18 – Teaching Metacognitive Skills1:11:11 – Effective Parenting Strategies1:29:40 – Rapid Fire Questions1:32:03 – Conclusion and Final ThoughtsFollow Dr. Caprice Young: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caprice-young-eddNavigator Schools on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/navigator-schools/Navigator Schools on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NavigatorCharterSchools/Website: https://www.navigatorschools.orgFollow Cameron:Instagram: https://instagram.com/cameronatlasYouTube: https://youtube.com/cameronatlasFacebook: https://facebook.com/cameronatlasLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/cameronatlas Newsletter Sign Up: https://cameronatlas.com/newsletterBook Cameron to Speak: https://cameronatlas.com/speaking

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Why Our Schools Are Failing and How to Fix It with Dr. Caprice Young

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This episode was published on February 4, 2026.

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Millions of students across the US and the world are currently unable to read at or above grade level.We are witnessing a massive disconnect between a 100 year old industrial education model and the actual needs of our children.But what if we knew...

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