academic philosophy

What Happens When You Trust Young People With Real Problems?

Watershed Head of School Tim Breen, Ph.D., and Upper School Division Head Bridget Collins recently contributed a guest blog to the Getting Smart Collective, a leading voice in education innovation. In their piece, "What Happens When You Trust Young People with Real Problems?", they explore how Watershed empowers students through real-world challenges and authentic agency—highlighting how this approach fosters deeper learning, hope, and a sense of purpose.

On Thinking Big About Educational Change

Tim Breen writes, “By engaging students in what we, at Watershed, call ‘work that matters’ – academic work that is meaningful to students, has real-world applications, and makes a contribution to our communities – we can help students develop a commitment to the common good. What kind of society do we want to build, and how can we craft an educational experience that aligns with this vision?”