Supporting Self-Direction in 2e Learners
with Amy Fox and Rianna Bensing
Join the 2e Center Speaker Series on September 10th for an illuminating conversation with two educational leaders from Big Minds Unschool - an attachment-based, community focused school designed to give 2e students the time and support necessary to grow into thoughtful, articulate citizens. Amy Fox and Rianna Bensing will explore the unique benefits of student-directed learning in 2e education: prioritizing student passions, implementing support structures, and creating actionable education pathways that help these students achieve their full potential on an emotional, creative, and cognitive level.
Amy Fox believes that the most important ideas in any school come from its students, and she has spent her career bringing that philosophy to life. She earned her degree in Education and Child Development from The Ohio State University, with an emphasis on child-centered, project-based learning and mathematics. Her early career included teaching in a thematically integrated first-grade classroom and developing experiential art and math programs at a prominent children's museum. During this time, she and her husband also raised and guided their four 2e children to adulthood.
As Executive Director of Big Minds Unschool, Rianna Bensing oversees 3 vibrant campuses, including 2 in the San Francisco Bay Area and one virtual campus. The Big Minds program is designed to provide an affirming place for 2e students in K-8 to explore their passions and strengths in a truly child-directed model. Rianna has worked in accessible education for more than 25 years. She has held a variety of roles, including Special Education Teacher for grades 9–12, Resource Specialist for grades K–5, Assistant Director of a nonpublic school for students with intensive social-emotional needs, and a Program Specialist in Bay Area school districts. She holds a special education credential, a master’s degree in special education, and a California administrative credential.