Wayfinder

How can you know where you want to go if you can't figure out who you are? We created Wayfinder to help all young people find their way. Our PreK-12 curriculum helps students develop future-ready skills, a sense of belonging at school, and the ability to navigate the future with purpose. With beautifully designed lesson materials, we make it easy for teachers to prepare for any lesson in five minutes or less. 
 “I’ve been teaching a really long time, and this is one of the few times my mind has been blown.” Learn what's possible with Wayfinder: https://wfndr.co/495pGCI #curriculum #futurereadyskills #21stcenturyskills

Wayfinder is growing and adding even more roles to our team! We're looking for a Partnership Enablement Manager who will report directly to our National Sr. Director of Enterprise Sales. This role is a perfect fit for someone who has had a career in education and is looking to break into edtech. You'll gain exposure to the highest-level educators in the country and learn the ins and outs of the education technology industry simultaneously. To check out this role and the other new roles we have available, visit: https://wfndr.co/3Yx2JFV #hiring #edtechjobs #transitioningteachers #socialemotionallearning

Belonging is shaped as soon as students enter the door on their first day of school. We worked with our partners at Bronx Leadership Academy High School + impact artist Marco Santini to co-create a front door mural that represents students' chosen words related to belonging and community. 🎨 The mural signals to students and the wider community their shared experience and connection to each other. As we prepare to welcome students back to their schools and classrooms, let’s focus on creating community + belonging on day one. Free activities for K-12 community building are available here: https://wfndr.co/46sSjtb

Cumberland County Schools in North Carolina serves the world's third-largest concentration of military-connected students. The district offers Military Family Life Counselors, Student-2-Student Programs, and Military Family and Youth Liaisons. Wayfinder's comprehensive programming will reach 25,000 students across 51 elementary schools. All students will experience Wayfinder’s Core Curriculum, and counselors will use additional resources for small group and individual interventions. Two Cumberland high schools will also pilot Wayfinder. Counselor Coordinator Kristy Newitt shares her thoughts: “We recognize the importance of social-emotional learning being utilized throughout the school and not just held within the Student Services departments. Wayfinder's platform is allowing just that. Our teachers will now have direct delivery of tier 1 lessons through morning meetings, which will allow stronger relationships to be built between students and teachers, and students and students. Additionally, through the use of their Waypoints data, our school counselors and school social workers will be able to offer data-driven small groups.” Learn more in this week's press release: https://wfndr.co/46pPWHr

This is amazing news for a tremendous educational experience! I've used Project Wayfinder since 2018 in my social entrepreneurship class, and it has helped forge the connections and community so vital to a collaborative classroom. But Wayfinder is far more versatile than a simple "curriculum." It has evolved into an adaptable, agile, flexible piece of the curriculum that teachers can adapt to fit their needs and help meet the social-emotional learning goals of their classroom or school. I've admired the team that grew around this brilliant idea since I first encountered them in 2017: young, vibrant, and human-centered in all they do. The world is in better hands when people like Project Wayfinder are helping to guide it. I urge my fellow educators to check out what Wayfinder can help you bring to your classroom, school, and larger community. https://lnkd.in/gk4QxtrW

“When meeting with Wayfinder staff, we could feel their genuine commitment to our district’s success. They are not just selling a product; they are true partners in our educational journey.” That quote is from Alyson Finley, Director of Student Services at Des Moines Public Schools. I’m proud of our team and the relationships we’ve built. There’s an urgent need for purpose-driven education, and we’re grateful to be working on it with partners like the Hawaii State Department of Education, Des Moines Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, and Cumberland County Schools. Read today's press release: https://lnkd.in/g2JCTh-A

Dawn White, Ed.D., a Content Lead for Minneapolis Public Schools, shared why her district selected Wayfinder after a lengthy decision-making process: “Wayfinder ensures continuity of learning across all schools and grade levels in our district. In looking through different options, we appreciated that Wayfinder’s lessons are age-appropriate and relevant at every developmental stage. The tools meet the needs of our multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS) structure, and we felt this was a culturally responsive social-emotional learning curriculum across K-12. Our students speak 100+ different languages and represent rich cultural backgrounds. This curriculum fosters student belonging and a sense of purpose through a culturally responsive lens.” Read more: https://wfndr.co/3A199Db

Wayfinder is excited to announce our statewide effort with the Hawaii State Department of Education and our expansion into major US school districts for the upcoming school year, including Des Moines Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, and Cumberland County Schools! “We believe that schools can play a pivotal role in nurturing each student's sense of meaning, purpose, and belonging,” said Patrick Cook-Deegan, Founder and CEO of Wayfinder. “The 300% rise in teacher engagement with our lessons this year underscores the urgent need for purpose-driven education. Our partnerships with these exceptional school districts are a powerful response to the mental health challenges facing our youth. Together, we’re addressing critical issues like absenteeism and digital citizenship, ensuring every student feels valued and empowered to navigate their future.” Read the press release: https://wfndr.co/3Afx8yo

From the beginning to the end of last school year, our schools' most improved skill was Adaptability. That means students got much better at being willing to try again when they made mistakes and at navigating uncertain situations with flexibility and openness. All in all, our Wayfinder community went through *over half a million* lessons last school year. We can't wait to see what the 2024-2025 school year has in store! Check out this Wayfinder Global Wrapped for our most popular activities + Collections ✨

EQ Matters: I am thrilled to share that, after a pilot year, Waldorf School of the Peninsula is starting 24-24 with a full high school partnership with Wayfinder. If your school cares deeply about whole-child development, supporting student’s sense of purpose, agency, and self awareness check out what Patrick Cook-Deegan and his Wayfinder team have developed. It’s exciting to be at my fourth school with Wayfinder. National Association of Independent Schools International Schools Services OESIS Network California Association of Independent Schools Hawai'i Association of Independent Schools San Domenico School The American School in Japan Brandeis Marin