Practical Education with Dr. Eden Hinds

Dr. Eden Hinds came to Serenbe to lead and grow Acton Academy at Serenbe and ended up finding home. As the Head of School and CEO she embodies the Acton ideal of a curious, lifelong learner - she holds multiple degrees and certificates in education and never stops asking questions. 

In this episode, we talk about instilling practical life skills in children and the benefits of place, specifically how the school thrives in community by having the opportunity to benefit from Serenbe's assets, especially of nature as a learning environment. She and Steve also share the first details of a new campus being built in the Mado neighborhood.

Step off the treadmill of life and book a stay at the Inn at Serenbe. Use code Serenbe Stories when you book online or over the phone and receive 10% off your stay!

Serenbe Stories is a podcast about making an impact, building a better life, and the extraordinary power of nature and community. Follow Serenbe on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Transcript

Monica (41s):
 Dr. Eden Heinz came to Serenbe and to lead and grown Acton Academy and ended up finding a home. As the head of school and CEO, she embodies the Acton ideal of a curious lifelong learner. She holds multiple degrees and certificates in education and never stops asking questions. In this episode, we talk about instilling practical life skills in children and the benefits of place, specifically how the school thrives in community by having Serenbe's natural assets as a learning environment. Eden and Steve also share the first details of a new campus being built in the Mado neighborhood.

Eden (1m 19s):
I keep telling everyone we're building a legacy for this community and it's, it's all in. We have to do this; it's the right thing to do for our families.

Monica (1m 28s):
Eden. We are so, so excited to have you here. We've been wanting to have you on for a while, so welcome to Serenbe Stories.

Eden (1m 35s):
Okay. Thank you, Monica. What a, just an absolute pleasure. 

Monica (1m 39s):
Of course we have Steve here with us as always. How are you doing Steve?

Steve (1m 43s):
I'm looking forward to our chat this afternoon, Eden.

Monica (1m 47s):
I know I'm so Eden. You are our head of school at the Acton School at Serenbe, but you're also a resident. So typically we ask people, you know, how they first heard about Serenbe and you know, how they chose to move here and, you know, pick up, pick a home, but you got a job here first. So I would love to hear the storytelling of sort of like who found you, did you find Acton at Serenbe or did Acton at Serenbe found you and how did that whole experience happen?

Eden (2m 20s):
Wow. That's and I'm trying to keep that as short as possible

Monica (2m 21s):
Oh, you have lots of time with us. 

Eden (2m 27s):
You know, I'm so fortunate. I, this has been my passion piece for over the past 30 years. And one of the jobs that I had in my previous life was working in Houston Independent School District. And my, my position there was to run an international school, but I also was a person that would help rehab schools that were in need. And then it came such a joy to be able to put in the mechanics and the business mindset behind the work to make sure that schools are efficient, they're functioning well for the community in which it serves. I took that knowledge after I retired from public ed and began working in private education, helping schools doing the same thing in my quest, there was a LinkedIn ad to help build a school for this Serenbe community in Georgia. Being originally from Birmingham, Alabama, that was very appealing to me to be closer back to home.

Eden (3m 31s):
And my husband, Michael works out of Houston, Texas. And so we were looking at what are our possibilities to, to move back to the south. And in that journey, I met Peter Vantine,  who was one of our board members. And we were talking about this relationship of being able to build something for this very, very special community of Serenbe, a community that has been around for a little over a decade. And now families who are on that pilgrimage to find that place of serenity, where we can go back into time and our kids can be outside in the woods playing and where children can be children and really experienced that joy of childhood. That really resonated with me.

Eden (4m 16s):
So of course I had to fly out and see what this is all about and had the opportunity to come out and spend time at the end, walking around, listening to the stories. And it's just truly a magical space that especially coming from an inner city where there's lots of noise to detox from all of that environment and actually hear silence and crickets, seeing the log cabins that are built into was there totally done by children and getting to see that the, the synchronicity between life as it should be and nature.

Eden (4m 58s):
And when I tell people that I work and live in the space of Serenbe, I said, you really need to come see it. Because when I first applied for this job, I asked all the questions I needed to look underneath the hood and kick the tires, tell me everything. And I remember our board members saying to me, Eden, there really isn't anything that you need to know. What was built, this great school for our community. And ever since I've been here, that's exactly what it's been. I have never experienced so much great energy and support all surrounding about giving our kids something for them to be very proud of and for which they can grow,

Steve (5m 43s):
We could not, nor anyone on the board could not have answered your questions and really given you a good idea of what you were about to find. And I hear that time and time again, and I'm sure it's true with you.

Monica (5m 54s):
Eden, how long have you been here now? I feel like it hasn't been, has it been a year,

Eden (5m 56s):
Seven and a half months.

Monica (6m 1s):
Okay, seven and a half months. So you guys, you took the role, you guys moved from Houston, but you could have lived anywhere. And so, you know, being the head of school, like you've got all these families and all these parents and all these kids that are right here in Serenbe. And obviously we serve kids outside of Serenbe, all on this sort of south side here, but why did you choose to live in the community as well as work in the community? Cause that's a big decision. 

Eden (6m 27s):
Oh, It is. But it's an important one. I mean, what we are doing is so important for this community. It's important for us to be involved, to understand the culture, keep our finger on the pulse. Just very excited. We we're, I have a house that's in the Crossroads area. So we were on the main drag and we can sit on the front porch. The school is about relationships and a school is only as strong as the community that surrounds it. So to be able to be a part of, of this area and to be involved in more aspects than just the school as a whole is what community's all about.

Monica (7m 9s):
That's great. Yeah. And you guys lucked out because there have been a really hard time finding homes right now, but you guys were able to find a house of resale, but I think you have some dreams of building possibly, right. I dunno if that's still in the back of your mind at some point. 

Eden (7m 26s):
Absolutely. Oh, absolutely. We're here for the long haul. We are in it to win it. And I think that's what it's all about. When you find that place, you want to make it your home. There's more of a personal investment to see everything go.

Steve (7m 44s):
For our listeners who are not familiar with Acton and the concepts. Can you share a little bit about what your philosophy is and how it's maybe different than the education as we know it traditionally.

Eden (7m 57s):
Well, Acton Academy is to me, the way that education should be done, like I said, I've been doing this for 30 years. I have researched every different types of aspect because education is an art form. And I do believe that anyone that is an educator, which we all are no matter if you're five years old, you can teach things as well as the time that you're 99, we all are curious human beings and we do things to enrich our lives. But with that, you know, the Acton Academy was based out of Austin, Texas with Jeff and Laura Sandefer where they were really looking for a type of education with practical life skills and for the opportunity for their kids to not only pursue higher education, but to be work ready, which is something that we hear a lot, but it's not something that public schools have worked very hard with with the exit of vocational education.

Eden (8m 57s):
Practical life skills are a big part of, can you figure out how to maneuver in order to get the things that you want in life? So there are six guiding principles and an acting academy. One is that we treat every child as if they're a hero. And we respect in the way that they are a genius, no matter what their personality, learning style and circumstance, there is something about a child that is when you take away those barriers and you ask, what if, we would help that we could give them the confidence to be able to pursue those questions and curiosities, to develop their passion and be able to explore that passion wherever it might be.

Eden (9m 41s):
We work a lot off of contracts and making sure that there is some type of clear due process to limit the adult power and our learning communities. And so with these learning communities, learners work together with these agreements on how they are going to what the form and the function would be. And so they're given certain types of freedoms with responsibilities attached. Unlike public education, where there is a bell that rings and we move in this very factory like environment. Our kids do have the freedom to say, okay, at 8:30, let's discuss what our agenda is going to be today.

Eden(10m 22s):
And how is this all working together? We, we don't believe in lectures. We believe in mini lessons. Instead of giving all these directions and directives and you see this teacher being the leader of the group, we really guide with our Socratic methods. So asking questions, really giving encouragement of how you can get around barriers in order to learn more and not being afraid to approach adults and not see them as us against them. We're all resources, no matter where we're from. So we really do set up those small communities. 

Eden (11m 4s):
Here in Serenbe, I feel like I am on probably the best train possible. We have three executive committee board members that when the school was, was a Montessori School, saw the possibilities of extending this up to 12th grade and came across the Acton philosophy and model and brought it here to Serenbe. And it really fits very well with the lifestyle that we all live here.

Monica (11m 33s):
Tell us a little bit, you know, sometimes Acton is called the One-Room-Schoolhouse, which I think, you know, it's kind of a misnomer, but you do use these what you call studios instead of classrooms. So talk about sort of the studio concept and how that works with the different ages.

Eden (11m 51s):
Oh, absolutely. So remember the Children's House of Serenbe is the original model that was built off of. And so there are lots of Montessori principles that are built in where the younger children learn from the older children. And so through the process of the curriculum, how it is set up with procedures and processes is that we do have really lean on our older students to be those role models, to be able to provide the guidance in order to move through the system. Also being very much aware of child development. There are some children that are not ready to read until they're seven.

Eden (12m 31s):
There are children that haven't dealt develop the, the small motor dexterity that is needed in order to hold a pencil correctly. And so one thing about Acton is that we work on mastery and mastery stems from that child developmental level. If you have a child that is ready to move forward, then we're able to create that scaffolding where you may be working in fifth grade in math, but we're still struggling a little bit with, with writing. And so that holds back and there's these gears that are in place so that we can really customize learning for our learners. And I think that's a joy. So how many of us in our own educational experience would sit in a classroom and it has two more weeks to go, and we're just wasting time.

Eden (13m 21s):
We could have an opportunity to move ahead and we can do that. We're at Acton!

Monica (13m 26s):
Well. And I think that that's interesting that you say that, that, you know, if somebody is really good at math, they can sort of push forward and complete those chapters, but then if they need more help with English, they can sort of continue working on that. It isn't this sort of factory model that you're saying. Cause I think education, I mean, we can go back to the history of it, right. Of like, oh, why did we bring kids into classrooms? Right. Like why they came off kind of the farm, right. But it was during the industrial revolution that this became public education. Not only is it a public good, but the way they structured it with the bell system and you know, everything, the way it moves, it is very, I, I'm not a factory is the right thing, but you know, it is very structured.

Monica (14m 11s):
And I was just told as we're going through like registration for our kids, they were talking about different types of math education. And they were saying, you know, this class is really about guide on the side versus Sage on the stage. And I'd never heard that, but I thought that that was an interesting thing. And it made me think of Acton because I feel like you guys are much more guide on the side and I don't know if that's exactly where you fit rather than top down, you know, lecture style. The kids really do get hands-on experience. So talk a little bit. I'm really kind of interested in there's like badges and journeys, like as the kids get older and they've mastered skills, tell us a little bit about how, you know, the kids kind of find their own path and their own journey.

Monica (15m 5s):
Obviously they have to do all the common core stuff that, that we're used to. But tell us a little bit about that.

Eden (15m 11s):
Well, we do our offer the core skills, which is very important, that moves into a more online base. Each of our guides meet with our learners at least once a week, to make sure that they are on track, answering any questions that they have and to give them that motivation, to hit their goals. With these goals, if our children complete certain types of achievement, think about Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, they are able to earn a badge. And so with those badges, they have to complete certain tasks that can be a top attached to the core skills. And through that they have to get peer collaboration and peer approval.

Eden (15m 53s):
So it's always three before me, before it goes back to the guide and we develop this sense of what is our levels of expectations that we know that we are comfortable, where people are showing mastery. Once they complete so many badges, then they can move on to the next level. So we don't really call them grades. We call them like third level, fourth level, fifth grade level as we go. We also delve into what we call CIV, which is civilizations and mixture of science and history that are blended together that cover a lot of the social issues that are current today, and also allow our kids to have some type of hands on application that leads to an event called expo.

Eden (16m 39s):
Now expo is short for exposition. Our kids, we believe that presentation skills is super important when they start looking for jobs as well as to get into college. And we want them to be very comfortable with the presentation. So our kids are making PowerPoints. They are opening their own businesses and selling their wares. It is, and they're, they're learning how to dive deep into these, the subjects that they really enjoyed that are personalized according to what they love. And if we can blend those core skills in with that passion, think about the powerhouse that we're going to be creating for, for our future.

Monica (17m 23s):
Well, and right now you guys go up to eighth grade, right? Or, or level eight, but eighth grade to the most of us who are listening, but you guys are opening it up, right? I mean, you're going to grow into 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. So tell us a little bit about the future there and what are some of the things that the kids will be able to do? Probably the eighth graders to, especially once we open up with COVID cause the, the platform that you have with Serenbe with all the businesses and all of the who live here with their experiences. Like tell us a little bit about that.

Eden (17m 53s):
Oh, I'm so excited about that journey. We're going to be opening it up ninth grade for next year. That's the 21/22 school year and adding a grade up from that point. Part of our launch pad, which that's what we call high school is Launch Pad. We're launching you into the real world. Our kids already had previous experience over the last couple of years, developing business plans, selling wares, giving the speeches and really learning some practical life skills that's going to aid them in their journey. And so later on, they are going to complete apprenticeships, working in the areas that they are passionate about and what they'd like to explore.

Eden (18m 37s):
So that could be a dentist office. It could be at the florist, the Blue Eyed Daisy, all these great places. Now because of their ages, some people are concerned, well, they're not going to get the experience that they are, but just being able to provide that one-on-one time of tell me how this business works. How can we go a little bit further? So they may not be able to work in it, but they will be able to observe and to be able to take that in and turn around and put, put that into a lot of the work in papers and research so that when they are ready, they have all this practical experience. Nothing is worse than sending our children to college without having any practical life skills, to make those decisions of what they're going to spend the rest of their life in a career.

Eden (19m 22s):
We're going to be able to give them some of the experience and everyone needs an opportunity to work so that they can understand the value of whatever comes afterwards out of after high school.

Steve (19m 35s):
It's so exciting to see what you're doing. And of course, I've had a peek at the proposed land plan and how all this fits together. And it's just going to be such a dynamite addition that the buildings and, and already it's fun now because you're spread around campus with, in various what you're in four retail spaces. I understand trying to secure a fifth. So we have kids just here and there in the community. So we're going to miss that, but then it's going to be so great to have everybody in one big campus that everyone looks at and said, whoa, what is that?

Eden (20m 16s):
That's true. We, we are now officially at lower school and upper school with our middle school that is located around from the Hill Restaurant. And then of course it's spreading out all over near Gainey Hall. It's just to be able to see a, grow a school grow from 41 to over a hundred in a seven month period. I am just floored and incredibly honored. And I, I can speak on, on behalf of all of our employees, just the faith and the support that we've had. It's just been incredible and nothing is better at all, Steve and Monica, then to be at the campus or any of the campuses early in the morning and watching the golf carts, the bicycles, coming in on scooters.

Eden(21m 4s):
We have a couple of kids that they run to school every day with her father behind on the golf cart. And it's just fun. This is what community's all about. And then in the afternoon, being able to slide over to that village green and just have that time together as a family before they go home, it's, it's a dream for anybody that works in education to see it just so naturally flow

Steve (21m 30s):
Just yesterday, we were talking with the civil engineer about your site plan for the new campus. And he said, well, I don't think we have thought enough about the drop-off and you realize how many cars stack up here? They've worked with several schools. I said, no, just go down 8, 8:30 and watch; this isn't about cars, it's golf carts and bicycles and walking. You know, it's a complete different arrival experience. And that's so exciting to really sit there and watch.

Monica (22m 1s):
Yeah. So let's talk about the land a little bit, you know, Steve and Eden can you guys tell us a little bit about where it's going to be located and you know, what the big picture dream is and all that kind of stuff?

Eden (22m 16s):
Go ahead, Steve.

Steve (22m 19s):
Well, the campus is going to be next to the pool on Prom Field Road in the Mado community and the architecture is inspired from Erik Asmussen who's a Scandinavian architect that was prolific more in the seventies and eighties around Sweden and, and the whole Nordic area. He has since dead, but it's very interesting architecture in that it has no real ornamentation if you don't need it, it's not on the building, but the, he has a lot of fun with color and shape, which seems so appropriate to have for school.

Steve (23m 2s):
And so I think some of the colors, the buildings are going to be, you know, orange and blues and, but in such a, a great way. And this is the same architect that inspired the pool building, and we will use the same inspiration for the senior housing that's across the street. So here you have these bookends of our communities, the, the young people and the elders who many times are put behind fences. And now, you know, we're going to have them in this very integrated campus. And Eden, I was just thinking, as you were talking about the lower school and upper school on the launch pad, and I realized the site plan, as we have looked at it is the younger grades are in the lower part.

Steve (23m 47s):
And the launchpad has now been moved to the very highest space that you'll be able to see from all over. So it's interesting how they'll actually physically progress.

Monica (23m 59s):
That's fantastic. Well, and I think you guys are going to, you're talking about building, I think we can talk a little bit about the building plan, right? Like, is that, is that public knowledge?

Eden (24m 7s):
Well, I think that it has to be approved through one of the committees for Serenbe before we can release a lot of the detail, but I, I will say it's exciting to see all the (inaudible), the landscape architect designs, that's going to be enhancing the school campus, lots of things that are built in to, so our kids can have that, that fresh air play, which is so important. There will be gardens. We do have plans to have a little area with farm animals, so great opportunity for everyone to be able to join in.

Steve (24m 46s):
And I think we can say people are stepping up in various ways and it's going to be in an environmental model really utilizing or minimizing our resources and power and water. We have an incredible team who, who is stepping in to help with the play aspect of the campus. So it's not just landscaping. It is really some professionals stepping in. And, and the exciting thing is everyone is we, as they talk about and they say, well, this is going to be a model for us. This is going to be a model for us. So I think the combination of action and how, and what you're known for in really a progressive new form of education, Serenbe, it excites professionals from various places that want to be part of this and want to help take it to a model that others can see that we can really change what people think about education and the experience kids have and parents and the entire community.

Monica (25m 48s):
Well and that's really exciting to hear cause, you know, obviously Serenbe has a really, a lot of environmental standards, but I love that every building you build, Steve, you're trying to push it. And I know that you're not building the building, but every building that you would envision, like how can we push it further and really incorporate more, you know, green materials, sustainability. So that's actually a great challenge for anybody listening, who wants to get involved from like a donation perspective, obviously financing, but really like the materials would be so interesting to really be part of a model that we know we'll have the national spotlight on it to really think about how green can you make the building itself beyond a model for education, but really a model for school.

Eden (26m 38s):
I'm very excited that we're going to be a part of the national Eco-schools Alliance, which is to give us an opportunity to really engage our students. And in bringing in a lot of mindfulness around that, that topic, they are also going to be working with our architect to give their input on several of the items that we're going to have inside. It's important for our kids to understand the why behind the design of the building. And my hope is that we'll be able to have some community meetings where everyone will be able to say these plants and see the great things that we're going to put inside. 

Monica (27m 16s):
Well, and it was so exciting. We I'm on a sister podcast, Biophilic Solutions. We interviewed Bill Browning the other day. And Steve, you know, how deep Bill is into biophilic design. And he told us about an education sort of model where they worked in it. And they were able to demonstrate through research how the kids, you know, were calmer and had a better experience because they implemented four or five very simple things that they retrofitted the rooms, right from the carpet tiles that had a biophilic natural pattern to a freeze on the ceiling that was just a small wallpaper to the blinds that they put in that had a dappled pattern that like when it came in, it felt like it was trees coming in and how it was just an incredible that it wasn't that expensive, but they're really trying to, you know, explain, you know, there's such a health and wellness benefit to having, you know, a really a biophilic building, a building that really takes into consideration the students that are inside that they'll have better outcomes.

Monica (28m 25s):
So I'm so excited to learn all about what you guys are doing in the future. One of the things I wanted to also note is the location that you guys are in is like directly connected to the trail system, right? So Serenbe has 15 miles of trails. And so like current, your current studios, also, are directly connected to the trails, but the new building will also have that. And I know that one of the things that you guys are planning to do as a fundraiser this year is a trail race.

Eden (28m 54s):
Oh, that is so our jam. We are so excited that you're part of this experience to be able to set this up for the entire Chat Hills and all of our part of Georgia. It is going to be a lot of the ways that our kids are going to be coming to school. So we're all very familiar with that right now, our middle school is working with our  committee, a committee to get that cleaned up and I'm looking forward to getting out all those brochures and getting people signed up and get them into the woods.

Monica (29m 25s):
Yeah. Yeah. I think you guys are kicking that off at the end of this school year, right? So that'll be great for a fall trail race, which will be really, really exciting. And all the funds, the proceeds will go back to the school for all your operations and building plans, which is thrilling. Tell me, you know, as you're going about, you know, you've come in seven months in, you've obviously hit the ground running. You've almost tripled the amount of kids spilling out of your spaces, finding new spaces, going to build a new building have really solidified the curriculum and grown it. What are some of your sort of big idea goals or that you're really trying to do besides the building, which is obviously an immense opportunity over the next sort of, I don't know, 12 to 18 months that you can share with us, that parents would be excited about.

Eden (30m 14s):
Oh, that's a great opportunity. The capital campaign to raise our funds to be able to build that beautiful building is, is our priority at this time. We're most on all of our minds because we want to get this community as well as Chat Hills, Fulton county, Coweta, something that they'll be very proud about as we develop and grow. We would like to see our kids spending a lot more building our own little miniature farm, being able to have our kids taking care of animals and understand their relationship with nature. We all also are looking at extra curricular activities that would begin of course, with the need for additional academic enrichments.

Eden (30m 59s):
We are in process of talking about the middle and upper school watch path, working on a mountain biking team. We will later on have some, some other events: tennis, soccer, and it will grow according to the interest. We are very, very big in having parents and students telling us what their needs are and being able to customize like we do every other aspect of our program to what we want to be involved. So the future is ours. The, we just have to realize how to remove those barriers and, and grow it.

Monica (31m 39s):
Well, you guys are already working with the organic farm here, which is amazing. And obviously, you know, the stables are private up there, but that's an opportunity if, if, if parents wanted or kids wanted to get involved. And I think we already kind of noted the restaurants and all of the retail, I just think are huge opportunities to kids to just have exposure that like here are all these different things that you could do, all these different things that you could be as well as I think I mentioned, you know, the, the talent base here is incredible of just whether people are retired or they're still working. I mean, to be able to like catalog what everybody does here and that those could be mentors as well, because the school is going to just be in the heart of the community.

Monica (32m 21s):
We could all pop over and sort of share our knowledge as needed. 

Eden (32m 28s):
So one thing that we do is we have our children participate in something called quest. And quest is also that quest for knowledge, that which usually surrounds a certain topic or aspect in math/science has a lot to do with careers. And we asked people, the community, to come in all the time and just share their knowledge and their (inaudible). It is not unusual to see our middle school on their bikes and golf carts going down and visiting a certain person, or to be able to meet in a place that is kind of unconventional for school. We, we are able to travel in this community where others would have to get a school bus.

Eden (33m 8s):
There is that type of relationship where we're all comfortable and we traveled together. It is my goal that we have that type of experience where people in the community feel very comfortable serving as mentors and being able to provide some of those resources for our little ones. We should know our neighbors and we should also be able to be comfortable and to trust enough, to lean on those people when we have needs.

Monica (33m 38s):
Yeah. That's been a big part of how we felt that the kids just really showed such great confidence having lived here for a little bit, and I think it's because we gave them the freedom to roam and they knew that there were sort of, you know, the larger streets were home and part of the community. So they sort of, I don't know, 

Eden (34m 5s):
Well, they also feel safe. This is an environment where everyone watches out for everyone else. And I think there's comfort in knowing that everyone cares for each other as individuals and as families. 

Steve (34m 20s):
Now, Eden, that you have been here to get some idea, I mean, yeah, you're still discovering things I'm sure then and people, but for people visiting, what is the thing that you would suggest they, they find or do that was maybe a surprise to you or different than, than you expected?

Eden (34m 39s):
That's a great question. I think just the overall sense of community and this synchronicity and mindset is incredibly valuable because the culture of a community directly influenced influences the school culture. It never works the other way around. I find that in my work and all of our work of working in education, our greatest strength is our, our kids. And there has not been a single time that I haven't reached out to a family or a person has and said, yeah, we have these concerns. I'm not really sure.

Eden (35m 20s):
And the question is always back, how can we help? What is it that you need? How are you feeling at this time? And to hear those words of genuine concern, not only for a position or for a person, but to really know people well is quite a surprise to come into community when in the world where we're so driven to point fingers and find mistakes that instead of pointing down, we're trying to lift up. And that is one thing that Serenbe at this community does very, very well.

Steve (35m 58s):
Just this morning, I was talking to someone about, you know, a, a general area like this, and it's someone who's been here just two years and they were talking about their big surprise. And they said they were thinking about it. And they realized everyone, all their neighbors, everyone has a sense of hope, no matter what's going on on any level, you know, whether it's government or personal, that there is such a sense of hope and how unusual that is to find a large mass of people that has that positive attitude. And she says, it just makes the difference of every day, she said.

Eden (36m 37s):
And here it's all about mental wellness and support. It's not about a color, a social, economics. It's not about any of those things. It's about living life. And it, when we say that this is a special place, it really is, and you need to be in it and involved to be able to see the beauty.

Steve (36m 60s):
Well, we're so delighted that you have joined us and are going to take it to that next level of specialists, especially at education.

Eden (37m 8s):
Well, thank you. This is such an exciting time. And like I said, all the employees are motivated and excited and so grateful for the support of this community. And we are going to do this together. And, you know, always we are open doors. If there's any questions, concerns, if anyone would like a tour, please reach out to us. Our school is a part of you, and we're just very grateful for this opportunity.

Steve (37m 38s):
And I, and I, you know, at this special place I get to see from two places, one is the developer on what you're doing for the whole community. And then very personally, because you have three grandsons school in with you. So I hear how excited they are when they come home from school and what they've done. So it's great. I see it on all levels.

Eden (38m 1s):
It is such joy, such joy.

Monica (38m 4s):
Eden, thanks so much, we're thrilled to have you as a new neighbor and to be running the school. And we can't wait to watch it all unfold. Well, thank

1 (38m 13s):
Well thank you, Monica. I look forward to making sure that the community is stays engaged, that you get to see all the great things that are going as we, as we build this momentum to this new building. So thank you. 

Monica (38m 23s):
Thank you.

Monica (38m 31s):
Thank you for listening to Serenbe Stories. New episodes are available on Mondays. Please follow us and leave us a five star review and visit our website to learn more about guests, episodes and everything Serenbe at serenbestories.com. This episode is supported by the Inn at Serenbe. Nestled in the rolling countryside of the bucolic community of Serenbe where guests can walk on the 15 miles of private trails through preserved forest land, the wildflower meadow, and the animal village. Relax at the pool hot tub or in rocking chairs on a wraparound porch, lay on the croquet lawn, grab a canoe and jump on the in-ground trampoline. Connect with nature and each other all while staying in a luxurious space at the Inn at Serenbe.

Monica (39m 12s):
Book your stay today at serenbeinn.com