Saint Anselm College
Manchester, New Hampshire
AERO Conference
June 27-29th, 2025
Why We Need Freedom & Democracy in Education Now!
The Longest Running
Alternative Education Conference
Making Learner-Directed, Learner-Centered Education Available to All
In a rapidly evolving world, the quest for freedom and democracy in education is not just a philosophical debate—it is an urgent necessity. This conference seeks to explore the pivotal role that democratic principles and individual freedoms play in shaping an educational landscape that prepares students to thrive in a complex society.
**All Times - Central Time** Updates Coming Soon
Friday Schedule - 6/21/24
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9:00 am - 10:30 am Break Breakfast, Registration, Networking, Check-In, Vendors, Bookstore
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10:30 am - 11:15 am Opening AERO Opening & Welcome
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11:15 am - 12:30 pm. Break Lunch, Registration, Networking, Check-In, Vendors, Bookstore
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12:30 pm - 1:45 pm. Breakouts Introduction To Changing The World - Derek Peterson
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Breaking the Mold: Revolutionizing Upper Education
with Heutagogy - Julie Giles, Denise Marti, Norah Watkins, Isabelle Bolynn
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Student-Led Conferences - Terri Broce
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Gaia Students - TBD
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1:45 pm - 2:20 pm. Break Break, Networking, Bookstore, Vendors
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2:20 pm - 3:20 pm Book Talk Laurie Spigel - Letting Them Lead: Adventures in Game- based Self-Directed Learning
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3:30 pm - 5:00 pm. Keynote Judy Arnall - Unschooling STEM: Kids Will Learn Calculus When They Really Need to Learn Calculus
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5:00 pm - 6:45 pm Break Dinner, Registration, Networking, Check-In, Vendors, Bookstore
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6:45 pm - 8:15 pm Keynote Pamela Smith - The Benefits of Homeschooling Children
of Color
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8:15 pm - 9:30 pm. Break Open mic night, networking, etc., Bookstore
Saturday Schedule - 6/22/24
8:00 am - 9:15 am. Break Breakfast, Registration, Networking, Check-In, Vendors, Bookstore
9:15 am - 10:30 am Breakouts Measuring Educational Nutrients and Toxins: The Instant Climate Formative Climate Assessment Tool - Don Berg
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How should I decide? - the role of critical thinking and global social awareness in a successful democracies and creative
ways to teach it - Elmarie Hyman
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Innovative, Intergenerational, Intentional: How Youth and Grown-Ups Can Unite to Rethink Education Together -
Nasiyah Isra-Ul, Sharown Isra-Ul
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Embracing Diversity: Using Strength Based Learning Approaches With Neurodivergent Learners -
Monica Cochran & Kathy Magnusson
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​ 10:30 am - 10:45 am Break
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10:45 am - 12:00 pm Breakouts Starting an Educational Alternative (Session 1) - Jerry Mintz
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Self-Design Principles and Elements - 5-85 years old -
Ashley Nielsen
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How Teacher-Powered Schools Foster Student and
Teacher Democracy - Zaynab Baalbaki & Skylar L. Primm
MN Youth Collective
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12:00 pm - 1:30 pm Break Lunch, Registration, Networking, Check-In, Vendors, Bookstore
1:30 pm - 3:00 pm Panel Panel discussion, Policy, Laws & Funding,
Kerry McDonald, Ron Matus, Raphael Gang, Mike Donnelly
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3:00 pm - 3:30 pm. Break
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3:30 pm - 5:00 pm. Keynote. Kerry McDonald - The Breathtaking Embrace of Alternative Education Models
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5:00 pm - 6:30 pm. Break Dinner, Registration, Networking, Check-In, Vendors, Bookstore
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6:45 pm - 8:15 pm. Keynote Khalique Rogers & Joe Nathan - Beyond Words: Making A Real Difference
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8:15 pm - 9:30 pm. Break Open mic night, networking, etc., Bookstore
Sunday Schedule - 6/23/24
8:00 am - 9:00 am Break Breakfast, Registration, Networking, Check-In, Vendors, Bookstore
9:00 am - 10:15 am Breakouts Starting an Educational Alternative (Session 2) - Jerry Mintz
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Accreditation? What is it good for anyway? -
Ali Ronder &Terri Sperry
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How We Can Take Over Public Schools - Carl Rust
TBD
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10:15 am - 10:25 am Break
​10:25 am - 11:45 am Keynote Rashad Turner - Transforming Public Education For Democracy
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11:45 am - 12:45 pm. Break Lunch, Registration, Networking, Check-In, Vendors, Bookstore
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12:45 pm - 2:00 pm. Breakouts Why doe we really have schools (or home schooling) anyway?- Steve Hornstein
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Democracy, The Education Revolution & Youth Mental Health
Peter Berg
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TBD
TBD
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2:00 pm - 3:00 pm. Feedback Session & Closing
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Thank You For Being a Part of the Conference
& The Education Revolution
