Ep 225: The Flaws of Public Schools & The New Education Model with Gillian Berard & Jenna Baggott

This podcast is made possible by our listeners and viewers. If this show has brought you value, you can support it by becoming a member of The Way Forward, our platform designed to help you find the health and freedom community (people, practitioners, schools, farms, and more) near you. Your membership directly supports the podcast and the work we do.The public school system has been damaging our children… but it doesn’t have to be this way.In this conversation, I sit down with the founders of Infinity Academy, a project-based and nature-rooted school that was created after years of questioning the assumptions behind institutional education.Gillian, the school’s Curriculum and Instructional Lead, spent more than a decade teaching in public education and repeatedly felt that something about the system wasn’t working. Her work now focuses on project-based learning designed to nurture curiosity, critical thinking, and intrinsic motivation in children.Jenna, a Registered Nurse and wellness educator, co-founded the school after recognizing similar systemic problems in healthcare and education. Her work helps integrate nature, hands-on learning, and whole-person wellbeing into the educational experience.Together, they’re building a model where learning follows the child’s interests through questioning, research, creation, and reflection. Their goal is to help children develop agency, curiosity, and the confidence to keep learning long after the classroom.You’ll Learn:[00:00] Introduction[03:40] How public school was designed to crush curiosity[21:31] The grief, the infinity fountain, and the 30-day scramble to open Infinity Academy[41:12] What is project-based learning, and what does it look like?[43:11] Why community beats homeschooling, and what learning looks like at the Academy[01:04:14] Teaching history without presenting it as an absolute truth[01:25:49] Sex ed, gender ideology, and the topics deliberately left to parents[01:48:48] Why "preparing kids for the real world" might be the wrong goal entirely[01:56:41] Advice for the single mom trapped in the public school systemLearn more from Gillian and Jenna:Infinity Education | WebsiteInfinity Education | InstagramInfinity Academy | WebsiteGillian Berard | Instagram Find more from Alec:Alec Zeck | InstagramAlec Zeck | XThe Way Forward | InstagramThe Way Forward is Sponsored By:RMDY Academy & Collective: Homeopathy Made AccessibleHigh-quality remedies and training to support natural healing.Enroll hereExplore here Paleovalley: 100% Grass-Fed Bone Broth Protein is a nutrient-dense, easy-to-digest source of collagen and essential amino acids. Sourced from grass-fed cows, this protein powder provides the building blocks for healthy joints, skin, and gut function—without fillers or artificial ingredients. Support the show and claim 15% off your PaleoValley order!New Biology Clinic: Redefine Health from the Ground UpExperience tailored terrain-based health services with consults, livestreams, movement classes, and more.Visit New Biology Clinic and use code THEWAYFORWARD (case sensitive) for $50 off activation.The Way Forward members get the $150 fee waivedWant to grow your podcast but not sure what's actually working? Podigy helps me produce The Way Forward. Take their free assessment to get clear on your next move—and a chance to win a call with their founder.