Article Archives - Puget Sound Community School

Rigorous Engagement (original article printed in Gay Parent Magazine)

Original article featured in Gay Parent Magazine, November, 2025 As one of three collaborative directors of a small independent school, I read a lot about trends and continuums, pedagogies and philosophies. Recently, I came across an ad on a prominent social media platform that read, “9/10 educators agree that student engagement is central to learning.” …

Community is All/And

At PSCS we talk a lot about community-centered education as a progressive learning model. One that prepares young people to be self-aware and curious critical thinkers, to pursue deeper knowledge and joy, to embody and apply their learning to action, in order to contribute wholly to a more just and equitable future for all. This…

life prep

For many years, PSCS called the collaborative scheduling we do as a whole community three times a year, “Scheduling Circus.” The name of which was meant to impart the many different factors being juggled in order to build a schedule of classes and activities students wanted and needed each term, as well as all the…

community is collaborative

Recently, I asked PSCS alumnae a few questions, including what they thought PSCS had best helped prepare them for post-high school and, if applicable, post-college. One alum sent in a video with his answers. Top of list included his ability to be self-reflective, particularly in writing and evaluative processes. He noted many other students in…

Interview with PSCS co-founder Andy Smallman

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of Community-centered Education

Puget Sound Community School (PSCS) was founded in fall of 1994, by Andy Smallman and Melinda Shaw, along with a group of 11 families interested in their educational vision. As PSCS celebrates 30 years, our intern, Lucy Ingram, started a retrospective process into how it this all began. On Friday last week, Lucy had the opportunity to chat with Andy about his perspective on this little school’s creation and early foundations.

Connecting through Quilting

In honor of Black History Month, everyone at PSCS—students, administrators, interns, and teachers—completed an individual project, researching a person, event, or movement in celebration of Black culture, contribution, creativity, and activism.

The result was many individual art pieces in the form of a cardstock square, a smaller block of what’s to become a large paper quilt in the entrance of the school.

Adam’s Blessings—Community Engagement at PSCS

On Tuesday, Feb 6, Student Leadership at Puget Sound Community School (PSCS) led us in an all-school compassion project, based on an idea offered by a PSCS alumni parent seeking to transform still very raw tragedy into meaning. Adam Reeder was an artist and designer, brother, son, and friend, who passed away in March of…

A Little Light

Last Tuesday, PSCS participated in Giving Tuesday, a curious movement created by the nonprofit sector, for nonprofits, meant as a tonic to the consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Thanks to so many generous supporters we raised almost $14K in one day for tuition access—which is a massive benefit to us all. As the…

Saturday Math Academy at PSCS

Saturday Math Academy is a program Akin and his wife Marilyn started 14 years ago as a resource for elementary school students (K-5), in the hopes young people without a lot of access might find joy in math and build lasting affinity outside the traditional classroom setting. P

Emergency Protocol Discussions & Drills @PSCS

Originally Posted on March 24, 2023 The gun violence in CA over the past days reinforces our collective need to discuss what we can do if we find ourselves faced with such a terrible reality. Research shows young people know that gun violence is a threat to us all, and failing to confront this reality…