news 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 a (hopefully unintentionally) racist ad on a prominent social media platform that read, “9/10 educators agree that student engagement is…

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.

pscs parent night with cory silverberg

For Spring Parent Night, PSCS hosted guest speaker, Cory Silverberg, award-winning author of You Know, Sex and Sex Is a Funny Word. Both of these inclusive graphic resource books for kids are used in PSCS Sex & Health courses. Cory has developed and facilitated workshops for hundreds of agencies and organizations serving both youth and adults…

Gay Parent Magazine

Every Wednesday, PSCS Affinity Groups meet for an hour in solidarity, support, and fun. Ally groups meet in solidarity, but also to further our understanding of our various privileges and biases—and practice integrating accountability with action.