Episode Description
What happens when you stop treating the community as a "field trip" destination and start treating it as a classroom? In this special episode, we are joined by Dr. Lisa Bonelli, the assistant principal at Hume-Fogg Academic High School in Nashville, and three of her students: Melanie, Allison and Niamh.
Hume-Fogg is a high-achieving academic magnet, but their secret sauce isn't just test scores—it’s purpose. We explore how they bridge the gap between rigorous academics and real-world relevance by getting students out of their seats and into the world.
Key Discussion Points
- The "Beyond the Walls" Philosophy: How Hume-Fogg uses its downtown Nashville location to turn the city into a living laboratory.
- Student Voice & Agency: Hearing directly from Melanie, Allison and Niamh on what it feels like when your personal passions are reflected in the curriculum.
- The "Professional Hug" of Support: How leadership can empower teachers to take instructional risks without fear of logistical failure.
- Interdisciplinary Learning: Breaking down the silos between subjects to show students how the world actually works.
Featured Guest
Dr. Lisa Bonelli is a veteran educator and leader at Hume-Fogg Academic High School. She will be a featured presenter at the 2026 Making Schools Work Conference in Nashville, where she will dive deeper into strategies for student ownership.
Melanie, Niahm and Allison are students at Hume-Fogg Academic High School and are all members of the media team, to which Bonelli is the advisor.
The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.
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