About

John Harvey discovered the transformative power of progressive education as an undergraduate at Hampshire College in the 1990s. Inspired by Hampshire's self-directed, inquiry-based system, John set out to bring the same engaging and empowering student-centered approaches to the study of Spanish Language & Culture at the secondary school level. After completing his masters and PhD in Spanish & Portuguese at Tulane University in 2004, John immediately joined the faculty of the Athenian School in Danville, California, where he saw fertile ground for his approach.

Over the last twenty years John has joyously led the World Languages Department at Athenian in progressive directions, training teachers to create their own curriculum via the Understanding by Design framework, creating hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experiences for students at home and abroad, leading the World Language Department to embrace innovative learning technologies, and founding many Professional Learning Communities that continue to push the edges of progressive pedagogy.