Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholle Walton-Durban.
Hi Nicholle, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
Whenever I get asked to tell “my story,” I immediately think, “Which one?!” I have a lot of stories. It is the same when asked, “ok, so what do you do?” I hate the idea of boxes – always having and doing just one thing. I’ve been many things. I do many things. But for this conversation and how I got to where I am doing what I do today, it was when I became a Mom to 3 amazing Boys! That is when my life started to head in a direction I did not see coming. It was where my passions and experiences aligned to reveal my purpose. It is why I am here doing what I do. So what do I do? What is my story – I work daily to empower our children to discover their unique passions and purpose. I work daily to dismantle oppressive systems and ideas that rob our children of an inherent love of learning and curiosity. I work every day to build places and programs that not only provide opportunities for our children but highlight and show the world exactly what they are capable of, from the youngest of ages, and I work every day to find ways to make these opportunities accessible for everyone.
I have this deep and unwavering belief that our children are capable of much more than they are provided the opportunity for and when my oldest entered the 4th grade several years back, I sat at the Parent/Teacher conference listening to what was expected. It hit me like a lightning bolt.
This system we were in, the path we were “supposed” to take, was no longer designed to support and prepare my children for the world they would be entering. It needed to be updated. So, instead of waiting for that outdated system to recognize and correct itself, I set out to build something better. Something that would provide my sons with the relevant skills they need (critical thinking, independent learning, collaboration, grit, communication, etc.), something that empowered them to discover their passions and purpose, and provide a community that would challenge, hold accountable, and inspires them to be all they chose to be.
It has been a journey, 8 years and counting, and along the way, I have met and teamed up with others who share the same beliefs. We continue to work together to build programs, community, and opportunities for our children. Our work is our answer to how we can redefine and re-imagine education for the better.
I am the Co-Founder and Head of School at E.S.T.E.A.M Academy (an Acton Academy affiliate), a micro-school that supports learners ages 4-18 as they set out on their Hero’s Journey to discover passion and purpose while developing relevant, real-world life skills in a learner-led, Socratic community.
I am the Co-Founder of E.S.T.E.A.M Learning Labs, a robust Enrichment Program that offers a variety of exciting Summer Camps, Classes, and Workshops with a focus on STEM and STEAM in inspired maker spaces that support hands-on, project-based learning. We work with organizations throughout Central Texas to ensure access to STEM and STEAM is available to all learners and their communities.
I am the Co-Founder and serve as the Executive Director of the Foundation for Innovative and Restorative Education (The FIRE Foundation), an educational 501c3 nonprofit that builds and supports purposeful learning communities, programs, and opportunities that empower each learner to take the reins in their learning journey while equipping them with the relevant life skills needed to succeed. We create educational ecosystems that serve the entire community by identifying needs, providing opportunity, and ensuring access for all. In 2024, we will begin the work of building the first of its kind, Educational Empowerment Campus – Imagine a new way to learn, live, and work that is made up of three essential components and can come in multiple configurations: shared spaces, an ecosystem of services, and community.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
HA! You can imagine how smooth the road is when challenging the status quo or working to re-invent anything. There will always be struggles along the way. But the struggle is part of the process; it ensures that we take the time to work with our biggest stakeholders- the children and listen as they guide us to discover what works best for them, not our idea, but their clearly defined expression of need and want. I continue to be inspired and blown away by our children’s solutions. Their ideas are always better than what we (the adults in the room) might have come up with. Every organization I have founded works directly with the children involved to ensure we meet their expressed needs.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us more about your work. next
My work, next? Who knows where this journey will lead? For now, my work has me travel alongside my children and for that I am grateful. After that, who knows? Beyond my children, I work with so many amazing young people, that it is hard to imagine doing anything else. To be a part of building something new, something different, something better, something purposeful is work worth doing! One of my favorite quotes is, “If someone tells you you can’t, they’re showing you their limits. Not yours!” I not only believe that, I live that. I hope my children live that. I hope all our children embrace and live that!
We’d love to hear about what you think about risk-taking.
I think my story clearly shows my thoughts on risks! I am not very risk-averse. I believe a certain level of risk is required to elevate anything in a person’s life. So, instead of being afraid of risk, let it challenge and inspire. It is necessary to innovate, to evolve, to do what they say can’t be done. We should learn to assess risk and embrace it, see it as an opportunity.
Contact Info:
- Website: ESTEAM Academy: https://www.
esteamacademyrr.com/, ESTEAM Learning Labs: https:// esteamlearninglabs.com/, The FIRE Foundation: https://fire- foundation.org/
