Monica La Vella

🎓 Disrupting education at Alpha School
📺 Co-founder at FOUNDTV
👩‍💼 Serial entrepreneur
🏫 Former homeschooling mama of 15 years

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

Throwback to when I used to teach @Fortnite geography and history classes on @outschool. I miss those days!

To all the parents who wonder if your kids can learn through video games….the answer is YES. And, more importantly 👇

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

Betty (my bot) has gone on strike and is demanding more money.

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

My teens start summer school tomorrow…and it’s going to be the hardest 4 weeks of their life.

For the month of July they’ll be doing co-op with me and my husband, running FOUND TV.

Full ownership of our merch store, managing DVD/Bluray productions, working with filmmakers to produce video games, building a brainlift, shipping something every day.

I spent the last three months building curriculum for these next four weeks.

I want them to walk away thinking differently about entrepreneurship, leadership, marketing, selling, and what they're capable of.

Inspired by the incredible work my colleagues at Founders School are doing building out their reading list (shoutout to @nateliason and @CameronSorsby), I wanted to give my boys the same ….but in only 4 weeks.

So we’re using Blinkist to get a high level overview of as many amazing books as we can.

I’ve got 46 on the list so far.

What would you add?

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

My oldest started his first week at @joinprequel and it included a hackathon.

In only an hour, he and a team of 3 others used @Lovable to create a demo platform where teens:

1. Select the thing they are most passionate about
2. Select which subjects they are currently taking in school
3. Click GO

…and it delivers custom lessons that connect their passions to the subject.

For my son, it’s space and video game design.

He connected it to science and math.

It spits out custom lessons that connect his two passions to classes he doesn’t typically enjoy. And uses XP to motivate the him.

Sounds a lot like he’s using the concepts at @Alphaschool that I never stop talking about 😂

These kids are going to be alright 💖

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@brianmlucey I’m in Canada

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

My 15 year old came home today and told me one of his teacher called him out as one of only 3 kids who submitted an assignment that was due yesterday.

Three.

The other 25 didn’t bother submitting.

She begged them to submit. Saying that as long as their work isn’t slop, they’ll get a 90.

The school system is a mess.

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@ChrisBlanar I worked in the system so I can tell you it’s a system issue. But I agree with you that it’s also a parent issue. We need to hold our children to higher standards!

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@LisaRHP Canada 😞

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

Agreed! And thanks for sharing.

My 17-year-old is a self-taught game developer. We visited colleges last month and one professor told him he’s already too far ahead to bother with college. He already produced 2 video games for filmmakers based on their movies. He’s definitely beyond college.

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

Visited another college open house today….What’s the path for a student who is told by a college that, based on his experience and self-led learning, he doesn’t need to attend college?

What’s the path now?

I’m encouraging him to continue to build his network…any other suggestions??

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@nateliason Taking notes for my teens this summer 🙌

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

My mama heart has been on fire, knowing my boys needed something like @AlphaSchoolATX but not having access in Canada.

Any mother knows that these feelings don’t go away. And I couldn’t rest until I found the answer.

I went down every road I could find for something similar. And then I was reminded of @joinprequel.

Avery applied and he got in 🙌

He had his on-boarding call today and for the first time in a long time, I feel settled. Like we finally found the place for teens who are ambitious, curious, self-starters, and think outside the box.

Here he will find his people. He will be challenged and given high standards. And he will be surrounded by similar minded teens.

(I’ve always taught my boys that they become the people they hang around with….and that you never want to be the smartest in the room)

I can’t wait to see what he does over the next 12 months!

Now to convince Cruz…

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@mhp_guy Mine got his over a year ago and hasn’t had much interest in driving, even after lessons, so I still get to keep those car rides! Maybe yours will be the same??

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

Did a hackathon today with @Lovable
Anyone who knows me knows that snacks are the only way.

What’s your go-to snack when you’re locked in on a project?

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@sutherlandphys Yes!! 🥳🙌

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

Very excited for Alpha to come here!! 🇨🇦

[Peter Kuperman @p_kuperman]

I am helping to launch an Alpha School in Toronto. Reach out if interested in learning more!

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@michelle_h52330 @AlphaSchoolATX You can find available positions and apply here! https://t.co/JFDsN5WoEk

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

One year ago, I started working remotely at @AlphaSchoolATX 🥳🥳🥳

After two decades as an entrepreneur/15 years of homeschooling, my heart was on fire for change in education. So I took my first “job” since 2005.

But I don’t treat Alpha like a job. I treat it like I’m a founder. Like it’s my baby.

I haven’t missed a single day (not even Christmas). Some might think that’s crazy. But that’s what happens when you believe in something deeply enough. You show up fully, excited for the day, eager to move forward.

I gave my two boys the best education I possibly could. Now I get to be part of something that’s building that kind of experience for 1 billion kids.

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@DirtESquare @CameronSorsby @AlphaSchoolATX @mackenzieprice Right??

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@simplydt @AlphaSchoolATX Thank you 😊 it’s a team effort for sure!

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@SEALspouse @AlphaSchoolATX You can show your interest in Dallas by completing this form: https://t.co/vqmyBZLlih

And the expansion team will reach out!

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@RachelVT42 @joinprequel We are excited about it!

[Monica La Vella @monicalavella]

@RachelVT42 Game development. Thinking of putting him in @joinprequel for grade 12 so he can launch his own gaming studio 🎮