Eagle Rock Participates in Colorado Innovates Conference

On Saturday, May 3, 2025, the Colorado Innovates conference brought together educators, students, and changemakers from across the country to showcase transformative practices in education. Among the presenters was Eagle Rock’s Professional Development Center.

Rooted in actual examples from Eagle Rock’s Changemaker Cohort, in the highly interactive session, Eagle Rock presented The Secret Sauce To Changemaking: Adult/Student Partnership, using Hart's Ladder of Youth Participation as a framework to explore the power of shared decision-making between students and adults. The session highlighted how genuine collaboration, not just consultation or token involvement, can deeply impact school culture and student engagement.

What is Hart's Ladder?

Originally developed by sociologist Roger Hart, Hart's Ladder of Youth Participation outlines eight rungs of youth involvement in decision-making—from manipulation at the bottom to full youth-initiated shared decisions with adults at the top. The Professional Development Center discussed how Eagle Rock has implemented this model to move beyond traditional roles and empower students as equal partners in their education.

Eagle Rock School: A Model for Innovation

Eagle Rock School is a tuition-free, year-round residential high school that serves students from across the country. It also houses a Professional Development Center that supports educators nationwide in rethinking education. The Professional Development Center presentation drew from Eagle Rock’s experience, emphasizing the importance of equity, youth voice, and authentic leadership opportunities for students.

A Powerful Gathering of Ideas

The Colorado Innovates 2025 conference featured more than 40 schools sharing their stories of innovation. Eagle Rock’s session stood out as a compelling call to action for schools to rethink how they engage young people, not as recipients of education but as active partners in shaping it.

If you're a student ready for a change, reach out to Eagle Rock to explore admission.