Virgel Hammond: Nurturing radical relationships

Coconut Thinking

How do we nurture radical human relationships through authentic stories of learning?

In this episode, I speak with Virgel Hammonds. Virgel is a nationally recognized leader in education innovation. He became CEO of the Aurora Institute in 2024, bringing over two decades of experience in learner-centered education. Formerly Chief Learning Officer at KnowledgeWorks, Virgel has partnered with national policymakers and local communities to redesign learning systems. He has also served as superintendent in Maine and high school principal in California, where he implemented personalized, mastery-based learning models. Virgel is an active board member for several educational organizations, continuing his mission to transform education for all learners.

The Aurora Institute is a pioneering organization focused on advancing competency-based education frameworks. It champions personalized, learner-centered approaches, ensuring students progress based on mastery rather than seat time. The institute collaborates with educators, policymakers, and communities to redesign learning systems, promoting equity and deeper learning for all students.

We discuss:

🥥 Shifting from school systems to communities of learning, recognizing learning as a 24/7, anywhere journey;

🥥 Listening to voices from the entire community to bring in local values, while creating connections with wider networks.

🥥 Showing up with authenticity in order to deepen our relationships, with courage and vulnerability.

Check us out www.coconut-thinking.com

You can find the Aurora Institute on https://aurora-institute.org/