Karen Monaco

I’m a school administrator in Buffalo, NY at Kenmore Jr/Sr High, home of two non-traditional public school programs, KenTon Big Picture and Crossroads Academy. We serve mostly at-risk youth from grades 7-12, where our school design reflects the distinguishers of the Big Picture Learning International Network: real-world experiences through Leaving to Learns and internships, student-driven project-based learning, identifying student interests, and close-knit advisory structures. In my 25 year career, my true passion has been the last 11 years where my focus has been on non-traditional education. We don’t have bells or mindlessly shift from class to class. We prioritize community and restorative circles, taking care of each other, and giving students a voice who have been overlooked or underestimated by society. We don’t shy away from tough conversations or controversial topics and involve the community in as many aspects of our school as we can. Our assessments are authentic: our Senior Class of 2025 were the first students to participate in TedxKenmoreJr/Sr High, the first Tedx Youth event to ever be held in a public school in Western New York. It was an amazing experience for our entire school community, and is a prime example of how much our students are capable of.

Educational Equity, Cooking, the Outdoors, Filmmaking, Buffalo Bills, and my Husband and Sons.

Education is everybody’s business - Dennis Littky

Fishing