In this episode of Brighter Together, Janet Courtney sits down with Janna Churchill, Director of Student Services at Northern United Charter Schools, to explore a question we’re all asking: what if learning happened beyond the screen?

Janna shares how her school’s personalized, rural education model is transforming independent study into something deeper—rooted in nature, community, and resilience. From flexible learning formats to the inspiring ORBE (Outdoor Resiliency Building Education) program, she unpacks how reintroducing students to the natural world is revitalizing their emotional, social, and academic growth.

If you’ve ever wished your students could log off and reconnect—with peers, purpose, and the planet—this episode is for you.