Today we’d like to introduce you to Grant Troutman.
Grant, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Katie and I met 15 years ago in Atlanta while working as Inclusion Specialists with children with special rights. Over the last 15 years, we’ve gotten married, had a baby, worked with hundreds of children and families, helped develop a large scale preschool inclusion program and created Super Heroes Club, an inclusive social skills experience that empowers and connects children through their strengths and differences.
We had the opportunity to work in a Reggio Emilia-inspired preschool for over a decade. Katie directed the inclusion program and Grant was an inclusion teacher in the classrooms working with all ages. Grant served on the steering committees for the preschool and Project Infinity, “an accessible, working laboratory of transformation in early education.” Once the school made the brave and inspired decision to switch to a Reggio Inspired Model, we quickly found that it was the optimal learning approach for not just kids with special needs but all children. What drew us to this approach was the foundational belief that all children are capable and that their respect for individual differences becomes fuel for relationships and personal growth.
We began Super Heroes Club as a way to offer additional support to children who were struggling in their classrooms for a variety of reasons – everything from a diagnosed developmental disorder to children who were perceived as shy or overly-active. We welcomed everyone, whether they were nonverbal or talked nonstop, whether they were unable to walk or unable to stop running. We used pieces of Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking curriculum, applied Reggio principles and used the children as inspiration to create games and activities that enabled them to grow physically, emotionally and socially. SHC was fluid and became what each child needed it to be so they could thrive. We thought about every child individually and as a part of the whole. Our priority was for each child to build personal confidence and an understanding of the power in a team with a shared intention.
Our time in the preschool and teaching SHC showed us what is possible when you presume competence and use the children to empower each other. Miracles happen, the impossible becomes possible. Good people gravitate to the energy of inclusion and you find special people that want to join the fight so we can give all children the world they deserve. We want to give them the hope that they give us.
COVID forced us to evolve and adapt on to a path where we needed to be independent, safe and still able to create an environment where children can be together, interact, be challenged and have fun. COVID challenged us to access our own creativity and adaptability so SHC could continue to serve children, but we didn’t know how the children needed to be served as the summer unfolded. With getting back to the children as our compass, a path slowly started to emerge. We formed our own early education company, Awaken Education LLC, as a base of operations for our goal of serving the children and families of Atlanta. We joined forces with our awesome friend and fellow inclusion educator, Scott Gross, to make SHC mobile and safe. We have been forced outside in small groups to learn, explore, have fun and be together. Reggio has been pushing this idea for 60 years. The physical distance that COVID forced on us provided a closer look at the relationships between children and their educators. It reaffirmed the importance of having a genuine relationship between the educator and child that is built on mutual respect and trust.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Katie: Any time you speak up, have an unpopular opinion, take a risk or make a change, it is a challenge! A former director used to call challenges opportunities and I try to see every situation from that perspective.
Grant: The awareness of how big the challenge is of getting the world to deeply understand the potential power children hold in their hearts, minds and spirits. They are our most sacred natural resource that we can’t seem to nurture to a point where the world chooses we over me for you.
We’d love to hear more about Awaken Education.
I think we are known for NOT focusing on what is “wrong” with a child! We have served all abilities and the one thing that they all have in common is how they begin to thrive when you are focused on their strengths, interests and believe in their capability. Of course, there is always an awareness of the areas that require support or intervention. A lot of time and energy goes into developing plans to address those areas, but it’s done in a positive and empowering way. It is amazing what becomes possible when a child believes in him/herself when they can feel the confidence that the adults around them have in their ability. Presuming competence in all children, regardless of diagnosis or perceived ability.
What were you like growing up?
Katie – Very introverted! I had a few best friends that are still among my best friends. I have always loved nature and being outdoors. Hiking is our favorite family activity. I used to think of myself as shy, but I have come to realize it’s not shyness- it is sensitivity. I see kids like me all the time and I love helping them acclimate to an environment to the point that they feel comfortable coming out of their shell.
Grant – I fell in love with sharks and the ocean from a very early age. My dad instilled a love of the water and my Mom a love of the mountains, so I had a good nature base growing up. Pearl Jam and Michael Jordan became life inspirations and guides in 1991 as I started high school. I fell in love with basketball because it was the first of my abilities to give me confidence. Throughout high school, I worked with kids in different ways through my youth group. I made life long friends. I learned early what it feels like to not be able to fight yourself. Then I learned to fight for myself. Then I realized all I want to do is fight for and with people that can’t fight for themselves yet, the children.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.awakeneducationllc.com
- Phone: 678-908-5663
- Email: superheroesclub23@gmail.com
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