Our Story
EI grew out of Acera: The Massachusetts School of Science, Creativity and Leadership, a nationally recognized STEAM school that shows what is possible when learning is designed for human potential. Thousands of educators, district leaders, and policymakers have visited Acera and witnessed a model that ignites joy, rigor, creativity, and deep engagement. AceraEI was created to bring these possibilities to public schools.
From the beginning, Acera founder Courtney Dickinson intended to create a model that could take root in any community. After years of developing and pilot-testing innovative curricula, pedagogy, and school norms at Acera, Courtney and Sarah Zuckerman launched AceraEI to bring these transformative tools to public education and catalyze lasting change.
We believe:
- Early and deep exposure to STEAM topics is essential in preparing students to tackle the challenges of our time
- Student growth in core capacities such as systems thinking, problem solving, and creativity is as important as academic achievement;
- It is the responsibility of schools to safeguard each student’s spirit, curiosity and innate love of learning, enabling them to be the best version of themselves.
“It is the responsibility of schools to safeguard each student’s spirit, curiosity and innate love of learning, enabling them to be the best version of themselves.” – Acera School and EI Founder, Courtney Dickinson
Acera:
Spanish, sidewalk, pathway.
EI:
Education Innovation.
“With EI, we’re exploring how to better serve our highest performing learners, a group that often gets ignored in school.”
Lori Lang, Principal, Pyne Arts