Since writing this article, OneSchool Global has opened their building on McCracken Road. I never did get over there to visit, but it does look like a beautiful modern building nonetheless.

Originally published in the Millbury-Sutton Chronicle in 2022.

In all the craziness regarding mask mandates and school reopening plans in the fall, one topic flew under the radar and landed itself at Dorothy Manor - OneSchool Global.

It’s an interesting addition to the local educational landscape in some regards. We have our share of regional private schools as is, but OneSchool Global is unique in that they are primarily a remote learning institution and, as such, the “New England Campus” at the old Dorothy Manor School serves kids from all over. While kids do attend in person (more on that in a bit), the focus of the school is on remote-style learning. Put another way, they did Zoom school before the rest of society was forced into it thanks to the pandemic.

Either way, as an education policy nerd with a soapbox, I reached out to the North American contingent of OneSchool Global to learn more about their school and their approach. I went in thinking I knew a lot, and came out learning so much more.

First, we need to talk about why OneSchool Global exists. While the school doesn’t put it out front-and-center, the student body is comprised entirely of members of the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church. The Plymouth Brethren are a Christian sect centered out of Australia, and are a largely (but not completely) apolitical and separatist sect of Christianity that is very decentralized and scattered across the Globe. As a general rule, they limit their interactions with non-Plymouth Brethren members, which is why most of us never heard of their sect or OneSchool Global prior to their arrival, and also why they don’t actively advertise to or recruit local families.

OneSchool Global and its remote learning approach is based around that perspective on the world. The Plymouth Brethren, however, do not often go to college, and the faculty at the schools often come from outside the faith. I spoke with the New England Campus Principal, Kirsten Combs, and the North American Educational Director, Jonathan Borys, toward the end of last year about OneSchool Global and our new neighbors.

Jonathon likened himself to a superintendent of the 36 North American schools in the OneSchool Global network. The education network has existed since 1994, but it’s since 2005 that things started to unify.

“Our campuses were always connected, but loosely connected,” he said. With the students and families so spread out, it was critical to improve that infrastructure, and this meant remote learning and technology options.

“Our reliance on the virtual classroom was critical,” he said, but noted that “we’re not a virtual school.” The New England campus serves 22 students, primarily from the Manchester, CT, and Boston, making Millbury the “perfect location” to open a school. While Dorothy Manor is a good location for them right now, the building OneSchool Global is constructing off Dwinell Road will be right off the Mass Pike for easy access from the east and west.

So how does their education work? It’s very “unschool” in its approach. As a religious school, values are as important as education for the student body, but the goal is to graduate kids who can learn in any environment. They provide learning centers, offer one-to-one teaching, and all the typical classes you likely grew up with. 

“We put an emphasis on self-directed,” says Jonathon, with virtual open office hours available from teachers around the country and a learning center with a learning center coach at each campus. The school day is split between lessons and study and instructional time, with the younger set getting more direct instruction than the older students, who focus more on self-guided instruction. This model culminates in a twelfth grader essentially getting teacher-aided instruction on request. 

Curriculum “is based off where you’re at,” Jonathon continued, “but the framework is the same” as a traditional education. As a former Marine, he finds the structure and collaboration of OneSchool Global appealing.

“The emphasis on a team” is significant, he continued. “It’s a culture where it doesn’t matter [what your role is], we’re all in it for the same reason.”

Kirsten agreed with his assessment. “When you have a role, it’s not your only role,” she said, noting that being principal in a small school with strong parental involvement is huge for her. “I get to have that connection with every student.”

Neither Jonathon nor Kirsten are members of the Pilgrim Brethren, but made it clear that it wasn’t a quote-unquote religious school like many of the Catholic schools in the area. “We don’t teach bible study in school,” said Jonathon, noting STEAM and arts programs sponsored by the school and excitedly detailing the self-directed design and technology programs for the older students. 

OneSchool Global’s model was cited by the United States Department of Education for their approach to remote learning when we all had to follow suit in March 2020. Remote or not, however, the current residents of Dorothy Manor believe they have found a great home here in Millbury. Kirsten loves Rocco’s, they both love Dorothy Manor, and staff are excited to be even closer to the Shoppes as their new building finishes up.

I closed my conversation with a question about what they hoped the rest of us would know. Jonathon noted that all schools have their challenges, but admires that “staff will do whatever they have to do to support our students,” whether they’re on campus or 3,000 miles away. But Kirsten said it best, and left me with the most hope for the future for these kids.

“I think one amazing thing is that our families value education at their core,” she said. “It makes teaching feel very important and valuable.”