We all begin somewhere.
Lynnhaven School is Richmond's only PBL co-educational independent high school, founded in 2010 by education leader Dr. Johnathan Harris. Dr. Harris grew up in rural southwest Virginia, and as the youngest of five children, he often felt like school was in the way. What he wanted to be doing was playing outside on his farm, playing baseball, or working at the "animal hospital" where his late mother had worked. His sister, Jennifer, felt the same way.
Jennifer loved animals and grew a passion for helping people, which led to a nursing career. She felt that learning was fun, but that school itself just wasn't built for her. Dr. Harris and Jennifer would talk about what the "perfect" school would look like. Small, fun, hands-on, free of bullying, problem-solving at the core of learning, and teachers who could connect with and care for their students. It needed to be a safe place.
Dr. Harris always kept those conversations tucked away in his memory. While he was in college, preparing to be a teacher, Jennifer passed away after years of health complications. After teaching and working in administration for a little over a decade, Dr. Harris knew one thing - the system wasn't working. And the dream that started between him and his sister surfaced again. Dr. Harris knew the only way to actualize what he and Jennifer envisioned was if he created it. Dr. Harris wanted to build a HAVEN "that accepted students for who and where they are, cared for them as individuals, worked with their hopes, embraced their dreams, and stayed with them along their journey." Lynnhaven was born. "Lynn" in memory of his sister, Jennifer Lynn Harris, and "Haven" represent the safe place of refuge they always wished school could be.
On the commuter train to Alexandria, each day and night, Dr. Harris wrote out his plan for what would become Richmond's first independent PBL high school:
From the very beginning students met around the table working together and building each other up as learners. It is together with humor and joy that they celebrated strengths and worked on weaknesses, a practice that Lynnhaven still follows today.
Jennifer loved animals and grew a passion for helping people, which led to a nursing career. She felt that learning was fun, but that school itself just wasn't built for her. Dr. Harris and Jennifer would talk about what the "perfect" school would look like. Small, fun, hands-on, free of bullying, problem-solving at the core of learning, and teachers who could connect with and care for their students. It needed to be a safe place.
Dr. Harris always kept those conversations tucked away in his memory. While he was in college, preparing to be a teacher, Jennifer passed away after years of health complications. After teaching and working in administration for a little over a decade, Dr. Harris knew one thing - the system wasn't working. And the dream that started between him and his sister surfaced again. Dr. Harris knew the only way to actualize what he and Jennifer envisioned was if he created it. Dr. Harris wanted to build a HAVEN "that accepted students for who and where they are, cared for them as individuals, worked with their hopes, embraced their dreams, and stayed with them along their journey." Lynnhaven was born. "Lynn" in memory of his sister, Jennifer Lynn Harris, and "Haven" represent the safe place of refuge they always wished school could be.
On the commuter train to Alexandria, each day and night, Dr. Harris wrote out his plan for what would become Richmond's first independent PBL high school:
- Person Based - where each individual is valued, seen, and heard and given the tools they need to chart their own course.
- Problem Based - where students unpack and tackle authentic problems in their backyard and in the world.
- Project Based - where the focus is on life-long learning, practical skill application, and meaningful ways to demonstrate knowledge.
From the very beginning students met around the table working together and building each other up as learners. It is together with humor and joy that they celebrated strengths and worked on weaknesses, a practice that Lynnhaven still follows today.
Dr. Johnathan Harris, Founder
A student at Lynnhaven is one who is self driven, an independent thinker, a team player, and takes pride in their learning process.
- Dr. Johnathan Harris
