teachers as CATALYSTS of
your awesome
WHO + WHAT:
Teachers at DSX are called Catalysts. A catalyst is a chemical term for an agent that provokes significant change or action. DSX catalysts are teachers, facilitators, mentors, coaches, guides, co-designers, passion-pushers. DSX catalysts are individuals who feel a deep sense of responsibility to share their skills, story, knowledge, wisdom and network of collaborators in order to support the learning and growth of others. All DSX Catalysts are trained in new methods of teaching and learning.
DSX catalysts are masters in their craft, grounded in their hearts and act as catalysts collaborating in healthy teams to design curriculum with the students igniting creativity, passion and purpose. Our catalyst to student ratio will range from 1:1, 1:5, or 1:20 depending on the learning goal.
HOW:
We know from listening to students just like you, that you find the courage to learn when you trust teachers, feel seen and respected by your teachers, and feel known for all you bring into the classroom, not just academic ability. No one teacher can do this all. A team of teachers can. This DSX teaching team is agile, creative, deeply rigorous in its expectation of all the students, culturally empathetic and most of all, a model of how healthy, creative teams works.
DSX CHIEF CATALYSTS
DSX Catalysts are designers/teachers/facilitators working in teams to support DSX students. DSX Catalysts have:
- mastery in their craft and are beginners in their heart and mind,
- a sense of humor and compassion for self and others,
- a belief that creativity and critical thinking are inextricably linked,
- self-awareness and strive to know the stories of others,
- flexibility in their thought and actions,
- discerning optimism,
- a generosity of spirit
MENTOR CATALYSTS
DSX Mentor Catalysts are a part of the larger network of humans who want to share their skills and story with you, DSX students. This network database of catalysts don’t need to be physically present to participate, just prepared for a call, email or text from a student in need of expertise or advice on their project dilemma. These Mentor Catalysts will act as a resource for DSX your inquiry and exploration of their world and and learning process.
They can be an awesome father, mother, grandparent, skater, designer, climber, hustler, entrepreneur, listener, business person, teacher, scientist, musician, programmer, tailor, chef, etc. You need 'em, we'll find 'em.
DSX currently has over 50 Mentor Catalysts from all over the globe in the fields of finance, design, science, technology, education, the arts and politics. See below:
If you're interested in become a Mentor Catalyst, please go HERE.
Zai Divecha is a T3 Catalyst. Zai, a Bay Area native and Yale graduate, is metalworker and designer who learned to weld at age 14. Zai founded Elektra Steel, a Bay Area-based design company that specializes in producing handcrafted steel home goods that are striking, functional, and enduring.
Shea Tate-DiDonna, founder of Zana, "knows what entrepreneurs need. In Silicon Valley, she’s best known as one of the founding partners at True Ventures, a venture capital fund focused on early-stage companies." -Fortune Magazine
Tommy Guerrero is a T3 Catalyst. Tommy is one of the prominent members of the Bones Brigade, Powell Peralta's professional skateboarding team that was successful during the 1980s. Tommy and Jim Thiebaud, a hometown friend and Powell Peralta teammate, started the skateboarding company "Real". Tommy is also a musician with critically acclaimed albums, EPs, and singles that incorporate various types of music, from rock, hip hop, and funk, to soul, and jazz.
Douglas Diaz is a T3 Catalyst. Douglas has had many lives, first as an architect, then professor at Columbia University, UX designer and now an exhibiting artist in Japan.
Angeliki Kapoglou, is a systems engineer from Greece who has worked with NASA JPL, ISU, UCL, MDRS, CALTECH, ESA/ESTEC, CERN, to name a few. Angeliki had a hand in designing the Day in the Life for DSX students. Here she is at the Mars Desert Research Station.
Jason Mayden grew up on the South Side of Chicago in the 1990s, when Michael Jordan and the Bulls ruled the NBA. Since 4th grade, Jason dreamed of designing Air Jordan basketball shoes. He majored in industrial design at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Mich., became the first design intern at the Jordan Brand at Nike..........READ MORE
