291. Building Learner-Centered Ecosystems Through Community Partnerships with Coi Marie Morefield
From Learning Unboxed by Annalies Corbin & NOVA Media
December 1, 2025 · 31 min
About this episode
Coi Marie Morefield discusses building a learner-centered school through community partnerships and innovative educational approaches.
What does it look like to build a truly learner-centered school from the ground up—and do it by activating the full power of the surrounding community? In this episode, we welcome Coi Marie Morefield, founder of the Lab School of Memphis, a PK–8 learner-centered environment blending Waldorf, Montessori, unschooling, and constructivist approaches. Coi shares how her journey began with her own children and grew into a thriving school grounded in exploration, agency, and real-world learning. We explore how the Lab School’s ecosystem model emerged out of necessity and evolved into a powerful framework for engaging local partners—from art museums and farms to restaurants, tennis programs, and even the Chamber of Commerce. Coi also reflects on growth, transitions, and what a flexible, a la carte future for high school could look like. This is an inspiring conversation about community-driven learning, bold leadership, and creating spaces where every learner is truly seen. To learn more, visit: pastfoundation.org We unbox: The origins of the Lab School of Memphis and its learner-centered philosophy How community partnerships fuel real-world learning experiences Building an ecosystem that…
People in this episode
Guest: Coi Marie Morefield
Topics covered
- learner-centered education
- community partnerships
- school growth
- real-world learning
- educational philosophy
Keywords
- Lab School of Memphis
- Waldorf
- Montessori
- unschooling
- constructivist approaches
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