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Garrett

Basic Info​

  • Role: Guide at Alpha School (Austin).
  • Location: Austin, TX.
  • Background: Found the role via LinkedIn while looking for business consulting jobs. Has been with Alpha School for about a year. Black guy.
  • Education: Harvard University (undergraduate), Duke University (MBA)

Professional Role & Insights​

  • Works primarily with high school students (Level 4) and middle school students (Level 3).
  • Collaborates with Jack Oremus and other guides (Chris, Doug, Chloe).
  • Involved in the Alpha School weekend program for private high school students alongside Jack.
  • Familiar with Alpha School's structure: levels based on life skills progression (Check Chart for K-6), not just age; 2+6 learning model.
  • Understands the different specialized schools (GT, Sports Academy, NextGen Academy for gaming/VR).
  • Explains the use of different spaces (phone booths for neurodivergent kids, workshop areas, common areas).
  • Aware of the importance of the "Masterpiece" project for student success and retention.
  • Acknowledges the benefit of being in Austin for direct access to Joe/MacKenzie but confirms resources are available network-wide.
  • Explains the ratio of guides to students (~1:8 to 1:10).

Connections​

  • Works with Jack Oremus on Saturdays for the weekend program.
  • Was mentioned as chatting with Sonya about life advice.
  • Appears to be one of the main guides for the weekend program that has 6-10 students.

Interactions​

  • 2025-04-08 (approx): Co-led a tour of the Alpha School Austin facility for Gary Sheng. Answered questions about the school's model, structure, student life, and comparison to traditional schools.
  • 2025-04-08: Briefly noted during conversation at Alpha School with Jack Oremus, Alex Mathew, and Carson.
  • 2025-04-15: Brief conversation with Gary Sheng about his educational background. Mentioned he attended Harvard for undergraduate and Duke for his MBA, though felt less connected to the community during his graduate studies due to his busy schedule.

Note​

Information gathered from tour and brief mention in a later conversation.

Background​

  • Guide at Alpha School, Austin.
  • Works with Jack Oremus on the "Afternoons and Weekends" program for non-Alpha students.

Role & Responsibilities​

  • Co-leads the weekend program, helping external students experience the Alpha model.
  • Involved in discussions about student progress and motivation within the weekend program (e.g., Kean's SAT prep and Masterpiece work).
  • Engages with strategic questions about program effectiveness and student accountability.

Interactions​

  • 2025-04-14: Participated in the Alpha High staff meeting (or a portion relevant to the weekends program) with Joe Liemandt, Gary Sheng, Jack Oremus, etc. Discussed challenges and strategies for motivating students in the weekend program.

Transcripts​

Transcript IDDateSummary
2025-05-12-alpha-high-staff-meeting2025-05-12Alpha High staff meeting discussing enrollment targets, academic progress, and strategic initiatives