Originally Posted On: https://www.equities.com/impact-investing/disruptive-education-model/
Athletes of Influence: Shaun Alexander on funding a ‘disruptive education model’
Third in a series
Part 1: Shaun Alexander’s success is propelled by preparation and purpose
Part 2: Shaun Alexander develops NFL players into impact investors
Retired NFL player Shaun Alexander is an impact investor and entrepreneur. A first round draft pick for the Seattle Seahawks, Shaun earned millions as a professional football player and through private investments. But you can tell when you sit down to talk with him that the job title he’s most proud of is “Dad.”
Shaun has 13 children. And while that might seem like enough work to keep anyone busy full time, Shaun’s on a mission to help homeschooled children excel both academically and athletically.
A ‘disruptive education model’
The 2005 National Football League MVP is building what he describes as a “disruptive educational model” that supports individualized education and dynamic sports.
Founded by Shaun and his wife Valerie, Harvest Covenant aims to take an innovative educational approach that caters to the unique needs of every family.
“Because homeschool kids can’t play [sports] in public schools. And so here we have this huge problem,” Shaun said during a panel at The Family Office & Private Wealth Management Forum in July where he called on attendees to invest in the school.
The catalyst for Harvest Covenant came from a roadblock in Shaun’s own journey homeschooling his children. Shaun’s son wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. Shaun agreed to sign him up for local football teams in seventh and eighth grade.
But then came high school.
“Here we have this homeschool community that I love my kids to be in. But I’ve got a potential D1 athlete as a son,” Shaun said.
Other homeschool parents told Shaun they had faced the same problem. And some opted to enroll their children in public high school in order for them to compete in sports.
“Some of them were like: ‘We hated it. And we saw our kids not have the same disciplines and principles that we put in them.’ And so I just thought, what if we just built a school that really carried the things that we want? I’m a man of faith. What if we build a school that had extraordinary faith?”
Individualized education and dynamic sports
So Shaun began to develop a model for a school where students would attend in person for two days a week and be taught at home three days a week. The minimum requirement of two in-person school days would qualify students to participate in the school’s athletic programs.
“Our idea is extraordinary faith, thriving families, individualized education and dynamic sports,” Shaun said.
There are high-level coaches already willing to jump on board at Harvest Covenant, he added.
But even as Shaun works to get Harvest Covenant off the ground, he isn’t limiting his vision to just one school.
“The idea is not just to do this. It’s really to disrupt the whole education system. What if everybody’s kid in this whole country had the ability to have individualized education? And create a way that fits you and your family for the future and what your kid wants to do,” Shaun said.
