Meet Brandon Slade of Stride Learning in Broomfield and Boulder

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Slade.

Thanks for sharing your story with us, Brandon. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I have ADHD and really struggled in the education system when I was growing up. I wanted to give back to kids facing challenges that were similar to mine, and so I taught special education for 12 years. As an adult, I was able to figure out how I learn best, and I learned to use ADHD as an advantage instead of a disability. Based on that knowledge, I founded Stride Learning (previously called Mentoring Through Movement) and developed an environment and teaching model to help students with executive function challenges succeed in school.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The obvious challenge we face is helping students who have ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, and other challenges succeed in an education system that doesn’t fit them. We’re constantly reassuring parents that there’s nothing wrong with their students; their students just learn differently. We teach our students and parents that success isn’t measured by grades. Success is learning how the students’ brains work and adapting accordingly. Helping students that have been unsuccessful for so long, and showing them that they can be successful, is our big, constant change.

Stride Learning – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Stride consists of two programs: a middle and high school program, and a college coaching program. We incorporate movement into our middle and high school program – studies have shown that students increase their executive function skills, attention, and memory after physical activity. Our Broomfield location serves our middle and high schoolers, and the space has classrooms, a homework center, and a gym. In our gym, we have boxing equipment, a soccer setup, a ping pong table, and more. We tailor movement methods to each student’s preference. Every session, students move first, and then we sit down and focus.

Our college space in Boulder isn’t as movement-based, but the executive function focus remains the same. We work with college students to build organization, planning, and time management skills to help them balance academics with life outside of school.

Future Plans: What are your plans for the future? What are you looking forward to or planning for – any big changes?
Our goal is always to help the most amount of kids, from all backgrounds, as we can. This may include starting a nonprofit, this may include expanding our college program, we just want to positively impact as many people as possible.

Contact Info:

• Address: Middle and High School location: 555 Burbank St. Unit M Broomfield, CO 80020
  College location: Novel Coworking 1495 Canyon Blvd. LL01 Boulder, CO 80302
• Website: www.stridelearning.org
• Phone: (720) 908-2957
• Email: hello@stridelearn.com
• Instagram: Instagram: @wearestridelearning
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearestridelearning/
• Twitter: N/A
• Yelp: N/A
• Other: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0Ad1FUq3wunFEr-I3UF1cA

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