EP #182 How Mastery And Love Can Transform Education

You can hear it in Melanie’s voice: she’s not trying to tweak school around the edges. She’s trying to rebuild it around kids. Melanie from All Thingz Connect joins us to share why she left the safety of a long public education career to launch All Thingz Academy, a Fredericksburg private school designed around identity, gifts, and a culture of love that students can feel the moment they walk in the door.

We talk about what she saw in the traditional system, including pacing over mastery and standardization over individuality, and how those frustrations turned into a simple, dangerous question: “What if?” What if students weren’t defined by pass or fail test scores? What if character, leadership, entrepreneurship, and confidence mattered just as much as academics? Melanie explains how All Thingz Academy puts those beliefs into practice through year-round learning, three-week brain breaks, multi-age cohorts, flexible seating, and a commitment to meeting students where they are.

We also explore the future of All Thingz Connect through the Connect Center, with trade pathways and career pathways that connect students to real-world skills, internships, and apprenticeships with local Fredericksburg businesses. If you’re a parent looking for a student-centered school option, an educator craving a better model, or a community member who wants to support the next generation, this conversation will give you both hope and practical next steps. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review so more neighbors can find the stories building Fredericksburg.

Melanie Patxot

All Thingz Connect

allthingzconnect.com

admin@allthingzacademy.com

+1 540-208-1113

7310A Old Plank Road, Fredericksbug VA 

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

Speaker 1 0:01

This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.

Speaker 0:13

Welcome back to another episode of the FXBG Neighbors Podcast. I have a special guest joining me today. We've got Melanie here with us, and she is with All Thingz Connect. Melanie, welcome to the podcast.

Speaker 2 0:26

Thank you. It's an honor to be here. Thank you for having me.

Speaker 0:29

Well, I am really excited to learn more about you and learn more about All Thingz Connect. So let's start there. Share with us. What is All Thingz Connect?

The Mission Behind All Thingz Connect

Speaker 2 0:39

So we are actually a nonprofit organization focused on helping individuals really discover identity and the gifts that are within them and equipping them to go out and make a positive impact on the world and the sphere of influence that they have around them. Under All Thingz Connect, we operate All Thingz Academy, which is a local private school servicing students in kindergarten through 12th grade. We just graduated our first five students this year. So that was beautiful. And then we are actively developing the Connect Center, which will offer trade pathways and career pathways for upper elementary students and local young adults in the community. So we really are trying to, our passion is to create an environment that really equips, empowers, and launches people into their God-given purpose.

Speaker 1:31

Amazing. Well, congratulations on those first students graduating. That's really exciting. Thank you. Amazing. And what a needed service with uh your uh academy and going beyond the the K through 12. That's really exciting. So I want to dive a little bit deeper into your background.

From Public School To New Model

Speaker 1:54

So share with me your background. How did you what what what led you to start this?

Speaker 2 2:00

So I actually started in public education. I had the privilege of working in Sponsorvania County for numerous years. I want to say 20 plus before All Thingz Academy was birthed, and um had the honor of being Division Teacher of the Year for Sponsorvania County in 2017. And that really ignited a passion within me to be the change and transform education. So I pursued my administration degree. And through that process, I my eyes were opened to a lot of broken parts with the educational system. Um I'll tell you, we we saw like pacing over mastery, um, standardization over individuality. And so things like that led me to start asking questions. And every question that like came up started with the two words, what if? Like, what if I really could transform education? What if students were seen more than a pass or fail on a test? What if leadership and entrepreneurship and character traits were just as important, if not more important, than academics themselves? Um what if mastery truly was the goal and students were really given the supports and more time to learn a concept rather than just move on because the pacing guide or the calendar said to? And those questions really are where All Thingz Academy was birthed, which led to All Thingz Connect. Um we just are really trailblazing a new path for education, which is needed.

Speaker 3:34

Amazing. I think that every teacher listening to this is also thinking, yeah, I've had those questions too.

Speaker 2 3:42

Right? Yes. And it becomes a burning desire, right? Where we sometimes lose sight of children within the system because we're so focused on molding the children to fit the system rather than what it should be and having the system mold to meet the needs of the students.

Speaker 4:01

So yeah, things a little differently here.

Inside All Thingz Academy Approach

Speaker 4:04

Well, and what a change maker you are. So let's talk a little bit about, let's dive deeper into the academy and really explain, you know, to the parents listening, what could they expect and who is this really for?

Speaker 2 4:20

So that's another burning passion of mine is that you'll see if you research local schools and private schools in the area, that the word student-centered is always incorporated into their mission statement. But when you really peel back the layers of the school and the operations, um most schools have lost sight of students in the regulations and the policies and everything that we're trying to meet compliance with. And so when you enter the doors of All Thingz Academy, our foundation is love. That is the culture and climate that we have created, where I think the best gift for what we do is seeing joy return back to the eyes of students that have been overlooked or, you know, labeled as below or not performing the way that they should be. And so we just have created such a culture and climate where kids are free to be themselves and they're seen and they're celebrated for the unique individuals that they are. Um, we are a year-round private school, which kind of sets us apart so we don't experience the learning loss that most do within the summer. And then we get three-week, we call them brain breaks here, where we can refresh and revive and come back excited to tackle the next nine weeks. Um, and our cohorts, we combine grade levels on purpose. So when I say that our system meets the students, it's not weird for everybody to just fluctuate based on their needs because we're just a big family here. So we meet kids where they are.

Speaker 5:48

I love that. I love that. The individualization is huge. I think uh so many parents feel like their kids get lost in public school. So I love it.

Debunking One-Size-Fits-All Learning

Speaker 6:01

So, what are some myths and misconceptions that you hear?

Speaker 2 6:06

The number one myth I'm trying to debunk is that education is a one-size-fits-all approach. Um, that kids are created to learn the exact same material at the exact same time and perform in the exact same way. So I would like to say here we lift the lid off the box, but we remove the box here. So um, kids just aren't built that way. And so when we're touring families or we're having the conversations, I like to use the analogy of like a race. So every child starts at the starting line, but we may need to visit the pit stop a few more times based on the topics or skills that the child needs a little extra help for. And education does make the mistake of seeing those pit stops as failures, they're just challenges. Like as adults, if the if the light comes on our dashboard that our car needs maintenance, we don't just throw the car away. It's not broken. We address the issue under the hood and support and care and make sure that the car can function exactly how it was designed. So that's where we truly meet students where they are. Um, we've got flexible seating here. We've got, I say that we don't we by law, we can't say that we service IEPs or 504s, but in all actuality, everybody receives a 504 and an IEP here because we just accommodate based on the needs of the children that we serve.

Speaker 7:28

Yeah, I love that. Thank

The Risk And Pushback Of Starting

Speaker 7:30

you. So I can only imagine the hard work that it took to do what you've done and create this program. So talk to me a little bit about that. What were some of your biggest challenges?

Speaker 2 7:45

I will say the faith journey of taking the step and not being able to see the outcome, you know, leaving the comfortability of a consistent paycheck every month and health insurance and stepping out into the unknown, but the burning desire in my heart to really get back to what education should be, led me to take that dive. And it's been the most beautiful journey. But I will also say having people in my inner circle, um, whether it's former colleagues or people that were close to me, say that I was crazy for believing that I could be the change, or why would you ever leave retirement and like consistency and comfortability? And I'm like, nothing changes if nothing changes, right? Like you have to have those people that do that faith leap and that deep dive and can get out there and be the change that we so desire.

Speaker 8:42

You are a gift to the community because so many others, you know, just kind of are thinking the same things that you think, but you know, don't take the action and are just kind of thinking, well, I've got a few more years left, but you are thinking about the community and you are thinking about these kids, and you are thinking about the education of these kids. So huge, huge kudos to you for taking that giant risk and it it's paying off. So, congratulations. I'm really happy for you. Thank you. Thank you. That means a lot.

What If Questions And Leap Advice

Speaker 9:16

And so I imagine that there are people listening that are inspired by your leap of faith. So, what advice or or what would you say to someone who is thinking about taking a big risk and leaving the comfort of uh a steady uh paycheck and benefits and thinking about starting something on their own?

Speaker 2 9:38

I will say that those two words, what if, can either fuel you right to be the change or they can keep you crippled by fear. Because at the same point, those two words like what if it doesn't work out, or what if I step out and I fall on my face? But you can't you can't let those two words debilitate you because if there's a passion inside of you, so pay attention to your what-ifs would be my first um piece of advice for others, but also don't wait until you have all the answers. You know, entrepreneurs often look at the phrase like we're we're flying the airplane as we're building it as an embarrassment. But I think that that is such a beautiful thing to celebrate that that means that we're growing and we're changing and we're moving forward and we're we're really, if we think back to history, anytime that history was transformed, it all started with a what if, right? Like, what if what if we could have electricity? I wonder what that would look like, or what if we could fly an airplane? So that burning desire in you isn't there by accident. I recently went through a um prophetic vision board activity, and there was various columns like um Bible verses that you carry with you, or dreams that you've had, or gifts that you think that you have. But the column that resonated with me the most was what frustrates you most, because you'll find that your calling is embedded in what frustrates you the most. And so be the change, right? Step out in faith and be the solution to the very problem that's bubbling inside of you, which is different for all of us. Mine happened to be education. So I took that frustration and seeing how the system was really leaving students behind, and I just transformed that into being very intentional about building a place where kids could be what they're supposed to be. Yes.

Speaker 11:29

I love it. I love it.

Community Partnerships And Project-Based Learning

Speaker 11:31

So if the community wants to support you, if they want to help, what are some ways that either, you know, the community or maybe even business owners, how can how can we rally around you? Oh, I love that.

Speaker 2 11:45

We are a project-based learning school, which means that we've got a driving question every single quarter. We um take something and we make it real world applicable for these kids. So, how can we become young museum curators and and learn the history and the science of Virginia, but then get the community involved? So we're always looking for ways to lock arms with the community. Um, we've been so supported by local business owners and local families, churches, other nonprofits that really lock arms with us to get all of these interpersonal skills embedded in these kids. So we're not we're not really training these kids to pass a test. We're training them on how to be successful in how they were created to be in the real world. So um I would love to lock arms with other business owners and network and just get the heartbeat of what we're doing and and the joy that these kids have in learning again out into the community. It's awesome.

Speaker 12:44

I love it. I love it. Hear that, uh, business owners. Let's let's rally around, Melanie. I love

Creativity Art And The A To Z Name

Speaker 12:52

it. So you're very busy in your business, I know. But when you're not busy working on your business, what are you doing for fun?

Speaker 2 13:02

I love to create. It's funny, my husband, David, and I met as artists first. And so um, in our early years together, we had the privilege of painting murals in in locally in Fredericksburg, like gourmets. We painted the wall at gourmet's, we've done skating ranks and um dance studios, and so we are creators at heart, which trickles into the curriculum here at the school. Um, and we always sit and dream, and when we do get our permanent location, which we're still seeking, to be able to take a blank wall and just transform it into the heart of what All Thingz Academy is, is gonna be such a victorious feat for us. But um, we also like relate art with education in a lot of ways because I feel like we've been blessed with eyes to see potential and what other people overlook. Same with art, you know. We just have you look at these kids and and we we look inside of them for the gifts that are in them and help cultivate and pull those out so that they at a very young age know what they're good at and know how they can be a contributing factor to society, which I think is a huge benefit to the community in general. So I love that.

Speaker 14:14

I love the name, all thingz.

Speaker 2 14:16

I really do. Talk to me about that. Do you know that we have had so much backlash for the Z in all thingz? Oh no, and how are they a school and they spelled things wrong intentionally by chance? So we stand on John 14, 26, right? Where the helper's gonna come and he's gonna teach us all things, and so we teach all things A to Z on how to get these kids to be successful. So that's really where the name All Thingz Academy stands. Like, and David and I actually had all thingz art prior to the school, and so we put it into the community's hands, like we're opening a private school, guys. What should it be called? And so they were very involved in we have to be all things because you guys do all things, right? Right, yeah.

Speaker 14:58

I love that. A to Z. That's so good.

Speaker 2 15:01

Thank you.

Speaker 15:02

I love

Growing Leaders Beyond Academics

Speaker 15:03

it. So, what is something that you wish the listeners knew about All Thingz Connect or All Thingz Academy?

Speaker 2 15:11

We really we're not just teaching kids. It's not just about academics here. Um, I I pour into the hearts and minds of leaders. You know, when you can see a five-year-old step into confidence in knowing who they are through student-led conferencing, right? We put the learning journey in these kids' hands and the sky is the limit. So we are doing more than just academics. It's beautiful here. We have a very rigorous program, but we think beyond that. And we want to really create people who are capable and compassionate and creative thinkers and critical thinkers that can go out and collaborate with others, you know, recognizing the gifts you have, gifts that I don't have. And I celebrate you, Dori, because of all that you do and teaching them that when we all lock arms together, we're unstoppable.

Speaker 16:03

That's beautiful. Thank you. I love that. So if you know it's it's summer and this is the time of year sometimes parents might be thinking, you know, public school is not quite working for my

Tours Shadow Days And Trade Pathways

Speaker 16:15

kid. So what was what is the process like if someone listening is inspired and they are thinking, okay, I want to learn more and I want to go through with this process. Talk, talk me through what that would look like.

Speaker 2 16:27

Sure. First step would be obviously to I say I could speak about the culture and the climate that we have here, but you have to feel it. So we invite um families to come and tour our facility all the time because the second that they walk through the doors, they just almost you see them exhale. Like this, this place is just, you know, there's love flowing through the hallways here. Um, so we invite families to tour. We even do shadow days for students wanting to try our program out and really get a feel for the kids here because we couldn't have hand selected them better. Um, just they're just beautiful gifts. Um visit the website. So we have allthingzconnect.com and go on there. That's where you'll find our mission and our vision and application. There's also a page there that if you are in trades or you would love to lock arms with us, helping us develop the Connect Center, we're looking for people that want to invest in that as well. Um, we're very solution-oriented people here, meaning that our high school is they're on fire for trades. And so we started really researching around the area. And I mean, the Korean tech center is beautiful in Spotti, but it's to public school students first, then the homeschool sector is put, there's always a wait list. So we're like, okay, so we've got kids on fire for that, and the trades aren't going anywhere, so let's build it. And so we really are locking arms with local, local business owners themselves that want to pour into the young minds and create those internship experiences and the apprenticeship experiences for these kids that aren't always on a college pathway.

Speaker 18:09

Amazing, amazing. I just love what you're doing so much, and I love how you are seeing the gaps and you're saying, I'm gonna create it, it's not there, I'm gonna make it happen. So uh congratulations on all your success. Thank you so much for joining me on the podcast. And is there anything else that you would like the listeners to know?

Speaker 2 18:30

I just thank you for your heart and the the way that you've created a platform to get, you know, people like me out there that um we really are transforming and doing things differently. So thank you for providing the opportunity for us to get our voices out there.

Speaker 18:45

Thank you so much. I appreciate you joining me.

Speaker 2 18:48

Thank you.

Closing And How To Nominate

Speaker 1 18:49

Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to FXBG NeighborsPodcast.com.