#60 Why This Online Model Outperforms Traditional Education with Highgrove's Heather Rhodes

Many educators assume online education is inherently inferior to in-person learning—especially when it comes to student agency, academic rigor, and building a real sense of community. Teachers worry students will fall behind, become socially isolated, or struggle to self-motivate in virtual settings.

Heather Rhodes, founder of Highgrove Education and former leader of Harrow School Online, proves otherwise. Her students consistently outperform their in-person peers while becoming confident, globally-minded adults. In this episode, Heather shares the key structures behind that success:

• Flipped learning models that promote deeper understanding.

• Cultural collaboration and rituals that foster true connection.

• Executive functioning skill-building baked into the curriculum.

• A values-based culture of shared academic goals and high expectations.

Listen in to learn how online educators—and brick-and-mortar schools too—can build learner autonomy, nurture global citizenship, and deliver world-class academic outcomes. Plus, Heather shares how conflict transformation, small-group work, and personalized coaching create a safe and rigorous environment where students thrive.

Key Topics Discussed:

• How to build community in an international online school

• Fostering learner autonomy and executive functioning

• The flipped classroom model done right

• Turning cultural differences into shared values

• Why online learning might actually reduce social conflict

• What kind of adults online education can uniquely produce

Guest Bio:

Heather Rhodes is the founder of Highgrove Education and the former leader of Harrow School Online. With over a decade of experience at the forefront of online international education, she’s known for designing high-impact models that combine academic excellence with global citizenship.

Host Bio:

Seth Fleischauer is the founder of Banyan Global Learning and an advocate for meaningful global learning experiences that prepare students across the globe for success in an interconnected world.

Episode Links:

1. Highgrove Education
2. Highgrove Speaker Series – A public-facing program of expert-led talks that anyone can attend, not just enrolled students.