School Without Suffering is a virtual school and academic coaching practice for students who struggle with anxiety.

Vision

A world where students thrive everywhere learning occurs.

Mission

We help students feel and do better in school and in life. We teach them to master their mindset, set their systems, and persistently practice so they can achieve their goals while cultivating health and happiness.

An adolescent's neat desk

Guiding Principles

All learning is personal.

What a person learns from any given experience depends upon their own style, readiness, and relationships they develop within their learning community. No one learning outcome is more valuable than another.

Authentic relationships matter.

A person is most free to learn when they establish authentic relationships with others. In authentic relationships, people can be open, honest, and direct with one another so they can communicate what they are actually feeling.

Emotions are an integral part of learning.

Neuroscience demonstrates that the relationship between emotion and cognition is profound. The emotional aspects of learning must be explicitly supported in order for students to succeed and ultimately thrive.

Acquiring skills, developing values, and cultivating compassion are essential components of a worthwhile education.

Worthwhile education is defined by Indiana University as effective education that is intrinsically good. A worthwhile education enhances quality of life, reduces inequality, minimizes suffering, and maximizes overall good.

Impact

To have a lasting effect for all students, we’ll need to impact the culture of schooling. And for that, we need a coalition.

SEE OUR VALUES IN ACTION
A diverse team of five gathered around a laptop.

Leadership

Laura Fragomeni, Ed. M.
Executive Director and Head of SchoolLaura Fragomeni is a Harvard-educated teacher who’s been educating students with diverse learning needs for more than a decade. 

Over that time, she's taught students in grades K-16+ in a wide variety of settings, including traditional public school, home school, private tutoring, and hospital school programs. And she's honed a compassionate, neuroscience-based approach to instruction and academic coaching that works.

Laura founded School Without Suffering to help students around the world be both successful and happy because she believes that when students have the tools and support that they need, they thrive. 

Qualifications

Master of Education in Technology, Innovation, and Education from Harvard University

Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, and Bachelor of Arts in Women’s Studies from Emory University

Educational Therapy training from UC Riverside Extension

California Teaching Credential (clear) with English Learner Authorization

Our Coaches

Academic Coach

Sarah Geshell

Sarah is a passionate teacher and a strong advocate for student support. Sarah is certified in Secondary Education Biology, Chemistry, and General Sciences. She has taught in public schools over the last 8 years, serving students from grades 9-12 in Biology, Chemistry, AP Chemistry, Medical Chemistry, and Integrated Sciences. She leads her students with a love for learning and an understanding that every student will come to the table with different needs. You'll find her hosting daily Office Hours and supporting students 1:1 in our Intensive Membership.

Academic Coach

Aaron Thaul

Aaron has 10+ years of experience as an educator. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Math from Emory University with a minor concentration in music. His approach has always been to facilitate his students’ becoming lifelong learners by drawing off their inspiration, embracing failure as a necessary part of growth, and moving forward together. He loves helping students find joy, self-acceptance, and self-compassion in their work. Aaron is available to help students in all levels of The Student Membership in Office Hours each week.

Principal Academic Coach

Laura Fragomeni

Also our Founder, Laura serves as our Principal Academic Coach. She supports students in all three levels of The Students Membership, and collaborates closely with the other School Without Suffering coaches to provide a seamless experience to all School Without Suffering students. She's available for 1:1 sessions and hosts Office Hours Monday–Wednesday at 3:30 PT / 6:30 ET.