Mention “one-to-one” education to parents who are exploring all of the different academic options out there, and one question is sure to be raised: What about socialization?

It’s a valid concern since socialization affects so many facets of an individual’s life, from identity to cultural understanding to communication to all-out survival skills. Furthermore, successful socialization not only benefits one’s well-being today and into the future, but also helps that individual contribute meaningfully to society, for the greater good. 

Here’s the interesting paradox: Despite popular belief, the one-to-one education approach of Brightmont Academy provides the best environment and opportunities to grow in healthy socialization. Upon further investigation, it makes complete sense in several important ways. Here’s how…

Academic accountability

In traditional classroom environments, it’s not unusual for some students to slip through the cracks or just skate by academically. When a teacher’s attention is divided between multiple kids—typically dozens of kids—it’s not hard for students to fade into the background and avoid a lot of the hard work. 

Not so at Brightmont Academy. There’s no way around interacting with and responding to the curriculum. There’s no way around demonstrating accountability toward learning goals. There’s no way to circumvent the keen focus of one-to-one teachers. Instead, engagement and communication are ever-present expectations and constructive socialization naturally occurs. As a result, students are well prepared for all of the responsibilities and challenges to come, whether academic or otherwise. 

Adult role models

Effective socialization is characterized by other players who model good skills in this area. Conversely, if children are surrounded by poor social influences, they are more likely to adopt bad habits, thought patterns, conceptions, etc. Of course, caring parents hope and pray tirelessly for the former scenario to occur in their children’s lives. 

At Brightmont Academy, teachers and other staff serve as positive socialization agents. As students work one-to-one with their teachers, they are immersed in more mature, steady, and thoughtful socialization patterns. Sure, all kids should enjoy friendships with their peers to practice compassion and conflict resolution, but daily intentional interactions with trusted adult role models are key to learning the ropes of society and how to operate well within it. 

Social-emotional learning

Social-emotional learning (SEL) has become a popular educational methodology—and for good reason. With all of the pressures faced by young people these days and all of the life-altering and life-endangering dynamics in their midst, it’s critical to pay more attention to how and why they think and behave as they do. Of course, all of this is directly related to socialization.

At Brightmont, social-emotional learning is firmly embedded into the school’s approach and culture. SEL methods involve goal setting—check, Brightmont has it covered. Building and maintaining supportive, empathetic relationships—check. Becoming more self-aware and relying on relevant strategies to boost academic engagement and understanding—check. In other words, SEL is not an afterthought at Brightmont. Instead, it’s something that has always been woven into our students’ education.

Margin to pursue passions

More free time is one of the many treasured bonuses of attending Brightmont Academy. This means that Brightmont students have more margin to work on their physical and mental health—exercise, therapy, etc.—and to pursue activities that match their interests and support their long-term goals. The latter may include more appealing and lucrative jobs, as well as volunteer opportunities that strengthen their college applications. 



For example, I know a Brightmont student who was able to work for a mechanic before graduating from Brightmont and pursuing tech-school training in the field. Over time, he will not only possess the credentials of his formal education but also be able to present a robust list of on-the-job experiences to his future employers. In other words, when students have the margin to pursue their passions outside of school, they are more likely to hone relationships that focus on worthwhile ambitions and lifelong dreams. Needless to say, that means healthy socialization for the win!

Though the term “one-to-one” may trigger some valid questions, it soon becomes clear that the answers are even more encouraging than expected. This is most certainly true when it comes to socialization and Brightmont’s impact in that vein. Just ask the countless families who have trusted the school with their children’s education and overall well-being. Just look at the thousands of Brightmont alumni who are now making a positive difference in the world!