St Paul Open School

The St. Paul Open School was founded in fall, 1971, as a K-12 district option in the St. Paul, Minnesota Public Schools. The school has evolved in many ways but remains, as of 2020-21 school year, a public school option for families and students, grades 6-12. Essays in this category were written by the founding principal, Wayne Jennings, students who attended the school, and others associated with the school. We hope that these essays inform, encourage and inspire any and all committed to a education that is personalized and designed to prepare young people to be active, constructive, positive citizens of the state, country and world.

August 26, 2026

My Open School Journey, From Self Awareness To Personal Growth and Success In Life

Joe Nathan / St Paul Open School / ABILITY Network, ADHD, Ben Hyman, Dave Evertz, St. Paul Open School, Tim Lynch, Tommy Scher, Wendell Carroll / 1 Comment

My Open School Journey, From Self Awareness To Personal Growth and Success In Life By Ben Hyman My Open School Journey started in 1971. I remember the chaos of that new building and the “all hands-on deck” clean up as everything wasn’t quite ready for 500 students. Despite that, even as a naïve and “clueless” […]

May 9, 2026

Wayne Jennings passed at age 95

Joe Nathan / St Paul Open School / Joan Sorenson, Minnesota Association of Alternative Programs, Minnesota Association of Charter Schools, Mounds View School Board, Open World Learning Community, St. Paul Open School, Wayne Jennings / 0 Comments

Dr. Wayne Jennings, often cited as one of Minnesota’s most influential public school educators in the last 50 years, died at home in Roseville on May 5. He had a private internment. Jennings was 95. A veteran of the US Army, Jennings had many jobs before deciding to become an educator. Among other things, he […]

September 26, 2025

Tribute to Lenni Augustine

Joe Nathan / St Paul Open School / 2 Comments

Tribute to Lenni Augustine by Sean Cosgrove Lenni came into my life at a dark time in my life Coming from a toxic and abusive environment Home did not feel warm or welcome I was at a crossroads when I came to Open School I spent the first year in a different advisory At the […]

January 3, 2024

Can’t Imagine Myself without St Paul Open School

Joe Nathan / St Paul Open School / Democratic Party, Lenni Augustine, Mechanic Arts, Michael Sawyer, Northern Sun Alliance, Open World Learning, OWL, St. Paul Open School, Up and Out of Poverty, Youth Against Militarism / 2 Comments

I couldn’t imagine myself without Saint Paul Open School. I was a K-12 student of Saint Paul Open School. If you count the years of semi-paused schooling due to homelessness and wanderings, I was there for about 15 years. Michael Sawyer I started in 1978, after the “anything goes” early years of Open School, but […]

June 26, 2022

Open School helped lead to careers in pottery and golf

Joe Nathan / St Paul Open School / Bristol Ridge, Dave Samuelson, Don Fralick, golf, Hamline University, Highland Park High School, Jan Fiola, Jeannie Spears, Jim Tenbensil, Joe Nathan, Larry Buck, Leif Bjornson, Luck, Pat Fitzgerald, Paul Willis, Pete Oppenheim, Priscilla Young, St Paul Central High School, St. Croix Falls, St. Paul Open School, Sweden, University of Minnesota, Vaughn Koenig, Wayne Jennings / 2 Comments

The front door had barely closed behind me when 2 boys about my age (13) greeted me and introduced themselves as Dave and Colin. They were really nice and they showed me where to put my things and offered to show me around the building. Our tour included the basement shop and home ec areas, […]