Creating Phone Free Spaces with Graham Dugoni Transformative Principal 608

• Vital in an education setting to experience what life is like without a phone
• How you develop character through whether you’re using a phone or not. 
• How to help teachers not be phone police.
• Support throughout the whole process
• Common complaints about schools
• Resetting expectations about structures
• School taking a constructive approach to support student growth and development
• How to do a rollout. 
• Classroom vs. School phone free spaces. 
• Tier 1 support worked better, but needs more communication.
• Accompanied by a strong and clear policy and then following through. 
• More and more students are open to the idea of being phone free. 
• Kids are aware that being connected all the time may not be beneficial.
• Yes, you can teach, but they need to actually do. 
• Clarity and community buy-in. 

Graham Dugoni is the founder and CEO of Yondr. Since starting the company in 2014,

he has been a leading voice in the emerging conversation about the effects of phones

on society and mental health. Graham coined the terms “phone-free spaces” and

“phone-free schools.” He is the product designer of the Yondr pouch and the Home

Tray. His mission-driven mindset keeps the company focused on meaningful ways to

help educators, artists, and organizations worldwide create distraction-free

environments where focus and creativity can flourish without technology. Graham is a

former professional soccer player and a graduate of Duke University.

Please add questions that we would ask here, and you can add anything that you would like to add as well. 

• How did you come up with the idea?
• How did you convert this idea into a business?
• How many schools/students use Yondr, and in how many countries?
• Was there any particular moment which stood out to you early on,  when it became very clear that phone-free spaces would become incredibly important in the future?
• Tell us about the different spaces that Yondr makes phone-free.
• Why do you think phone-free schools are important?
• What do you say to people who say that banning phones in schools does not teach young people how to become responsible digital citizens?
• Yondr is a program and not a product. Why is this an important distinction, and can you explain how this works?
• What do students say about Yondr?

Learn more about today's sponsors, Playworks, IXL, and Renaissance Learning:

As a global leader in education technology operating in more than 110 countries, Renaissance is committed to providing educators with insights and resources to accelerate growth and help all students build a strong foundation for success. We believe that technology can unlock a more effective learning experience, ensure that students get the personalized teaching they need to thrive, and help educators and administrators to truly, fully, See Every Student. Learn more at renaissance.com.

We’re proud to be sponsored by Playworks, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with evidence-based practices that help schools improve the health and well-being of children by increasing opportunities for physical activity and safe, meaningful play.

If you’re a school or district leader struggling with the challenge of chronic absenteeism, as so many are across the U.S., you may not realize that structured recess is a research-backed approach to keep kids in school. In fact, a UC Berkeley study of Title I schools found that those partnering with Playworks had significantly lower chronic absenteeism rates. Further, Mathematica research demonstrated that Playworks schools spent 27% less time transitioning from recess back to learning, saving teachers valuable instructional time. 

These results are possible for your students, too. Learn how Playworks can help you improve student-educator relationships, belonging, and attendance by signing up for a quick no-obligation conversation.

We’re also thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. 

IXL’s comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:

• Simplify and streamline technology
• Save teachers’ time
• Reliably meet Tier 1 standards
• Improve student performance on state assessments

🚀 Ready to see why leading districts trust IXL for their educational needs? Visit IXL.com/BE today to learn more about how IXL can elevate your school or district.