Crafting a School for the Students Who Want More
I decided to become a teacher after hearing a keynote address by Robert Ballard, not long after he discovered the Titanic. At a Sigma Xi conference, he urged mathematicians and scientists to work to improve the education system, ensuring more students—especially women and minorities—could thrive in STEM fields.
His words changed my life.
That day, I knew education was my calling. I saw the urgent need for a school system that truly supported all students, not just the ones who fit into traditional structures. Now, 30 years later, I am bringing that vision to life.
I have spent my career teaching math in the Capital Region, honing my craft, supporting students, and dreaming of a school where students are truly at the center of their learning journey.
Breaking the Mold
Every student is unique. Every student deserves to learn and grow at their own pace, in their own way. Too often, our school system forces students into a mold never designed to fit them.
I know this because I’ve lived it.
As a student, I was lucky to have phenomenal teachers who recognized my potential and helped me navigate a rigid system. They found ways to accelerate my learning and keep me appropriately challenged when the structure around me wouldn’t bend.
As a teacher, I’ve spent decades trying to pay that forward, supporting students who were eager to take control of their learning—students who hit the system’s walls and pushed back, demanding more.
Now, with Mosaic Yonder Independent High School, I am breaking down those walls entirely and creating the school I wish had existed when I was a student—the school I needed, and the school I wish my past students could have attended. A school designed not to confine, but to ignite curiosity and possibility.
A New Vision for Learning
Over the last 30 years, the world has changed.
Expectations for college, careers, and life after high school have shifted dramatically.
And yet—our education system remains largely the same, hoping for different results.
At Mosaic Yonder, students won’t just sit at desks, passively absorbing information. They will be in the driver’s seat—actively engaging, questioning, creating, and learning by doing.
Through hands-on, project-based learning, we help students develop the critical thinking, independence, and real-world skills they need to thrive—wherever their future takes them.
How Does Mosaic Yonder Prepare Your Student for the Future?
Guidance & Support – Our teachers and mentors provide personalized coaching to help students navigate their education while taking ownership of their learning.
Flexible & Structured Balance – Students have the freedom to explore and create, while also learning accountability and receiving expert guidance to stay on track.
College & Career Readiness – Whether students plan to attend college, pursue entrepreneurship, or enter the workforce, Mosaic Yonder provides personalized pathways, real-world projects, and opportunities to build a portfolio of meaningful work.
We’re not just reimagining school—we’re reimagining what it means to prepare for the future.
If this sounds like a future you would like to be a part of, please reach out…I would love to have you on this journey with us!
Moving forward,
Barbara Bemis
Founder, Mosaic Yonder Independent High School
A community of thinkers, a future unfolding.
B.S. Applied Mathematics, Union College, Schenectady, NY 1991
MAT Mathematics, Union College, Schenectady, NY 1992
30 years of teaching Mathematics in the Capital Region.
