The Acton model puts a high bar on learner agency. We extend that. Every learner in D2 holds at least one role — essential or bonus — because belonging is reinforced by responsibility. The essential roles keep the studio running. The bonus roles give every learner a small specific patch of the tribe to care for.
Acton's stance on learner-driven studios sometimes gets reduced to "the kids run things." But running things requires real roles with real teeth. A learner who holds Hydration Watch is not playing — they're noticing when the studio is dehydrated and acting on it. That's a leadership muscle. By May, every learner has held at least 6 roles. That's 6 patches of the tribe they've cared for. That changes how they see themselves.
Ten roles. The studio doesn't run well without all of them being held by someone, every week.
Runs Wednesday Town Hall using the posted process. Manages the agenda. Calls on speakers. Closes the meeting. Coached by the guide on Monday/Tuesday of their week.
Keeps time during Town Hall. Takes minutes. Posts notes after. "Sheepdog" because they also nudge the conversation back when it drifts.
Collects Friday ICEE surveys. Tallies the numbers. Posts results on the board. Brings the data to Monday Launch.
Holds the room to the Standard of Excellence with kind reminders. Says things like: "Hey — quiet hour just started, you good?" or "Math Time says heads down, what's up?" Coached by the guide on what kind reminders sound like.
Leads the 2:50–3:05 maintenance block. Assigns zones. Models the rhythm. Closes the loop by walking the studio with the guide.
Facilitates the 3:05–3:15 callout circle. Goes first if no one volunteers. Watches the time. Keeps it warm.
Keeps the studio on time. Calls transitions. Watches the hard cutoffs. Has the timer visible. (This role is especially helpful for the guide on heavy days.)
Ensures food times run smoothly. Watches cleanup. Reminds about hand-washing. Reports anything that needs replenishing.
Coordinates with other studios. Organizes mentorship visits. Speaks for D2 at school-wide Town Halls when called on. Becomes especially active during Week 3 (Cross-Studio Week).
Incorporates approved changes from Town Hall into the Studio Manual. Keeps the document current. Reads new edits aloud at the next Town Hall for confirmation.
Low-bar, high-meaning. Any learner can hold any of these on a given week. They keep the tribe rich and give every learner a specific lens through which to see the studio.
One learner per trait. They notice + celebrate moments of their trait in action.
Notices and calls out intentional moments — when someone made a deliberate choice instead of acting on autopilot.
Notices and reinforces civility — when someone handled a disagreement with grace, when someone yielded the floor, when someone caught themselves before being unkind.
Celebrates excellence in action — quietly notes when the Standard of Excellence is being lived, brings examples to Friday share.
Keeps the room's energy healthy. Notices when the studio is dragging and quietly suggests a movement break to a guide or the Schedule Keeper.
Gentle water reminders. Especially active before/after physical activity. Notices when bottles are empty.
Boundaries and consent reminders. Quietly nudges when bodies are getting too close, when consent wasn't asked. Trained in Week 1.
Notices when something's out of place. Returns it or reminds the learner. Not the maintenance captain — this is in-the-moment.
Protects silent reading time. Reminds with a look, not a word. Models the behavior they're protecting.
Flags when the studio's volume is getting away from us. Gently. Often the role itself is enough.
Notices early signs of conflict (tension, withdrawal, escalation). Quietly suggests Work It Out to a peer or names it to a guide.
Greets visitors, shadows, and new learners. Walks them through the studio. Makes them feel like they belong from the door.
Surfaces moments of growth, courage, or kindness during Character Callouts. Keeps notes during the week to bring forward.
Captures moments for Exhibition and Family Reports (with consent). Uses the studio camera/tablet. Learns photo basics.
Collects funny, profound, or surprising things said in the studio. Reads "Quotes of the Week" on Fridays. Builds tribe lore.
Knows when to suggest a 60-second movement break or a quick game. Has a few in their back pocket. Bridges the morning slump.
Keeps the studio library shelved and inviting. Notices missing books. Suggests new acquisitions.
Waters the studio plants. Notices health issues. Adds plants to wishlist if room.
First-line troubleshooting when computers misbehave. Knows how to restart, where the chargers live, when to escalate to a guide.
Keeps the whiteboards clean and the markers working. Restocks markers from the supply closet.
Collects feedback for Studio Manual edits. Has a small notebook where learners drop suggestions. Brings the best to Town Hall.
Suggests next read-along books. Reads more than they're assigned. Maintains a "next up" list for the studio.
Offers peer feedback during Share Chair prep. Strengths-based. Coached by the guide on what good feedback sounds like.
Especially active during Week 3 and ongoing throughout the year.
Helps Spark learners use the Work It Out tool. Visits Spark studio when scheduled. Listens more than speaks.
Supports D1 learners on cross-studio activities. The role-model bridge.
Liaisons with the older studio. Brings questions from D2, brings wisdom back. The connector across the age gap.
Set up at the start of each session/quest. Active for the full session.
Helps design and coordinate adventure days. Researches options. Polls the studio. Logistics.
Leads the design of the Week 6 Exhibition. Layout, flow, what's on display. Coached by the guide.
Maintains the topic box. Reviews submissions weekly. Brings the highest-priority topics to the Town Hall Leader.
When a visitor is scheduled, the Visitor Host welcomes them, gives the tour, sits with them, and walks them out. Hospitality role.
This list is a starting point. As the studio evolves through the year, new roles will emerge — and some will fade. Add new roles via Town Hall proposal. Retire roles that haven't been picked in three rotations. The list lives in the Studio Manual.