the Mill Institute

Less Certain, More Curious

The Mill Institute partners with K–12 schools to strengthen one of education’s most essential—and most fragile—capacities: the ability to engage openly, rigorously, and respectfully with ideas we don’t agree with.

We help schools cultivate learning environments where curiosity is valued over certainty, and disagreement becomes a source of insight rather than division.

We believe that the health of our schools—and our democracy—depends on students learning how to wrestle seriously with competing ideas.

What We Do

Helping Schools Build Cultures of Inquiry

The Mill Institute partners with K–12 educators and leaders to create learning cultures where students engage ideas honestly and fearlessly—even on contentious topics like race, immigration, abortion, or geopolitics. Our approach blends classic liberal learning (like John Stuart Mill’s case for freedom of speech) with modern pedagogy that encourages intellectual humility, curiosity, and respectful challenge.

Our Programs

Why It Matters

A Strong Democracy Depends on Rigorous Dialogue

Only 19% of American students feel “very comfortable” expressing disagreement in class. When students fear judgment and stop asking questions, and when teachers worry that their job is to patrol an invisible line of allowable speech, education becomes a performance—not a pursuit of truth.

But when schools have the tools to guide difficult conversations with confidence, students gain the courage to think for themselves. This isn’t about politics—it’s about preparing young people for the complexity of the world they’re entering.

What Educators are Saying

"I feel I have a confident place to stand on. The tools I explored gave me more agency without fear of judgment.”

Ahmed Selim, Fellow

“Students no longer fear controversial topics. They’re now eager to participate and listen with curiosity.”

Sergi Ramirez, Fellow

“This fellowship was one of the most memorable experiences of my life.”

Linda Luu, Fellow

At a Glance

Students Reached

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Schools in 43 states and 11 countries

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of teachers report better classroom discussions

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say they'll run our program again

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ABOUT US

We are teachers, researchers, and leaders united by one belief: that when schools become echo chambers, students lose the chance to grow and our democracy is weakened. We’re here to change that.

THE TEAM

Ellie Avishai

Founder and Director of the Mill Institute

Lauren Stimmler

Operations Manager

Mike Feinberg

Head of Teacher Learning

Amanda Williams

Marketing Manager

Ambika Spinazzola

Content Writer and Editor

ADVISORS

Nadine Strossen

New York Law School Professor Emerita, Senior Fellow at FIRE (the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression), former national President of the American Civil Liberties Union

Ian Rowe

Founder and CEO of Vertex Partnership Academies, Senior Fellow American Enterprise Institute

Michael Strambler

Associate Professor at the Yale School of Medicine, Director of Child Wellbeing and Education Research at The Consultation Center

Elizabeth Micci

Director of Client Results at District Management Group

Ilana Redstone

Co-Founder of the Mill Institute, Author, Professor

Dennis Manning

Retired Headmaster, Education Leader

Join the Movement for Open Inquiry in Schools

Apply to our fellowship. Bring the Viewpoint Diversity Challenge to your school. Or support this movement with a donation that helps us grow a new kind of classroom culture—one grounded in thoughtfulness, disagreement, and respect. Contact us today!