For K-12 Students
For Adult Students

Common approaches rarely produce Uncommon results

Welcome to the Uncommon Sense School!

If you are here, you likely are looking for something, something missing in your or your child’s education. You aren’t sure what it is or what it is called but you know it’s important…

The primary role of the school is to help students of any age or path build (or rebuild) their foundation.

When looking to build something, you start with a foundation, a simple, reliable means of support upon which you will build everything. In a person, that foundation is who we are and how we interact with the world around us. This foundation has many names: common sense, life skills, real-world wisdom, critical thinking, self-reliance, or what we like to call tested confidence. You see, for some unknown reason, the modern education system skips this essential first step. They start building your education without ever building your foundation and just assume you have one? I ask you, what kind of building stands the test of time with a poor (or no) foundation? No, like anything else, this foundation, this sense or skill, MUST BE TAUGHT!

Take our classes

We have developed two series of courses (Life Skills and Dreams) which address this glaring hole in people’s education. Presented as online courses, our problem is not the material, it is the willingness of individuals to admit they lack this foundation. Confident they have “common sense”, they struggle on blindly, hoping to fake-it-till-they-make-it. Why take chances with your (or your child’s) educational development by “hoping” you (or they) have a good foundation? Replace your blind confidence with tested confidence and boldly build your (or their) life and enable it’s success.

Enroll today!

Use our resources

The secondary role of this school is to provide resources and instruction to augment this newly developed foundation

Properly equipped with this foundational knowledge and tested confidence, we provide additional guidance and support only available from a school of this type. Whether through succinct online or in-person tutoring, mentorship, books, blogs, individualized strength training, or even sales training, we provide as many avenues as possible to help anyone become their best self. Imagine access to your own professor, able to ask or receive instruction on almost anything you might be struggling with. What could you accomplish with someone like that in your corner? What better investment could you make in yourself?

Sign up for a 1-on-1 with Dr. B!

Connect to your child(ren)

The third role of this school is to bring parents and children together under this unique learning opportunity.

With the omission of these foundational elements from the modern education system, the onus has fallen on parents to fill in these important concepts with their children. However most households require both parents to work, making it harder and harder to find the requisite time, despite good intentions. Additionally, parents themselves may not have sufficient foundations, victims of an ever increasing lack of focus on this essential step. We offer the solution: take the classes together.

One way we have tried to demonstrate this opportunity is with the Uncommon Baker Project, a collaboration between my wife and daughter to teach baking skills and offer yummy, natural treats to local residents. Started as a way to market my wife’s cottage bakery in our home, we have expanded into opportunities for other mothers/daughters to sign up and come bake in our kitchen. Together. Imagine learning how to bake delicious food in a small, home setting all while getting invaluable one-on-one time with your kid. It is a fun way to learn a skill, eat some good food, and form a lasting memory.

Curious about this unique opportunity? Click here and reach out for details.

We are growing!

We are excited to announce our recent expansion into home and charter schools!

Through developing this school, we became aware of another missing facet of the education system that we could fill. There appears to be a general absence of qualified individuals to teach core STEM fields in the K-12 age range and College Age. As a former biology professor, Dr. B. has taught for years at the university level and now seeks to bring his unique knowledge to home and charter schools. Able to pivot to almost any level of education, we can offer direct Ph.D. level instruction for your child’s development. However, anyone familiar with charter schools knows most require an invite before they can be used as a resource. It is here we need your help. Request our school be added (Santa Barbara, Ventura, and LA County only please) and let us bring our pedagogy to your home or classroom!

Whether you are homeschooled, in public school, private school, trade school, pursuing adult education, continuing education, working full time or enrolled in college, the Uncommon Sense School is for you. Don’t go through life unprepared, hoping for the best. Join our school, sign up your children, or better yet, do it together. Let us fill your/their backpack with everything you/they need to make your/their life’s journey a prosperous one. Develop your foundation!

Our Mission:

  • We believe everyone harbors the potential for success within them, yet may require guidance or accountability to unlock their true capabilities. Our mission is to turn your dreams into reality by building a vision and offering the support needed to navigate life's challenges to become the best version of oneself. In addition, we strive to educate individuals on the day-to-day challenges currently overlooked in traditional education, offering coursework and in-person teachings on essential life skills. From health and finances to career choices and leadership, we serve as a one-stop shop for personal development. Our philosophy centers on the belief that life is a journey and we are committed to equipping you with the tools, supplies, and guidance necessary to chart your path to success.

  • As a business, we endeavor to elevate a person’s mental and physical health through mentorship, teaching, and focused individual plans. One of the most sought-after resources in modern society is someone to help turn a dream into reality. Often, someone knows what they want but has no idea how to get it or even where to start. That’s where we come in. We don’t provide the dreams, rather we provide the vision to make it possible. You see, success or one’s best self is inside each of us. However, we often need someone to come along and help us unlock that person, that best version of self. Ever meet someone who just has it all together? They are almost infectious, and everyone wants to be around them. It is our goal to make you that person.

    In addition to these goals, we also seek to educate people on the day-to-day challenges life throws at us. Normally this information would come from a parent or guardian. Yet with the modern world being so busy and ever changing, perhaps much of that information never made it to you. Again, we are here to help. Our coursework and in person teachings allow you to brush up on all those things in a clear, concise manner. Imagine spending time in a classroom setting but on topics directly related to surviving adult life. From concepts on health to money to career choice to leadership, we provide a one-stop shop that empowers people to better navigate the world around them.

    If we were to cull down our philosophy into something simple, it would be this. Life is a journey we all go on. Anyone who wants to complete a journey should start by taking stock of what they have, what they still need, and hopefully takes along a map of where they intend to go. It is our purpose to equip you with all the right things you need and the best map possible for reaching your destination. There are no guarantees in life but someone equipped with the best tools, supplies, and guidance has the greatest chance of success.

    The hardest part of creating change in your life is simply deciding to do it. And we know how hard the emotional pushback can be. We have been there too. What is different, with us, is you aren’t doing it alone. Decide today to invest in yourself. You only get one life. Do you want to just let it slip by or take a real chance on being your best self, on finding the success you have always wanted?

  • A few words from Dr. Baumsteiger: My focus in life has always been the pursuit of knowledge by studying the world around me. Much of that time was spent performing scientific research, teaching and learning at the University level. My journey began at UCLA and would take me to Humboldt State, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington State University, UC Merced, CSU Stanislaus, UC Davis, and ended at the University of Pacific as a visiting professor. During that time, I was able to publish in a number of peer-reviewed journals and interact with some truly brilliant people. It was also along this journey I first started to ponder what leadership was and how society looks at it. My book represents the culmination of those thoughts as I sought to discover my place in the leadership hierarchy and how others might be doing the same. I am an avid fitness enthusiast and trainer and work as a mentor/coach as well as offer one-on-one strength training sessions to folks. Lastly, I currently work for a large solar company. If not playing golf, you can find me taking adventures with my wife and daughter to continue that exploration of this world we live in.

From Our Clients

  • "“I would without a doubt recommend The Uncommon Sense School!".”

    I would without a doubt recommend The Uncommon Sense School! I was a part of the test group that was used to design the classes, and training plans. Jason offers an incredible blend of life coaching, fitness training, and mentorship that has truly transformed my life. His personalized fitness sessions have boosted my health and confidence, while his practical life skills coaching has improved my everyday routines.

    Jason is knowledgeable, caring, and dedicated to helping his clients succeed. He teaches essential skills like budgeting, time management, and effective communication, making a real difference in both personal and professional areas. If you're looking for a holistic approach to self-improvement, The Uncommon Sense School is the way to go. Five stars!

    -Hector R. Oxnard CA

  • “I feel like I finally found the place to build a better me...”

    I feel like I finally found the place to build a better me both physically and mentally. Jason and his team have been amazing by planning the classes that suit for busy adults who still want to learn and improve. Highly recommend this school!

    -Victoria S. Oxnard CA

  • "I'm able to view things that I thought I already knew through a different perspective. "

    I recently enrolled in the online course, so I'm only a few lessons in. But already I'm able to view things that I thought I already knew through a different perspective. Jason breaks down what sounds like complex topics, such as awareness and mindfulness, into easily understandable and simple concepts. Even breaking down just how I actually learn was incredibly helpful. Everyday for the past few weeks I've had those "Aha!" moments in my daily life where I've been able to see the difference in my way of thinking already. It's helped me refocus on who I am and who I want to be, while improving my day to day self as well.
    Being able to take the courses at my own pace is hugely helpful with my busy schedule, and really helps me digest each lesson fully. I'm excited each time I get ready to move on to each new section of the course.
    For the young adult looking for ways to improve their life and find ways to keep moving forward, this course will definitely help you build a strong foundation to build your life around. Can't recommend it enough.

  • “Exactly what you should have been taught growing up.”

    Exactly what you should have been taught growing up. Sometimes you need to be uncomfortable and feel challenged to grow, and I think that Jason presented this material in such a way that was respectful, insightful, and encouraging to reflection and introspection. I know for myself I always struggled understand things that people deemed "common sense" and have spent a good part of my last 10 years trying to build the skills needed for "adulting" and it is so hard to learn what you don't know. This is a gem, I am looking forward to more of it!

    -Diana S. Ventura CA