Current studies report that around 50% of public school teachers leave the profession entirely within their first five years. Our guest today, Cassidy Younghans, taught 7th grade English in a public school for 5 years before leaving school teaching and finding a more fulfilling, way to work with young people, shifting her path towards Self-Directed Education. Gina sat down with Cassidy to talk about Cassidy’s journey from conventional school teacher to these self-directed spaces including her co-founding of the Epic Life Learning Community. They also talked about the differences Cassidy noticed between learning in conventional schools and what kids do when they own their own learning and living. Here’s their fantastic conversation.

2:03 - Cassidy’s Life as a Public School Teacher: “This is beautiful. I can’t make this for my kids within the system we are in.”
5:55 - Cassidy Discovers Self-Directed Alternatives: “You just do it. You learn it by doing it.”
11:43 - Differences Between Conventional Schools and Self-Directed Spaces: “A lot of the conversations I had with the kids at the [Sudbury] school were similar to conversations I’d have after school with public school kids.”
17:21 - Cassidy Notices Changes in Herself: “You realize you still have to grow.”
22:54 - What Cassidy is Doing Now: ” Kristen called me and she was like, ‘Hey… We’re thinking about opening this thing. Do you want to be a part of it?’”