Thank you for these words. They are resonant and true. As an educator, I often feel trapped in a system where a deep hierarchy bears down on me, and, if I am not intentionally aware of it, I fall into the same trap with my students. I am curious if you have any groups or further explorations coming up for high school educators. As the high school systems are often even more rigid and leave less space for group processing than at the elementary level.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for your openness. I completely understand how overwhelming it can feel to be part of a system that often demands conformity and hierarchy, especially in high school settings where the rigidity can feel even more intense.
I do have a lot of upcoming resources and opportunities for deeper exploration! This current series is focused on navigating systems from early childhood through adolescence, and I’m expanding it to cover the unique challenges that high school educators like yourself face. If you're open to it, I'd love to schedule a 1:1 meeting where I can offer you actionable steps tailored to your specific context.
Additionally, I’m developing more resources that will be available on my Teachers Pay Teachers account,https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/liberation-education-academy designed to help families and educators like you create parallel systems that foster emotional safety and autonomy—without feeling trapped by the larger systems around us.
Please feel free to reach out for that 1:1 meeting if it resonates, https://desireebstephens.bio and keep an eye out for more resources in this series! Your work is so important, and I’m here to support you through this process.
I appreciated reading this. As an indigenous unschooling family, we’ve had the ability to opt out of schooling as part of our decolonial process, but for so many that is not an option. And knowing that, it’s helpful and heartening to hear how it can look. Also, as a former educator, it’s interesting to think about how supportive individual teachers will have to really reckon - internally and externally - with the system in order to align their values and their classrooms. No small feat for anyone! Lots to muse on here. Thank you for all the effort you put into writing it
Thank you for these words. They are resonant and true. As an educator, I often feel trapped in a system where a deep hierarchy bears down on me, and, if I am not intentionally aware of it, I fall into the same trap with my students. I am curious if you have any groups or further explorations coming up for high school educators. As the high school systems are often even more rigid and leave less space for group processing than at the elementary level.
Hi Monica,
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for your openness. I completely understand how overwhelming it can feel to be part of a system that often demands conformity and hierarchy, especially in high school settings where the rigidity can feel even more intense.
I do have a lot of upcoming resources and opportunities for deeper exploration! This current series is focused on navigating systems from early childhood through adolescence, and I’m expanding it to cover the unique challenges that high school educators like yourself face. If you're open to it, I'd love to schedule a 1:1 meeting where I can offer you actionable steps tailored to your specific context.
Additionally, I’m developing more resources that will be available on my Teachers Pay Teachers account,https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/liberation-education-academy designed to help families and educators like you create parallel systems that foster emotional safety and autonomy—without feeling trapped by the larger systems around us.
Please feel free to reach out for that 1:1 meeting if it resonates, https://desireebstephens.bio and keep an eye out for more resources in this series! Your work is so important, and I’m here to support you through this process.
Let’s stay connected!
I appreciated reading this. As an indigenous unschooling family, we’ve had the ability to opt out of schooling as part of our decolonial process, but for so many that is not an option. And knowing that, it’s helpful and heartening to hear how it can look. Also, as a former educator, it’s interesting to think about how supportive individual teachers will have to really reckon - internally and externally - with the system in order to align their values and their classrooms. No small feat for anyone! Lots to muse on here. Thank you for all the effort you put into writing it