The Inspiration Behind Inspired Learning Journey

Reflecting on my vast experience working with children and in education, I am

constantly in awe of the beauty that unfolds while a child is learning. I have

come to find that life is learning, and learning is life. They are inseparable

and intertwined; you can’t have one without the other. Education does not

begin when a child enters kindergarten or end at graduation. Life itself is an

educational process. This can be seen as an infant learning to explore their

toes and later learning how to use them to crawl, walk, and run. Watching the

learning process unfold has been my passion for many years.

This passion stems from reflecting on my educational journey. As a severely

dyslexic child, I slowly got lost in the education system. Every year, as

the academic challenges got harder, my self-esteem decreased. It was a

challenging educational journey that I wouldn’t wish on any child. My dyslexia

went undiagnosed well into adulthood; it wasn’t until I learned about dyslexia in

children that I found similarities within myself.

My dyslexic challenges in school and my love for children led me to my career

path in education. I have worked with children from birth to age 18 in their

homes and many classroom and extracurricular settings worldwide. I have

diverse educational experiences. These include working in special education,

talented and gifted programs, administration, art, movement programs, and

experience with education methods such as traditional and non-traditional

approaches, Common Core, Waldorf (Rudolph Steiner), Montessori,

unschooling, and homeschooling, in private, public, and Title-1 schools.

Within these diverse experiences, I see a common theme among students.

Every student has unique gifts and challenges when learning. I see aspects of

myself and my struggle in each student I have the privilege of working with.

Although not everyone is dyslexic, every student faces challenges during their

academic career. My 20+ years of professional education experience have led

me to ponder... What if we approached education as a unique experience that

can cater to each learner’s needs, empowering students to be inspired while

learning? The exceptional students I have worked with and my personal and

professional experiences have cultivated this unique program.

I am so grateful for my struggles, personal and professional experiences, and

students, teachers, and colleagues who have inspired this book.

"Education is not the preparation for life; education is life itself." - John Dewey