Tell us a bit about your story and where you are in your process of starting a self-directed learning community.

I started my career as a science and math teacher, then got frustrated by both the system and the low pay, and took a job in ed tech. I worked as both a Product Owner and a Project Manager at a few different companies, then took some time off to stay home with my young kids. I started volunteering at a self-directed learning center and loved the teens and the freedom, but got frustrated by the lack of organizational structure. I tried to work with the Executive Director to bring about some intentional structures and processes, but we didn't agree on what it should look like, so I'm moving on. I started working with kids out of my dining room, doing open-ended science and math projects, and began talking with parents about opening up my own center. Then I started looking a spaces, because teaching out of my dining room is frustrating, and I think I found the perfect one. I pitched it to a couple parents, who are on board… and TreeFort Learning was born. BUT… we are not an official organization, and I don't have a ton of time because I still have a baby at home, so the idea is to work with 5-10 kids just a few hours a week during the 19-20 school year and try to build something more substantial for the fall of 2020.

Why do you want to be an ALC Member?

My two passions are self-directed learning and agile project management and I find an organization that embodies both? It's like it was built just for me.

Which aspect(s) of ALC membership are most appealing to you and what kind of support do you desire/need?

I want to be able to connect with others farther along in the process and learn from them. I want to be able to tweak already established processes and structures, rather than re-invent the wheel.

Anything else we should know?

I paid for an individual membership… can I start with that and then upgrade to an organizational membership if I manage to get TreeFort off the ground in between caring for my baby, driving my 5yo all over town, and working two other part-time jobs?