Education,
or Learning Through Human Living
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Basically,
Human education is what we can genuinely engage in, nurture, create, and build—the life we grant and enable for one another.
Essential to this, though it is currently disregarded or underacknowledged, is that
young people are people,
growing into themselves as time elapses like all life does.
All of us humans, at all ages, are social animals depending on interdependence, and
our mutual respect and trust = our mutual well-being.
As the social and cultural systems that we perpetuate resonate with what we are
and who we can be, we may thrive—and, as they don't, we are diminished:
I intend to facilitate the former and oppose the latter.
(Akilah S. Richards and many others have been influential to my views here)
(Peter Gray and many others have been influential to my views here)
Further,
Conventional schooling, in the full scope of human history, is an anomaly and the sociocultural patterns which originated it and which it perpetuates—encompassing interrupted and impeded self-trust, curiosity, connection to fellow humans, life, and nature—is an endemic, systemic threat to human wellbeing.
To counter this, an alternative, liberatory education paradigm—encompassing the freedom to learn and grow, at all times, as a whole, individual person in a community of mutual care, how we organize to facilitate this, and how societies may consequently flourish—must be explored, illustrated, communicated, and adopted.
Further still,
The future of education, in the near term, may be characterized as a prolonged, intentional reevaluation and radical renewal—in essence, an intervention.
In the longer term, the aim is a recollection of authentic orientations, relationships, and practices that have been forgotten, minimized, or deterred, and the cultivation of an ecosystem of respect and care, in which all human peoples—of all ages and identities—may collectively live more fully, alongside the fellow life around us, within a natural environment inseparable from our living.
(Carol Black and many others have been influential to my views here)
Organizational affiliations
-Resource Directory Curator (c. 2023) and Board Member (c.2025)
-Attended Annual Conferences 2023-2025; Youth-Led Conference 2023 (virtual); Annual Conferences 2020-2022 (virtual)
American Library Association (c. 2021)
History of work with/relationships to youth
2024
Briefly, but memorably, I served as a facilitator at Wildwood ALC, in Boone, NC, which involved:
-Knowledge of the philosophical foundation and guiding framework of the Agile Learning Community network.
-Contributing to working plans for the school days as well as semester-long goals and longer-term, organizational aspirations.
-Providing guidance to regular morning and afternoon small group meetings (known as Dens).
-Seeking out and coordinating activities and partnerships based on the discovered and expressed interests of Wildwood's young people.
-Offering activities and materials stemming from my own interests, including photography, arts & crafts, reading, and yoga.
-Weekly group meetings with colleagues to discuss best practices, community concerns, ongoing and new plans and ideas.
-Communicating and coordinating efforts with Wildwood parents and other community members regarding volunteering, cultural opportunities, and operational requirements.
-Creating regular social media posts for Wildwood families and community members on a private Facebook page, as well as that for the public.
-Obtaining and transporting goods, materials, and personnel, as needed.
-In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, coordinating recovery efforts, including check-ins with families, communication with potential donors and coordination of needed/received donations, as well as arrangements for temporary school spaces. (Note: impacts from this disaster ultimately cancelled my position.)
2021-2024
As a Library Assistant at Indian River Library—part of the Chesapeake Public Library of VA—I served the interests and needs of youth of all ages, including:
-acting as a conscientious facilitator of learning, connection, and growth
-monitoring and assisting young patrons, especially after-school middle and high school-age youth, throughout the YFS area and activity room, respecting both their agency and library Code of Conduct
-creating and providing storytime programs
-assisting with seasonal, branch-level programming and system-level annual events
-assisting in the training and guidance of youth volunteers, especially in relation to shelving, shelf-reading, task management, and navigating the library
-planning, carrying out, and evaluating participation in outreach events, especially related to youth literacy and recreation, e.g. Summer Reading Challenge Carnival, STEAM Night
2018
While a student at Old Dominion University, completed courses in Fundamentals of Human Growth and Development and Foundations of Education and Assessment, the latter involving observations in a public school setting.
2016
Assistant to art teacher for Summer Art Camp at the Hermitage Museum, in Norfolk, VA.
2010-2012
Babysat my nephew, Bruce, during toddler years.
2008-2010
Assisted youth with reference questions and obtaining materials while a Library Technician at South Rosemont Youth Library—formerly part of the Virginia Beach Public Library.
History of schooling and education
2025
Participant in The Shift deschooling experience (for a second time), facilitated by Radical Learning, at ALC Mosaic in Charlotte, NC.
2024
Participant in Helping the Butterfly Hatch SDE Facilitation Course, facilitated by Je’anna Clements.
2020-2022
Student at University of South Carolina; graduated with a Master's in Library & Information Science.
2019-2020
Studied photography in Master of Fine Arts program at Virginia Commonwealth University.
2016-2019
Student at Old Dominion University; graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography & Print Media.
2014-2016
Engaged in self-directed education (SDE).
2013
Attended College of William & Mary, for two months.
2011-2013
Student at Tidewater Community College; graduated with an Associate of Social Sciences.
2007
Attended Hampshire College, for two weeks.
2005-2011
Engaged in SDE.
2003-2005
Studied photography and film at Virginia Commonwealth University.
K-12
A student of Virginia Beach, VA, public schools; graduated in 2003.
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