I GREW UP in the Rio Grande Valley, on the very bottom tip where Texas meets the Mexico border. Like most kids in the valley, I lived my life on both the American side and the Mexican side. It was the only way of life I knew.

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When you walk into a school, you can tell—even if you can’t perfectly articulate it—when the people there really love and understand the families and communities they are serving.”

The systems around me had very low expectations for myself and my friends. That culminated for me in high school when my guidance counselor tried to route me into a vocational program. I tried to explain to her that I really was interested in going to college, but she discouraged me.

I did actually end up going to college, but it was hard. I had never done homework regularly. I didn’t know how to keep a planner or keep track of due dates. Over time, I realized the very poor preparation I got was not limited to the valley, but rather, it was happening all across the United States. So I decided to go into education. I went back to the valley and became a middle school teacher. Eventually, I became an elementary school principal and today I lead the Rocky Mountain Prep network of schools in Colorado.

The best education systems are founded on deep love and appreciation for kids—their natural curiosities, excitements, idiosyncrasies—and this excitement that I believe we’re all born with for learning. Why does it have to be boring? Why does it have to look the way it’s always looked? Why can’t we be more silly? Why can’t we sing more songs? Why can’t we play into what kids are naturally like and what kids naturally enjoy to get them excited about learning?

WHEN COVID-19 HAPPENED, the schools shut things down pretty quickly. But then summer came, and all of the social unrest happened. The George Floyd event was a turning point for me. It hit me in a way that said, “You need to wake up.” I asked my husband, “Are we going to let someone else address these issues, or is this where we step in and take control?”

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We weren’t limited to a classroom. I was able to teach my way. And, from a cultural standpoint, everything we did resonated with African-American history. It was a part of every discussion, which in my opinion, contributes to self-worth and self-love and self appreciation.”

I said, I’ll give homeschooling a try. As chaotic and crazy as it was, it was one of the most liberating things. We weren’t limited to a classroom. I was able to teach my way. And, from a cultural standpoint, everything we did resonated with African-American history. It was a part of every discussion, which in my opinion, contributes to self-worth, self-love, and self-appreciation. To me, that is the foundation of building some incredible human beings that can go on to impact the world in such a greater way.

I had to go through what’s considered ‘unschooling.’ If I pull my children from public school, then I’m not going to duplicate public school. You have to find your own rhythm in what works for your kids. My kids like to cook, so we learned in the kitchen. It’s still math. Some days they get up and they don’t want to be in the house. Learning may be going to the park. Then that will translate into, “Let’s talk about the ecosystem and how we can clean up our environment.” Learning is in everything that you do, and if you adopt that mentality, then it becomes liberating because now nothing is off limits.