Life & Work with Sharon McKeeman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sharon McKeeman.

Hi Sharon, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I am an educator and mother of four. After teaching in the public school system, I educated my children through a public charter school utilizing a hybrid model. I also worked as an artist, photographer, and educator for adult creatives. I owned an online school teaching photography, writing and branding and wrote and created visuals for many digital and print publications.

As my children grew older, they needed more support and opportunities so we put them back in the public school system but school closures during the pandemic were devastating to them. I advocated for student rights, safety, and opportunities during that time and thousands of families joined me. I founded a non-profit and built a vibrant community who cares deeply about education. Now I am focused on informing families about how educational policy affects their students and providing educational programs that help students rebound from learning loss during the pandemic and fills gaps in the public school system. Let Them Learn is a new way of approaching alternative education that equips families with the flexibility of a home education while delivering excellent academics and without taking away from parents’ careers.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Education is a dynamic landscape and the past few years have been extra challenging. Effective education is not one-size-fits-all, but most students learn best in-person and with as much freedom and flexibility as possible. Unique learners often have difficulty succeeding in the public school system. Advocating for youth to not bear the brunt of pandemic restrictions was a challenge the community I founded rose to. Now Let Them Learn is navigating creating robust programs that also offer flexibility. This can feel a bit like herding cats, but as we assemble the framework, it is evident that it will be worth it with each step. Unforeseen challenges are always inevitable, but I have come to learn that they always carry hidden treasures and opportunities with them as long as you are open to looking for those.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an educator, artist, photographer, writer, speaker and non-profit founder and director.

I have owned an online school for adult creatives, written for many digital and print publications, taught workshops, spoken at conferences, led in the alternative education space, founded a non-profit, built a platform of over 100,000 families, hosted a radio show and podcast and most importantly mothered my four kids and raised a flock of sustainable chickens during a nationwide egg shortage.

How do you define success?
Success is being aware of what actually matters and doing it no matter how scary it is or how much the resistance pushes back.

Success is only possible if you operate from a place of inner silence, focus, curiosity and listening in this culture of noise and polarization.

Success can only have a true rudder if you are aware of the history that led to your point of existence and if you have a deep concern for future generations.

Success can look like thousands impacted, but more often, it looks like not missing the seemingly small moments with those to whom you are irreplaceable.

Success is saving one person from loneliness, fear, and darkness. Success is amplifying love, truth, and light.

Success is most definitely not what our society tries to convince us it is.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.letthemlearn.net / www.sharonmckeeman.com
• Instagram: @letthemlearn_ / @sharonmckeeman

Image Credits
Rich Van Every of Lightworks Creative is the photographer

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