How The Pearl Reignited My Teen’s Passion for Learning
7/24/2025
Written by: Christine, parent of a 14-year-old, entering her second year at The Pearl
As a child, I had a lot of negative experiences with traditional schooling, despite being a naturally curious and eager learner. That disconnect left a mark, and it gave me strong convictions about how I wanted to approach education with my own kids. Above all else, I’ve always believed that the most important thing we can do for our children’s education is to nurture their love of learning. Their natural curiosity and intrinsic motivation will largely define the way they engage with schooling and how much they ultimately get out of it.
Because of my own school struggles, I was convinced that homeschooling could offer my child a more supportive and positive experience. So when I became a parent, I carried that vision with me, determined to do it differently.
I approached homeschooling with a head full of ideals and a belly full of passion, armed with a curriculum that had me genuinely excited to learn alongside my daughter. And she hated it. My enthusiastic plans were met with frustration, resistance, and a growing sense of failure. (Parenting will certainly keep you humble!)
Over the years, we tried nearly everything—hands-on, hands-off, literature-based, STEM-focused, art-centered, Montessori, Waldorf, freeschooling. You name it, we tried it. None of it resonated. Engagement was a battle, and that felt completely counter to my ethos. Our stress was high, and neither of us felt that she was getting enough out of it.
Things reached a breaking point in the summer of 2024. She had just turned 13, and our family dynamics were shifting—both parents were now working full-time, and homeschooling no longer felt sustainable. For the first time, we seriously considered enrolling her in public school. But we had serious reservations. By then, we understood that her neurodivergence and aspects of her identity would impact her experience in a traditional setting, especially living in a Southern US state. None of us was on board with the idea—it just felt like we were out of options.
In a last act of desperation, I began scouring the internet for alternatives. That’s when I stumbled across The Pearl, and for the first time in a long time, I felt a flicker of hope. I had never heard of democratic education before, but the philosophy—shared power, mutual respect, a balance of autonomy and community—sounded like exactly what she needed.
When I showed her The Pearl’s website and course catalog, she said, “This could work.” That may sound simple, but in our house, that was a huge win. I scheduled a call with Robin, had a warm and reassuring conversation, and with cautious optimism, we committed to a full course load for the fall semester.
I expected it would take her time to find her footing in a new environment. But to my surprise, she began managing her own schedule and assignments almost immediately. When I read her narrative reports, every teacher affirmed what I was seeing at home—she was thriving. By the end of the semester, she was sending me the classes she wanted to take next. Unprompted.
To say that was monumental would be an understatement.
As her second semester wrapped up, she told me she wanted to stay with The Pearl through graduation. After her third semester, she didn’t even wait for me to ask—she sent me her course load for fall, already completed. For a whole year, we hadn’t fought about doing school.
A whole year of less drama, less stress, and less worry.
A whole year of more autonomy, more progress, and more joy.
My greatest hope for her education was finally taking shape. For the first time in her entire life, we had finally found an educational environment and approach that worked for her, where she was engaged, driven, accountable, and happy.
The Pearl is more than a school; it’s a chance for kids who don’t fit the mold to thrive. It’s a haven in which the marginalized can find belonging. It’s a pathway to learning for the kids who’ve felt lost on other tracks.
For us, it’s been all of that and more.
Every child deserves an education that sees them for who they are and gives them space to become who they want to be. I wish every child had access to this opportunity, and I’m so deeply grateful that mine does.
Looking for a high school option that will help your child feel engaged, driven, accountable, and happy? Schedule a meeting with our director today to see if The Pearl is the right fit for you.
Sarah Kosel Agnihotri, M.A.
Sarah Kosel Agnihotri is a learning designer and talent development professional. She has worked in higher education for the past ten years in roles focused on student success, program management, and course design, and now draws on those experiences to support learning and development for university employees. Sarah’s work and educational experiences have been strongly influenced by her interest in design justice, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and equity-centered assessment and evaluation practices.
Sarah has a BA in Sign Language Studies (Interpreting) and English, along with an MA in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Her early work as an ASL/English interpreter and writing instructor instilled a commitment to access and inclusion, with a particular focus on the importance of language use and linguistic justice. She currently co-hosts a podcast exploring the intersection of learning design and multilingualism. Outside of work, school, and the podcast, Sarah enjoys reading, writing, learning new languages, and spending time with her family.