Author: Rebecca Ferree, Founder, Wired Differently LLC

At then end of the 2023 school year, I resigned from teaching public school. My then 11 and 14 year old children were both struggling significantly in our local public schools. Despite their IEPs, 504s and gifted services, their needs were not being met, their anxiety was growing and their creativity and curiosity werewas waning. I too was feeling frustrated as an educator with my inability to meet my own students’ needs for a variety of reasons beyond my control. We could not afford private school for both of our children so we made the decision as a family to try homeschooling for 6th and 8th grades.

Shortly thereafter we met a local homeschooling family who had started an online learning community focused on project-based learning. This was all hosted on their own app which was a safe user friendly platform for kids to share their projects, learn from and teach one another. Parents could also engage with other homeschoolers and launch or share their own education related ventures. Our family was seeking community and a more innovative way to approach learning so we joined.

I started a community room and podcast on the app called Wired Differently where I could explore topics related to education and neurodivergence and discuss these topics with fellow educators and parents. I also offered virtual “office hours” to collaboratively rethink education with others, as I sought community and the insight of others on this journey alongside my personal exploration.

In 2024 a Jimmy Edwards joined the app, attended one of my office hours sessions and we hit it off immediately. We had both recently left the traditional public school system, had both previously taught at International Baccalaureate schools and we agreed upon many of the reasons why public schools were currently failing to support, empower and prepare kids adequately. No longer confined by arbitrary standards and rigid timelines, we were both curious and open to pursue alternative ways to teach and learn. I had recently hosted a podcast called “Rethinking Math” and after learning that Jimmy was a math teacher I was eager to hear his perspective on math instruction, which we discussed at length. I was immediately drawn to his impressive insights, personal experience and knowledge along with his warmth and genuine caring demeanor. He had a confidence along with a humility that I’ve rarely encountered. He was an exceptional listener but also an active conversationalist seeking true and meaningful solutions for students grounded in his own research and personal experience. Little did I know then, that this was the first of many conversations we’d have in the years to come.

A few months later Jimmy and I had the opportunity to attend The VELA Conference in Washington DC together in the summer of 2024. This national event gathered alternative education founders, edupreneurs, and community leaders delivering non-traditional schooling models. It was an inspiring turning point in my own personal journey to becoming an edupreneur myself. Around this time I had a vision of my own part time hybrid project based learning pod. I envisioned a place for my own kids to have consistent peers that they could connect and collaborate with in person twice a week. I shared this with Jimmy who I felt could be an amazing addition to our learning pod.

I tried different approaches and curricula for math instruction with my kids, none of which was working for the 3 of us who struggle with and/or dislike math overall. At this point my kids were about to start 7th and 9th grades. I had an idea…what if we were to apply the project based approach to math instruction? I asked Jimmy if he had any interest in joining us one of the two days per week for project based math coaching and real world math application/instruction. He was excited about the opportunity and the freedom to teach and inspire kids without the confines of public school standards and standardized testing. Currently on paid leave from PWCS, he was also financially in a position where he could volunteer his time. This was an amazing blessing because I could not afford to formally hire him. The other families who ended up joining our learning pod were also excited about this additional unique customized math instruction for their teens as well.

Jimmy could (seemingly) effortlessly take my kids’ and the other students’ interests and questions and use them as a launching pad for real world math application. One student wanted to buy a car, and he helped her, and the other curious teens, figure out how she could save enough by a certain point in time. Other kids, including my own, were launching their own businesses and received coaching from Jimmy on how to track their expenses and reinvest in their businesses. One of my kids had an interest in anatomy and physiology and was considering a career in mortuary science. Jimmy supported a graph comparison between burial rates and cremation rates over time. These are just a few examples of the math magic Jimmy worked into our first year pilot program. He integrated the math concepts and standards he knew so well through their own interests which was not only more engaging, meaningful and memorable but actually relevant and applicable to their lives.

Math activity at our Alexandra, VA campus

However Jimmy’s presence and influence has gone far beyond math. He has consistently cared about building relationships with my kids, meeting them wherever they were, listening and learning about their interests and passions, their thoughts and opinions as well as their frustrations and struggles. He also served as mentor as they shared interests in theater and music as well. I have been so grateful to have another caring adult in their lives that has supported their growth and learning both formally and informally. He provided this support for the other young people in our pod as well.

A cooking creative project at our Alexandria, VA campus

Jimmy’s father’s tragic death occured a little more than a month into our first year pilot in 2024. I expected he would take more time off but he even continued to show up and care for all of us through his own grief. Caring for us helped him heal it seemed, it was humbling.

As that first year progressed Jimmy’s shared more of his research with me about The CARE Learning framework. I immediately knew this was the missing piece to our project based learning pod and our students could really benefit from more direct instruction and collaborative learning activities to cultivate emotional intelligence especially. We agreed this would be a great next step for both of us and so by the beginning of 2025, Jimmy started joining us twice a week as the program evolved to more formally incorporate CARE. Jimmy led lessons and we co designed and co taught others based on his research. I was so grateful for his leadership and so excited and empowered to work together. This next chapter really enriched the program and benefited everyone.

Jimmy’s generosity didn’t stop with his countless hours of service. He then gave me a $5,000 grant to support my business and ultimately benefit my family and grow the CARE pod. We moved into a new space and this next school year we’d start together, united in CARE.

Student collaborative project at our Alexandria, VA campus

Jimmy founded The CARE Society, a collaborative project based learning community, and I became a co-founder. The NOVA CARE Pod became the first in person project based learning pod within the CARE Society which would eventually expand into the CAREducation network. Jimmy also started a livestream where we, and the other CARE Society co-founders, regularly discussed The CARE Learning framework in action in our pod and beyond. We were constantly reflecting and refining together, living out collaborative rigorous learning. Jimmy and I prepared that summer more formally for the 2025-2026 school year. I advertised on facebook and we hosted open house presentations together. Jimmy took the lead on sharing more about The CARE Learning framework and The CAREducation network with interested families. I shared my personal conviction and experience as an educator that this was indeed the missing foundation and core of what was needed in education.

That summer we were also invited onto a podcast called Silver Lining for Learning - an award-winning weekly webinar/podcast on the future of learning with educators, education leaders innovators and learners from across the globe. Our conversation was Episode #237 CAREducation - Living the standard with the Care Revolution.

Podcast Episode Graphic: Silver Lining for Learning Episode #237

We welcomed several new students into our pod this 2nd year of our pilot for the 2025-2026 school year. All of our families were homeschoolers either had had either left public school recently or years ago. All were neurodivergent and some also had health issues that either prevented them from attending the traditional schools or they had a similar experience to ours where they ultimately decided to leave public school. We also partnered with other founders and non profits over the course of this year and The CAREducation network grew. Our students grew and learned a lot this past year, as did we! The conclusion of our 2nd year pilot has helped inform this next big bold chapter of The CAREvolution.

I can not emphasize enough how important the mission of CAREvolution is. There are so many teachers who know the broken school system first hand but feel powerless and/or lack the bandwidth, resources or connections to work towards major changes. CAREvolution is actively leading by example and challenging outdated systems and practices. There are many parents whose kids are suffering in public school but they don’t yet know that CAREducation Foundation exists to support them as a viable learning alternative. There are many homeschooling parents who are struggling to find or sustain community for their children and The CARE Society is is a place where they can not only find that but also learn and create collaboratively while participating regardless of their income level.

Family Dinner at our Alexandria, VA campus

It is rare to meet a human being who has such strong, deep conviction rooted in truth with a selfless servant heart. Someone who is also an intelligent and experienced scholar, who thinks critically, and is genuinely curious and compassionate. A person who cares so deeply and knows their purpose and mission so clearly that virtually all of their time, talent and treasures are devoted to supporting and partnering with others to advance this noble mission. I can honestly say I have never met anyone in my life who embodies all of these qualities like Jimmy Edwards. He is the born leader of CAREvolution. He is leading the future of CAREducation.

Launching a CARE-Aligned Microschool

Sharing Hope and Renewal at Manassas Spring EGGStravaganza