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Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Casco.
Hi Maria, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My story begins with my passion for adventure, my love for culture, and my devotion to education. I like to believe that I am a world traveler by trade and an educator at heart. When I was suddenly presented with the opportunity to create something new which allowed me to pursue all three of those things at the same time, I couldn’t walk away.
I became a teacher in 2016, eager to make a difference in the lives of children and their families. We all had that one teacher who made a huge difference in who we are today, and I was determined to become that person for all of the students who came through my classroom. My fire burned bright and I knew I had a lot to contribute, a lot to share, and a lot to change! Soon after I quickly realized most of my time educating was monopolized by the politics of administration and more closely aligned with the success of our reputation rather than the success of the children. I tried my very best to push past it but I often found myself feeling stifled and frustrated.
So when I was offered the opportunity to break free and make the jump to start something of my own, I didn’t look back.
Now I am proud to be crafting something unique and refreshing amidst a saturated world where it seems everybody continues to go in the same circle. With the incredible support of a small but mighty community, we set out to do what I would have never dreamed of doing and we continue to build something that can hopefully reach many more.
As we began to build our learning center, world schooling is something that immediately caught my attention and I began to look for ways to incorporate more of it with our families right here in St. Louis. As we grow our collaborative, my hope is to welcome families from all over the world as we join together as a part of a community larger than ourselves in shifting what we know about education.
Learning happens everywhere.
I felt passionate about developing a program that would shine a spotlight on culture, people, and everything that connects us as humans throughout history. A program that encourages families to not only value academic standards and test scores, but also the social and emotional development of their children as future leaders and pioneers. A program that prioritizes relationships; between children, families, and educators!
Children are the future and education is their key! And to truly empower them to become the change-makers our world so desperately needs we need to shift what we know about education. Intellectual vitality is something far more powerful than a high score on a standardized test. Education has the power to change lives when it is something that is happening WITH our children, not just TO them.
Everything in my life started making more sense the second I started working towards something I could actually believe in for the future. Something that was moving in the right direction and allowed me to set my sights higher than what is currently out there.
The world has changed, and so should education.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has certainly not been a smooth road! And while I did not expect it to be, I didn’t realize until I had hit the ground running just how much mental energy it would take. My perspective and my respect for people who dream, build, and manage their own business grew wildly within seconds of having gotten started!
That being said, I also feel incredibly grateful for the amount of support I have received to get to where I am today. This would not have been possible without every person who helped me pave the way and tackle obstacles as they appeared. At times it almost seemed like it was our pure will for this to become a reality and our stubborn refusal to let anything stand in our way that held it all together.
It takes a village and I could not be more in awe of the one I am fortunate to call mine!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
CASCO Learning was designed to be a family-centered, educational organization to give families a place to learn and grow together.
We are the first Spanish immersion learning collaborative in St. Louis, Missouri designed to build a community for families, by families. Our mission is to support families and their children in every way possible.
CASCO Learning is founded on three pillars; culture, knowledge, and adventure. It is infused into everything that we do!
The first part of our business is our self-directed learning center, where intellectual vitality is built upon experiences, and storytelling lies at the heart of our program. It allows families pursuing progressive methods of education to belong to our community while still pursuing their personalized educational journies. We have a place for everyone! Our learning center also functions as a hub for our families; we are expanding our “co-working” space for parents to spend time and work in our center while their children are working next door!
The second part of our business is our family travel expeditions. Families within our collaborative are invited to travel with us around the country, and the world. All of our expeditions are designed to be educational, and they highlight the culture and history of each location. Not to mention the adventures we incorporate for the whole family! We are traveling to the Yucatán Peninsula with a group of families at the end of this month and we have another expedition planned to Costa Rica next year. All of our destinations are Spanish-speaking countries, which allows the children to put their Spanish to practice!
And the third part of our business is our family coaching service. As certified parent coaches, we deliver community workshops and book private group and individual sessions for parents who wish to embark on their own learning journey as parents in a supportive, and empowering environment!
So, we welcome everyone to join our movement as we grow to connect with our children, connect with each other, and connect with our world.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Following what I know feels right is what has been my true compass!
Everyone suddenly has advice, suggestions, and opinions on what you are doing and where you should be going, but one thing remains true: don’t stray from what you believe in, from what fuels you to keep going. It is very easy to get swept up in the constant spiraling and all of the noise. While it can be very overwhelming, find the people who can understand your vision and help you not lose sight of why you started in the first place.
Contact Info:
- Email: hola@cascolearning.com
- Website: www.cascolearning.com
- Instagram: casco_learning
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/navigatingthevoyageofchildhood