From Public School Teacher to Founder of a Self-Directed Learning Center

In this episode of LiberatED, Kerry McDonald speaks with Ken Trautwein, founder of Current Education Center, a secular, self-directed learning community outside Philadelphia. After 25 years in conventional education, Ken set out to create a more flexible, human-centered environment where young people can follow their interests while being supported by intentional mentorship.

Opened in early 2025, Current serves teens through a part-time, self-directed model that blends structure with freedom. Ken describes his "riverbank" philosophy of education, where learning flows naturally within a supportive framework, and reflects on the challenges of launching a new center, building community, and rethinking what education can look like.

If you're curious about self-directed learning, microschooling, or what it takes to create something new in education, this conversation offers both inspiration and insight.

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Kerry's latest book, Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling, is available now wherever books are sold!