From Burnout to Breakthrough: My Journey from Public School to Revel Academy

I remember my last days in public school like they were yesterday—each day felt like a slow march through thick mud, where every step drained just a little more of my spirit. I was stuck in a prehistoric system that no longer worked, at least not for me or, more importantly, for the students. The environment was stifling, not just because of the lack of air conditioning in those sweltering classrooms, but because of the rigidity and the constant feeling of being unheard. Imagine being trapped in a place that feels like it's actively trying to pull you down. That’s where I was.

It wasn’t just the outdated methods or the violence that seemed to lurk in every corner, but the overwhelming sense of helplessness. Every day, I was confronted with the same challenges—students in need of real, meaningful help—and every day, it felt like I had fewer tools to give it. There was no support, no willingness to change, no drive to innovate. I was retrumatized daily by the violent rigidity of the system.

I knew I had to make a change, not just for my sanity, but because I couldn’t keep watching kids slip through the cracks while I stood by, powerless. And that’s when a email offer pinged in my inbox from Revel Academy, an Acton Academy. It felt like a whisper from a distant place of possibility—a place where education was about more than just memorizing facts and preparing for standardized tests. It was a place that promised something different.

A Whole New World: My First Week at Revel Academy

Fast forward to my first week at Revel, and let me tell you, it’s like stepping into another dimension. Gone are the days of dusty textbooks and uninspiring staff meetings. Here, I was paid to set up my "studio" (because classrooms are so last century), and instead of being handed a key and left alone, the entire process was collaborative.

Yes, you read that right—collaborative. No more hiding away in my room, trying to sort through mountains of paper and make sense of chaotic schedules. At Revel, we built everything together, from the ground up. It was refreshing. Honestly, it is a bit disorienting. Here I am, years into my teaching career, suddenly feeling lost and unsure in a setting that’s completely alien to me. It’s bizarre to go from being 100% in charge to feeling like I’m back to square one, but somehow, that’s okay. Revel has this atmosphere of peace instead of the typical educational stress.

And I owe a huge shout-out to my amazing colleagues who are shouldering a heavier load to give me time to adjust. Their support means the world to me as I navigate this new, uncharted territory.

Studios, Guides, and Badges—Oh My!

Let’s talk about some of the differences I’ve noticed. At Revel, we don’t have “classrooms.” We have “studios.” We’re not “teachers”; we’re “guides.” We don’t refer to our learners as “students, we call them learners, Rebels, mathematicians, authors, scientists and more. There are no grades here, but instead, we work with “badge plans.” And forget about report cards—our students show what they have learned at “expeditions.”

It’s a completely different approach to education, and while I do feel a bit like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole, it’s also incredibly exciting. I mean, when was the last time you were genuinely excited about report cards? … Exactly.

The Beauty of Feeling Lost

Feeling lost in this context isn’t a sign of failure. It’s a sign of growth. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m part of a community that’s not just content with the status quo. At Revel, everyone is striving to be better, to think outside the box, and to really make a difference.

So, here I am—lost, yes, but also found. It’s a beautiful paradox, isn’t it? Leaving the security of what I knew for the unknown has been the most liberating thing I’ve done in my career. I can’t wait to see where this journey takes me and the amazing young minds I’m here to guide.

If you’re feeling stuck, unheard, or frustrated in your current teaching role, I encourage you to take a leap. There’s a whole world of possibility out there, waiting for you to explore it.