Victoria Lenormand is a former police detective turned holistic coach, Reiki master, and passionate advocate for alternative education and social justice. With a 28-year career in public service behind her, Victoria’s lens is both compassionate and sharp: she’s witnessed firsthand how institutions can sometimes fail those they claim to serve. Her journey took a transformative turn when her youngest son’s autism diagnosis revealed the flaws in rigid educational and medical systems. Choosing to home educate, she and her family embraced a life of flexibility, healing, and empowerment—living in a motorhome before settling in Scotland and exploring a more intuitive way of living. Her family’s transformation, sparked by a combination of diet, environment, and deep listening, revealed the healing power of choice and the cost of ignoring it.

Today, through Gemini Directions, Victoria now works with families and individuals who feel stuck inside systems not made for them. Her work draws on training in wellness coaching, trauma-informed care, and energy work—but more than anything, it’s shaped by real-world experience: managing crisis with calm, asking better questions, making space when the default is to push through. Victoria speaks to parents at breaking point, professionals navigating burnout, and educators or policymakers open to doing things differently. Her conversations centre around those day-to-day quiet acts of courage: advocating for yourself, questioning “normal,” and moving toward something slower, more responsive, and often more effective.

Takeaways:

1. The value of a child is often revealed in the challenges they face, not just in their successes.
2. When traditional education fails to meet a child's needs, parents must explore alternative educational paths.
3. Creating a supportive community is essential for families navigating the complexities of education and special needs.
4. Empowering children to take charge of their own learning fosters autonomy and encourages a love for education.
5. Resilience is cultivated through overcoming challenges and learning to adapt in the face of adversity.
6. The holistic approach to education recognizes the interconnectedness of emotional, physical, and academic well-being.

Chapters:

1. 00:20 - Choosing to Withdraw: A New Direction
2. 06:20 - The Journey of Learning and Discovery
3. 08:23 - The Journey of Learning and Inclusion
4. 18:51 - Navigating Educational Change
5. 22:49 - Rethinking Education: Navigating New Possibilities
6. 28:20 - The Journey of Personalization in Learning
7. 34:45 - Navigating Educational Change and Personal Growth
8. 40:01 - The Importance of Community Support in Challenging Times
9. 42:38 - The Power of Resilience and Community

In the summer of 2024, Irise brought together a diverse group of young people from across the UK, alongside their allies and educators to directly inform a ‘Toilet Policy Toolkit’, to equip schools with the tools they need to create a Toilet Policy that works for everyone.

https://www.irise.org.uk/uk-schools-toilet-policy-toolkit

Kelly Greenaway is phs Group’s period equality lead. Over the past nine years with the hygiene provider she has led a number of thought-leadership campaigns, which have eventually been sewn into the identity of the business.

From tackling period inequality and campaigning for better access to period products for people in a variety of locations, to championing the need for dignified disposal for men, Kelly has put purpose at the heart of phs.

Chrissy Cattle - CEO of Irise International

Irise is an award winning, global leader in menstrual justice programming, policy and research.

Takeaways:

• The podcast discusses a newly developed toilet policy toolkit aimed at enhancing period equity in schools.
• This toolkit was co-created by educators and young activists to address the issue of toilet access.
• Research indicates that many students face significant barriers when trying to access school toilets, including the need for permission and limited availability.
• The conversation emphasizes the importance of listening to young people's experiences and incorporating their feedback into effective policy-making.
• The podcast highlights the collaboration between organizations to drive change in menstrual health and hygiene education.
• Both guests underscore the necessity of improving toilet accessibility to support students' health and well-being during their menstrual cycles.

Chapters:

• 00:02 - Introduction to the Toilet Policy Toolkit
• 04:55 - Understanding the Challenges of Period Equality in Schools
• 09:46 - The Toolkit and Its Implementation
• 20:09 - Advocating for Period Equity: Insights and Initiatives
• 26:49 - Empowerment through Leadership Programs

Kelly Greenaway - phs Group

https://www.phs.co.uk/

https://x.com/phsgroup

Chrissy Cattle - Irise International

https://www.irise.org.uk/

https://www.instagram.com/irise_international/

Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/

Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learning

https://www.educationonfire.com/

🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunities

https://www.educationonfire.com/support

David K Richards is the Founder & CEO of Changemaker Education, a national network of affiliate love-based microschools and an incubator for founders who want to usher in a new paradigm for the future of education. He is also the host of the Changemaker ED“U” podcast.

Previously, he was Founder & CEO of Growth Public Schools, and a founding teacher and leader with Summit Public Schools where he launched several innovative schools. In addition he serves as a leadership and life coach. David has worked in education reform for over 25 years as a teacher, principal, executive, and board member.

He lives in Sacramento, CA with his wife and his two children, and holds a BA from UC Berkeley and an MA from Stanford University.

Takeaways:

• The traditional education system has remained largely unchanged, resembling a factory model that fails to meet the needs of modern learners.
• Microschools represent a transformative approach to education, empowering educators and communities to create personalized learning environments.
• The emergence of microschools arises from a growing desire for more intimate, love-based educational experiences that focus on social emotional learning.
• ChangeMaker Education aims to cultivate a network of microschools, emphasizing the importance of relationships and community involvement in fostering student success.
• In the face of societal shifts, such as the rise of the gig economy and the expansion of homeschooling, families are increasingly seeking alternative education options.
• There exists a significant demand for educational reform that prioritizes personalized learning and emotional development, particularly in light of ongoing advancements in technology and AI.

Chapters:

• 00:16 - Revolutionizing Education: The MicroSchool Movement
• 01:04 - Introduction to Microschools and Educational Innovation
• 13:50 - Transitioning from Educator to Entrepreneur
• 16:30 - The Rise of Personalized Education
• 22:59 - The Future of Education: Embracing Change and Choice
• 31:18 - The Ripple Effect in Education

https://www.changemakereducation.com/

Show Sponsor – National Association for Primary Education (NAPE) https://nape.org.uk/

Find out more about their Primary First Journal: https://www.educationonfire.com/nape

🔥 Discover more about Education on Fire and get a FREE pdf of 10 guest resources you can use to support learning

https://www.educationonfire.com/

🔥 Support the show – Buy me a coffee, Merch and Sponsorship Opportunities

educationonfire.com/support