Meet Kelsie Castro: Educator, Entrepreneur & Co-Creator of Redwood Homeschool

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelsie Castro and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsie, what do you think makes you most happy? Why?

Thinking about what makes me happy seems so simple on the surface, but it’s actually the thing I struggle with taking the time to reflect on most. As an educator and caregiver, I have a natural tendency to prioritize other people’s emotions over my own, something I think is common for many of us working in that field. When you are in a role that is so emotionally taxing it is hard to remember to make space for your emotions as well. The needs of the larger community tend to take over and there is often very little room or energy given to what you might need to feel present and whole.

It wasn’t until recently, when I had a lot more time to sit with myself (in quarantine), that I think I really began to see how little time I was taking to explore what makes me happy. At that point I was in a position that no longer met my needs, requiring me to push past a lot of frustration, stress, and sometimes even sadness just to feel like I was moving forward in some way. I was feeling disconnected and trying to overcompensate for that by working more, hoping that it would help me find the missing piece. I wasn’t allowing myself to be vulnerable and certainly wasn’t sitting with the feelings of discomfort that I needed to face to actually step into that happiness. 

But after taking that time to really invest in myself, I began to see how much of a difference even just small changes were making in my life and overall mental health. I started spending more time exploring my interests, allowing myself to be creative, building routines to help slow myself down and relax, and connecting more with people who bring me joy. I was finding myself again after losing some of that in the day to day rhythms and struggles of life, and starting to realize what changes I needed to make to ensure that I didn’t fall right back into that same routine.

The more I connected with who I was at my core and stepped into myself the more I could feel that happiness grow, motivating me to make big changes moving forward. I found a new position that gave me more freedom to focus on what I love and more independence in my work, rediscovered some of my passions outside of the classroom, and started taking more time to connect with my inner voice. Through that process I discovered that happiness for me comes in many forms. It’s being connected to the children, families, and friends who I care for and getting to share so much of myself with them, but it is also remembering that I am a person outside of that too. With that in mind I think I truly feel happiest when I am staying true to myself, honoring my time, energy and emotions, and surrounding myself with people who respect and realize the importance of those things for all of us.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?

Starting our new business, Redwood Homeschool, has been such an exciting experience and something that I feel like both my business partner and I had wanted even before we fully realized it. We both experienced a similar feeling of not meshing with the practices of school-based classrooms, but loved the creativity and thoughtfulness that was present in the work. The need to take those elements we did value and weave them into a space that feels more community-focused is really how Redwood came to be.

When we first started talking about opening our own program, the main thing that I think attracted us to the idea was being able to create a space where the politics and hierarchies that run schools are taken out of it and those relationships between children, families, and educators can really thrive. A space where everyone involved feels deeply connected and in tune with one another, and where the voices of the people who are living through these moments and experiences can drive the work that is being done. I think this idea is what is at the heart of our school and what will continue to inspire the ways in which we grow.

Too often the voices of the people who make up a community get lost among those who hold the most power. Even in Reggio-inspired schools where children are supposed to be seen as whole beings there are still so many aspects of that “wholeness” that are overlooked to highlight more marketable aspects instead. The messy processes, small intentional work that is done, and challenges that children, teachers and families experience are often pushed to the side, with the focus instead being on things that will create the best image for the school and be the most appealing to new families and other educators.

Knowing this, and having experienced it myself as an educator in many different types of spaces, is a huge part of what motivated me to want to create something new. I wanted us to build a space where all people who are part of it (children, families and educators) feel that they can be their whole authentic selves. We want all aspects of who we are to be looked at with curiosity and understanding, and for everyone to be able to create, play, explore, connect, feel, change, learn and grow freely and without the stress of being discouraged or shamed because of what that looks like for them. We want vulnerability and openness to actually have the space to deepen the connections between us, and we want to uplift voices from within our community so that each individual feels like an equally important part of the larger whole.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My go to anytime I want to get together with someone is always to take them down to Seal Beach to grab some El Burrito Jr at the take out window and have a little picnic on the grass. If I’m able to make it right around sunset I will usually get a coffee and take a stroll down the pier to just enjoy the breeze too.

Down in Long Beach I feel like you can’t go wrong just taking a walk down by the Marina or getting up early and paddleboarding through the canals. I also love going down to 4th Street to shop at all the great thrift stores and little boutiques. Usually I will stop at the Hangout to scoop up some new titles from Bel Canto Books and then head down to Plantiitas because I can’t resist adding more books or plants to my collection. If I’m with friends then getting a margarita and some great food down at Lola’s is a must too!

I also am a huge thrifter and would love to spend a whole day just going to all the little and big thrift stores around Long Beach and Orange County searching for those second-hand goods. I’m pretty sure at least 75% of the things in our school and home are thrifted, so clearly I am there a lot.

If we need a day to just cool down and relax, a walk through the El Dorado Nature Center is always so peaceful and relaxing too. It’s such a great spot to feel a little more immersed in nature without having to go outside of the city. El Dorado Park is another great place for picnics too or to just sit and relax with a book. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have been so fortunate to have such an incredible community of people encouraging me throughout my journey. I am so grateful for my family and friends who have always taken the time to remind me of my value and helped me slow down and remember to take care of myself. My past co-teachers and colleagues who have inspired me to look deeper at myself as an educator and really tap into the things I value about this work. And the families that I have worked with and currently work with now who have welcomed me into their lives and whose constant stream of encouragement has helped me fully realize the potential in what before was just a dream.

I also have to give a special shoutout to two people who have played a huge part in me starting this new business and who have been my biggest support as I step into this new phase of life. First my boyfriend Eric, who has given me so much space both literally and figuratively to figure all of this out and really dive into all these new plans. He is the person I go to anytime I need reassurance or guidance and has been doing so much groundwork to help get our school ready and keep us on track. He motivates me to keep moving forward and keeps me grounded when my brain starts to feel like it’s spinning.

And of course, my business partner Eric, who is the other half of Redwood Homeschool. Since we first started working together I felt such a strong connection to him and was inspired by the work he did and who he was as a person. Going into this new business now with him by my side is what makes me feel confident that it will be everything we are imagining and hoping for. I am so grateful to have a partner who I trust so fully and know that none of this would be possible without all the hard work, passion, creativity, and love that he has put into it.

Instagram: @kelscastro & @redwoodhomeschool

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redwoodhomeschool

Other: Email: Personal: kelscastro.teaching@gmail.com Business: redwoodhomeschoollb@gmail.com