Beyond The Schoolhouse: Discovering The Best of Public, Private, Homeschool & Alternative Education

Episode 2: Why We Chose Private School—A Conversation with Co-Host Simit Patel

In this episode of Beyond the Schoolhouse, I sit down with my co-host and business partner Simit Patel to share his story and perspective on education. Simit is a software engineer, a dad of three, and a deep thinker about how technology and peer groups shape the way kids learn.

We cover:

• Why Simit and his wife chose private school despite the financial burden.
  
  
• The powerful influence of peer groups in shaping children’s education.
  
  
• What he learned about teaching during the pandemic (and why parents everywhere will relate).
  
  
• How AI is being used in education—where it helps, and where it falls short.
  
  
• Why every parent should research all of their options before choosing a school.
  
  

Whether you’re homeschooling, considering private or public school, or just curious about the future of education, this conversation will give you fresh insight and encouragement.

👉 Don’t miss Episode 1 if you haven’t listened yet—Simit interviewed me about my family’s story, our nine kids, and the vision behind Beyond the Schoolhouse.

Episode 1: Meet Sarah McCubbin—Nine Kids, Seven School Models, One Mission

Welcome to the very first episode of Beyond the Schoolhouse! To kick things off, my co-host Simit Patel takes the interviewer’s chair so you can hear my story.

I’m a mom of nine who has experienced almost every type of education—homeschooling, public school, private school, and even micro-schools. Over the years, we’ve made different choices for each child depending on their needs, and I’ve also led a large homeschool co-op.

In this episode, we cover:

• My journey through homeschooling, private school, and public school.
  
  
• The challenges and joys of raising a large family while navigating multiple education paths.
  
  
• Lessons learned from leading a 150-student homeschool co-op.
  
  
• Why we launched Beyond the Schoolhouse to help parents see all the options available today.
  
  

This conversation sets the stage for the podcast—exploring how families can find the best fit for their kids while letting go of shame, doubt, and pressure.

👉 Don’t miss Episode 2, where I turn the tables and interview Simit about his story, his passion for education and technology, and why his family chose private school.