Episode Summary

In this first official Freedom to Teach episode, I introduce a new lens for examining education through moments that won’t leave me alone. This series isn’t scheduled. It surfaces when something reveals a deeper question about agency and professional trust. In this episode, that lens centers on autonomy.

Using the journey of Olympic figure skater Alysa Liu, I explore what happens when a dream stops feeling like your own. Liu stepped away from competition not because she failed, but because the joy disappeared. When she returned, she did so with ownership — choosing her music, her artistry, and her expression.

That shift toward autonomy mirrors what many teachers experience. Burnout is rarely about effort alone. It is about erosion — when professional judgment shrinks, when expertise is replaced by scripts, and when ownership fades. Teachers don’t leave because they stop caring. They leave when they stop feeling trusted.

If we want educators to remain in the profession long term, agency cannot be optional. Autonomy restores ownership. Ownership restores energy. And energy sustains passion. Freedom to teach is not about lowering standards — it is about strengthening commitment.

Show Notes

1. Introduction to the Freedom to Teach series
2. Autonomy as a professional lens
3. Alysa Liu’s departure and return to skating
4. Burnout as erosion, not effort
5. Survival and growth in career decisions
6. Trust as foundational to teacher longevity
7. Autonomy strengthens commitment

Key Takeaways

1. Autonomy determines whether passion sustains
2. Burnout begins when professional voice diminishes
3. Survival and growth can coexist
4. Trust multiplies energy and leadership
5. Longevity is the real win in education