The Schooling Doula is an impartial resource for families’ school decision-making in the Seattle area.

Schooling transitions can be difficult. There is almost no reliable information out there that helps a family compare schools’ culture, values, and student experience. Yes, there are sites that tell us test scores and demographics, yet those are problematic. We can help you find out what it is really like for students and families at a school.

Together, you will consider:

• What is most important to us in a school for our child(ren)? And for older children, what is most important to them?

• Which schools align best with our values?

• In which school community will our child(ren) and our family thrive?

• We need help with the school and college (paying for, how school is chosen) section of our Parenting Plan — can you advise?

• What about schools’ equity and inclusion work? Is there Black-and-Brown affirming culture? If Black-lives-matter curriculum and instruction is in place—is it superficial or at the core?

• What efforts are being made to support faculty of color?

• Public or private?

• Financial aid? Testing?

• Neighborhood or at a distance? Transportation?

• Advanced Learning?

• Special Education? IEP or 504?

• Alternative? Charter?

• Montessori, Waldorf, Forest/Wilderness, Experiential, Environmental, Tech?

• Which schools? Seattle Public Schools? Seattle Independent Schools? Seattle Jesuit or Catholic Schools?

• Is homeschooling and option? What resources and groups are available to homeschoolers in the Seattle area?

• New to town? Where to live? What schools are open to us in which neighborhood? I am able to help you with this if you are planning to move to Seattle city proper. Otherwise, I recommend Jeanne Gonsulus at Savvy on Seattle.

As a professional educator and researcher, when it came to selecting schools for her own children, Brynnen did extensive research into all of the options, and as luck would have it, her kids have attended or she has worked or studied at most every “kind” of school out there. Recently, Brynnen needed to find an alternate middle school for her son (pulling him out mid-year—he LOVED that, not!). Luckily, she had recently taken a leave from her administrator position, as that school search became a full time job—going to every public and private school that had a possibility for an opening, to the tours, to the information sessions, meeting with faculty, administrators and parents, reading the websites, doing the applications, talking with the enrollment offices. Brynnen’s experience as a professional and as a parent will save you hours of work.

If you’re not looking for a new school, but rather have a school-related challenge, the Schooling Doula can help you through this transition. Brynnen has helped many students and families looking for direction or problem-solving support with any kind of school-related problem (special education, discipline, interpersonal conflict, etc.) or what to do during non-school times--summers, after school, and breaks—using service hours, what jobs or volunteer opportunities are out there, etc. Please be in touch if you think you could use a sounding board, even just for a short 15 minute phone call.