College is Not Mandatory — Interview with Stephanie Haynes

Stephanie Haynes is an education coach, and a consultant specializing in equipping all stakeholders to support teens as they develop plans for a future after high school. With 30 years in education as a public, homeschool, and charter school teacher, professional coaching certifications, and experience as the mom of two young adults, she has unique insights into the teenage post-high school planning process. Her goal is to create a cultural revolution where all post-high school training and education opportunities are championed, all careers are valued equally, and the potential of all teens to succeed is paramount in the education process.

Stephanie recently wrote the book, “College is Not Mandatory: A Parent’s Guide to Navigating the Options Available to Our Kids After High School,” and I absolutely loved it. More about the book later in this post.

Stephanie has been married 26 years and has two kids. They live in Charleston, SC, though she grew up in California. Her first teaching job was at Ignatius Valley High School in California. As a teacher, she gained knowledge about education in the early nineties and saw the transformation. Schools used to be a training ground for trades, but they became college preparatory places. Stephanie watched that dichotomy start, and it changed our whole culture. She raised her own children in that culture, trying to figure out how to help them navigate this world.