Darby Kennedy
Social Studies
Every young citizen of planet Earth should take at least one Darby class. As adolescents begin to develop a broader awareness of the complicated world around them, Darby provides context so that students can draw connections between their own experiences and the larger themes that recur throughout human history.
Darby began her career as a high school government and economics teacher. Graduate studies further fueled her passion for education and the importance of equipping students with a deeper understanding of the cultural fabric that shapes our nation. After receiving her Masters in American studies, she spent six exciting years working at the Smithsonian Institution amidst the artifacts of that cultural fabric.
She became a homeschooling parent in 2010 and was determined to provide her children with an education tailored to their complex needs, strengths, and interests. Before long she’d come full circle and was back in the classroom, developing social studies classes for the local secular homeschool community. Her classes filled up quickly; parents had been searching for engaging social studies classes that go beyond what most of us had in high school.
In addition to teaching in-person classes at FreeSpace, Darby connects with students all over the world through Outschool where she has been recognized as a top instructor on the platform, winning numerous awards and leadership roles. She also works developing curriculum for All Minds Academy, an online high school for neurodivergent learners who primarily communicate through spelling and typing.
Throughout her adult life, she’s spent many years volunteering with national women’s organizations where she has created educational programming for college women. She is also an advocate for LGBTQ+ teens and neurodivergent students. Her oldest child graduated in 2023 and is now an honors student at Columbia College in Chicago. She can also offer guidance if you have questions about college admissions or transcripts, or if you need a general pep talk about your child’s homeschooling path.
