As the Founder and Executive Director of Laurel Springs School, I understand the many benefits our school provides for homeschooling families who want the support and expertise of an accredited, college prep school.
My own homeschooling experiences were instrumental during my journey to establish our school in 1991. When I spoke at the Chicago Homeschool Expo last year, it was so lovely to meet with many of the families in attendance. In talking with these dedicated parents, I couldn’t help but reflect back upon my very first experience of educating a child at home and the unexpected path it took.
On a warm October day in 1981, I embarked on one of the greatest journeys of my life; homeschooling my youngest child. This momentous occasion was not triggered by any specific problem at school. In fact, my son had a lovely teacher and the school was a small country schoolhouse, with one class per grade, set in the midst of orange orchards and palm trees. But it was very clear that my son was not happy at school, and this form of education was not the best possible learning environment for him. In fact, by the age of six, he had gone from being excited about school to waking each morning tired, cranky, and saying he wanted to stay home with me.
Our first year of homeschooling was blissful; just the two of us working on story books, math problems, saving baby birds, art projects, and taking trips to the Natural History Museum in Santa Barbara. This was the beginning of an epic journey that would change all our lives.
Soon, my two older children were eager to join us. At any given time over the next twelve years, one, two, or all three of my children were being educated at home. Each year, we made a new plan based upon each child’s needs, because I believed my decision should be appropriate to each child at that time in his or her life. So, in addition to homeschooling, we explored private school, a co-op, public school, and ultimately founded Laurel Springs School.
By the time they reached high school, my children had settled into the type of education that worked best for their learning styles.
My daughter (the oldest of the three) schooled at home throughout junior high and high school. From an early age, she knew she wanted to be a commercial and film director. She spent much of her time during her high school and college years interning with noted directors and established film companies. I had faith in her passion, and her unwavering focus paid off. Today, she is one of the top commercial women directors in the country.
My middle child decided that public school (with several breaks for home study) was more suited to his needs. He completed his Masters degree at Harvard and is highly ranked in the military.
My younger son explored many forms of primary and secondary education, ultimately graduating from Laurel Springs. He went on to college and is now a successful visual effects artist; his work is often seen in movies and music videos.
My passion for personalized education comes from being immersed in the educational experiences of each of my three children, and from creating a school that is dedicated to providing excellent academics matched to the learning style of each student.
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