Homeschool graduate Kaitlyn Bajek shares her experience as a homeschool student. Enabled to pursue her passions, she started her own company! Now, she helps current and future homeschool families navigate the high school years as they plan for their student’s future. Join Kaitlyn and Jim Mason (HSLDA President) as they discuss all the benefits homeschooling has to offer! “I was homeschooled starting in second grade after the holiday break. I remember that day very well. I was sitting on the playground outside in our backyard, and my mom looked at me and said, “Kaitlyn, how would you like to stay home and be homeschooled?” I was absolutely thrilled. It was such an exciting experience for me to be able to choose my own destiny and to be able to really learn about things that were passionate to me. I loved learning about music and science. Being able to foster that love for learning throughout my academic career was truly a wonderful experience.”—Kaitlyn Bajek

Homeschooling has the power to shape not just families, but entire communities. In this thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Myles Wertz (associate professor of theology and director of Baptist Studies at Abilene Christian University) joins HSLDA Attorney Will Estrada to explore Dr. Wertz’s recent article in Christianity Today and his own personal homeschool journey. When parents choose homeschooling out of a desire to do what’s best for their children, the ripple effects extend far beyond the family—fostering individuals who enrich their communities and drive positive change in society. “When we allow families to pursue homeschooling, we find that certain practices or ways of educating begin to bubble up from the surface that wouldn't have been discovered or wouldn't have been understood had there not been the room for homeschooling to exist. . .I think education needs to be more personalized and more attentive to the particular needs of students in nature. I think that's something that homeschooling can naturally do.”—Dr. Myles Werntz

Homeschool graduate and World Magazine journalist Grace Snell believes homeschooling afforded her unique opportunities for community and exploration of her passions! Join Grace and Jeremiah Lorrig (HSLDA Director of Media Relations) as they discuss her military family upbringing and highlight how homeschooling fostered Grace’s passion for storytelling, preparing her for a career in journalism. “I think sometimes, people who are considering homeschooling [face] a lot of fears: “what if this doesn't turn out,” or “what if they don't have social skills”. Instead, think, “what is it that I want for my family? What is my vision for our flourishing together, and what's the best way to reach that?” And if it seems like homeschooling is the best way to realize that, then don't be afraid to take that step or to jump in or to ask more questions. It could be a really beautiful opportunity!” —Grace Snell

In an increasingly interconnected world, we risk losing touch with the roots of our local communities. We’ve traded face-to-face mentorship and the wisdom of our elders for fleeting digital interactions and virtual acquaintances, while also creating a uniform education system. Nicholas Ellis, Founder of Christian Halls, is on a mission to change that. Through his program, he fosters local mentorships and engagement. By pairing youth with seasoned, knowledgeable advisors, Christian Halls helps to create thriving relationships that will positively impact communities, be rooted in trust, and foster shared experiences and generational wisdom. Join HSLDA President and host, Jim Mason, for an inspiring conversation with Nicholas about higher education and the vital role of passing wisdom from one generation to the next generation. “We've never had a generation that has more access to content and data in the history of the world. Data access, knowledge—access is no longer our problem. And so why, when we look around, do we see foolishness everywhere that we look? I think that a lot of that is coming down to vacating our communities—the natural, multi-generational transfer of wisdom from one generation to the next, by basically sidelining our elders. Our professional structures prefer that the retired elder community not be involved because they frankly take away [time] from that next 35-year-old PhD that's coming up through the system. Our model says that they are the absolute gold of our communities”—Nicholas Ellis

Homeschooling can start at any point in your child’s education. For Heidi St. John’s family, their journey started after noticing detrimental effects public school was having on sibling relationships. One fateful day, she missed the cut off period to enroll her second daughter in school, and the rest is history! Now with only one homeschool student left, Heidi is helping other homeschool parents find community through her organization, the Firmly Planted Family Homeschool Resource Center. “I would say that my favorite place to be is home. It's sitting around the campfire with our kids and grandkids at the end of a long day and people, you know, bring in whatever leftovers they have in their fridge and hang out. And I think that those things don't happen by accident! They happen because of intentionality. And, and we just love spending time with our kids. It breaks the narrative of the culture, right? [They believe] your kids are this interference and ‘we can't wait to send them to school and all the things.’ Homeschooling really changed the way we saw family, and I think it did it for the better”—Heidi St. John

Claiborne Thornton heard about homeschooling in the 80s. He has actively participated in homeschool advocacy in Tennessee, from being a homeschool dad to President of the Tennessee Home Education Association (THEA). In this conversation with Claiborne and Jim Mason (HSLDA President), learn about the early days of homeschool freedom, engaging with your representatives, and the importance of attending your homeschool capitol day—it might just involve 180,000 cookies! “We have a system that is designed for us to have the freedom to step forward and act. We understand how to take and use the tools that are set out before us and to preserve what we've been entrusted with. It's a complicated thing, it's a beautiful thing, and it's a very dynamic dance that goes on to make that to make that happen. And it's so encouraging to see other folks around Tennessee and across the country step forward and use those tools that we've been given. [We have the] freedom to interact with those that represent us and [build relationships] with them to help them see we're well-intended. Look through the systems that are there and try to find ways to make those connections. That's critically important with your friends, and even with those who might have some disagreement with.”—Claiborne Thornton

Never assume that an individual is or isn’t an ally of homeschooling based on their political affiliation. Join Tom Leonard, attorney and former Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives, and Jim Mason (HSLDA President) in an insightful discussion on the grassroot efforts of homeschool advocacy. You’ll be encouraged to cultivate relationships with legislators across parties, because you never know what might happen! “It's about the issue. It's not about the party. [I believe] a couple of our biggest allies right now on this issue are Democrats that serve in the House of Representatives. But on the flip side, I can't tell you how many Republicans that you would think this [would be] an easy issue for them. They're conservative. They've got a conservative voting record who when you first bring this up, their first question is, “well, Tom, you're just talking about a registry. What does it matter?” Now once you have that conversation, they understand it. But again, assume nothing in this business. Never assume that somebody is not going to be an ally and never assume that somebody is. Get out there and educate these legislators in a very respectful way!”—Tom Leonard

As homeschooling grows, so does the conversation about how education is defined. Join Dr. Timberly Baker (Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at Arkansas State University) and Jim Mason, HSLDA President, in a discussion on challenging the traditional view of schooling. Many prospective and novice homeschool families can feel insurmountable pressure to create a structured, 8-to-3 schedule. This doesn’t need to be! Parents are their child’s first teacher, guiding their learning every day! Learning can (and does!) take place anywhere, and a rigid schedule isn’t required. The possibilities of homeschooling are endless, and each student’s experience is unique. “I often say that we are our children’s first teacher. So you've already done much of this work in terms of teaching them what you think that they need to know. You do it all the time anyway! We have to disrupt our thinking that schooling happens in this sort of 8 to 3 structure only, and that if it's not that, then it's not a school, right? And so, once we get to helping folks disrupt that notion, then it becomes a much broader conversation about the possibility of being able to homeschool”—Dr. Timberly Baker

Dr. Brian Ray has been studying homeschooling before we even knew what to call it! Brian and Jim Mason (HSLDA President) discuss advocacy research, conflicting worldviews at play, and the importance of peer reviewed studies protecting against these biases. You won’t want to miss this insightful conversation on home education research and what the next generation of research may look like! “What are [homeschoolers vs public schoolers] doing now in life, you know, occupation. Are they married? Do they go to college or not go to college? Do they vote? Do they volunteer? Are they happy or not? Are they depressed or not? Do they feel fulfilled in life or not? Group study can help us know what is happening. And if we think these five things are good things, what was going on growing up that was connected? So I think a piece of the new generation of research is going to be looking within groups.”—Dr. Brian Ray

Homeschool moms juggle many different roles, and Anne Miller is no exception! But for her, one of those roles led to becoming a key advocate for homeschooling in her state. Join Anne Miller, Executive Director and President of the Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV), and Jim Mason, President of HSLDA, as they reflect on the importance of advocacy, 40 years of homeschool freedom, and the incredible growth of the homeschooling community. Hear Anne's inspiring journey from volunteering with HEAV to leading the organization as Executive Director and President! “There are vast numbers of homeschool families now. We're not alone anymore. I'll tell you, in the 1980s, we felt very alone. We only knew one family. And then we found this small group that we didn't even know existed! But now, everybody knows a homeschooler. There are homeschoolers probably right on your block or around the corner. They're everywhere.”—Anne Miller