“My Voice Didn’t Matter”: How One Mom Left the System and Found Peace at a Microschool
- Pauline Rivera
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
When Stephanie Dulin received a last-minute email from her public school district reversing its policy on mask mandates, she didn’t panic—but she did pivot. That moment became the final straw in a long string of disappointments with a school system she felt no longer aligned with her values or priorities as a mother.
Stephanie didn’t just walk away from public education—she found a better way. Today, she’s both a parent and a teacher at Freedom Learning Academy (FLA), a microschool built on accountability, collaboration, and trust.
A Breakdown in Trust
Stephanie's frustrations didn’t start with COVID—but the pandemic magnified long-standing problems she had tried to work through.
She describes how her child received an “F” in a class—only for the teacher to change it to a D-minus because he felt bad. In another class, her son received an “A” in what was essentially a study hall, even though he was failing everything else. Perhaps most shockingly, one of her children fell asleep in class and was left unaccounted for until a custodian found him five and a half hours later—long after the school had closed.
“It was blown off,” she said. “And I’m not sue-happy, but something could have been done.”
Despite her repeated efforts to partner with school staff, Stephanie was consistently ignored. Meetings led nowhere. Emails went unanswered. When she pushed for academic support—like foundational reading or spelling help for her child recovering from the trauma of foster care—she was laughed at.
“I just felt like my voice didn’t matter, and I wanted my voice to matter with my kids.”
When Accountability Is Optional
Stephanie was shocked by the lack of consequences for students and teachers alike. Whether it was behavioral issues, missing assignments, or playing sports while failing classes, accountability was either inconsistently enforced or outright dismissed.
“Without that accountability, I just feel like we’re giving these kids a huge disservice.”
She even recalls a school principal telling her to pick up her child midday—with no real explanation—because he was “just done” dealing with him. “I asked if the SRO was called, and they said, ‘That’s not what we use the SRO for.’ It made no sense.”
A New Chapter at Freedom Learning Academy
When Stephanie heard about a new microschool starting in a teacher’s basement, it sounded strange—but she reached out anyway. That teacher was Josiah Enyart, and what he was building became Freedom Learning Academy.
Stephanie and her family were one of the first to enroll.
“It was very unconventional. That’s not anything I ever thought I’d do with my kids. But we felt so much peace about it.”
Today, FLA offers a completely different experience:
Strong communication between parents and teachers
Immediate accountability for both academics and behavior
Freedom to observe and participate in the learning process
Weekly field trips, outdoor time, and flexibility to support kids’ mental and physical health
Foundational skills and structure without the fluff or bureaucracy
The Difference? Parents Are Respected
Stephanie now teaches art at FLA and has three children enrolled. She loves the partnership between staff and families.
“If I want to sit in my kids’ class, I absolutely can.”
In contrast to her public school experience, where she often felt like a nuisance for speaking up, she now feels seen and supported.
Advice for Other Parents
Stephanie’s closing message to other parents was direct:
“We need to be respected on how we’re raising our kids and our choices for our kids—and trust your gut.”
She doesn’t condemn the public school system entirely but says that for her family, it was time for something different.
“We needed a different space. We needed to be heard. We needed our kids to learn.”
Today, she encourages other families to explore their options. Microschools, co-ops, and homeschool models aren’t fringe anymore—they’re becoming a normal and necessary part of the educational landscape.
Learn More About Freedom Learning Academy
📍 Freedom Learning Academy
Overland Park, Kansas
Led by Josiah Enyart
Website: https://freedomlearningacademy.com/
This blog post was generated from the following episode of the WISE and Otherwise Podcast with Dalena Wallace. Find more at:
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