She Tried to Stay Out of It—Now She Runs the School: How One Mom Found Her Calling at Northfield Academy
- Pauline Rivera
- Oct 20
- 3 min read
When Shawna Hein’s daughter started attending Northfield Academy, Shawna made a promise: “I’m going to try to stay out of this. I want this to be your thing.” Her daughter still teases her about that, because just a few years later, Shawna is now the head of school—leading a growing community rooted in classical learning, hospitality, and transformation.
But this story isn’t just about a parent-turned-principal. It’s about the beauty of education that changes lives—sometimes starting with the educators themselves.
A School With a Story
Northfield Academy isn’t your average private school. Housed in two restored Victorian homes in Wichita’s historic district, its students study literature around dining room tables and discuss Shakespeare in stairwells filled with carved woodwork and sunlight.
The school serves grades 6 through 12, and is deeply rooted in classical education—emphasizing truth, goodness, and beauty. Students dive into the Iliad, Dante, and Shakespeare not just to check off reading lists, but to wrestle with eternal questions and grow in wisdom.
The school’s unique rhythms—like month-long “deep dive” courses, commonplace journaling, and even field trips that align with the great books curriculum—invite both leisure and rigor. It’s a place where curiosity is cultivated and community is intentional.
From Homeschooling to Headship
Shawna and her husband had planned to homeschool their children all the way through high school. But during COVID, their daughter surprised them by saying, “I really want to go to school.” After researching options, they visited Northfield—and within a day of shadowing, her daughter was ready to enroll full-time.
That initial “yes” changed everything.
As her daughter settled in, Shawna stayed on the sidelines—until she couldn’t. Her background in tutoring students with dyslexia (through Wichita’s Fundamental Learning Center) and her love for etymology aligned beautifully with Northfield’s approach. After a few nudges from the previous head of school, Shawna began teaching—and never looked back.
Three years later, she stepped into leadership, bringing both humility and vision to a school she once only planned to observe from afar.
A Faith Journey Rooted in the Great Books
One of the most moving parts of Shawna’s story is how Northfield became the catalyst for her own spiritual transformation.
As she began teaching The Iliad and later Dante’s Divine Comedy, Shawna found herself swept into the depth of truth in the texts—and the honesty of her students' faith.
Surrounded by Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant colleagues and students, she began asking deeper questions. Watching faith lived out in community—not just professed, but practiced—softened her skepticism and opened her heart.
By the time the Dante unit ended—timed perfectly with Holy Week—Shawna realized something had changed. “I think I’m a Christian now,” she told her husband. It wasn’t a moment of pressure, but of realization. Truth, beauty, and goodness had done their quiet work.
A Culture That Welcomes and Transforms
Northfield’s culture is perhaps its greatest strength. Every student begins the year with Orientation Week, where the school’s seven simple rules are introduced through storytelling and skits. The focus for the year? Beauty—not just in academics, but in relationships, spaces, and spirit.
The result is a campus where new students are quickly folded in, where diverse personalities find belonging, and where students themselves can articulate why they’re learning—not just what they’re learning.
Instead of rushing through a curriculum, teachers and students alike embrace the classical ideal of “scholé”—learning for the sake of contemplation and joy. Whether it’s memorizing Shakespeare, sketching natural symbols from The Tempest, or journaling quotes that stir the soul, everything at Northfield is designed to form not just minds, but hearts.
More Than a School—A Living Community
Northfield’s two-building campus offers a home-like environment for its 6th–12th graders. With about 22 students currently enrolled, the school emphasizes quality over quantity. Parents are engaged, the school partners with nearby programs like Concordia and Mary Seat of Wisdom, and shared events like the annual Thanksgiving feast foster a wider Christian school community.
Shawna’s vision is to grow steadily while protecting the culture that makes Northfield special. Around 40 students would be a comfortable cap, but the school is focused less on numbers and more on formation.
Learn More About Northfield Academy
📍 Northfield Academy – Wichita, KS
If you’re in the Wichita area and seeking a classical education that forms whole people—intellectually, spiritually, and relationally—Northfield may be the quiet revolution you’re looking for.
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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