“We Left Public School Behind and Never Looked Back”: One Kansas Mom’s Story of Finding Educational Freedom

When Jenn Troy and her family relocated from Illinois to Spring Hill, Kansas, in late 2020, they assumed their children would continue in school as usual. What they didn’t expect was to become part of a growing movement of parents seeking something drastically different from the traditional public education model.

Jenn’s story mirrors the experience of many families during and after the COVID-19 pandemic—families who began to question what was happening in the classroom, what their kids were being exposed to, and whether there were better options available. Her search for something better led her to Freedom Learning Academy in Overland Park, Kansas—an unconventional micro school started in the basement of a former public school teacher.

“We’re one of the first families that started at FLA,” Jenn shared. “So, we’ve gotten to see it from infancy and now till what it is today.”

The COVID Tipping Point

Jenn’s children entered the Spring Hill public school system in early 2021—right in the middle of widespread restrictions. Her twins started the second half of third grade, and her older son began the second half of eighth grade. The transition was rough, not because of academics, but because the environment felt rigid and unnatural for their family.

Jenn and her husband had taken a different approach to the pandemic, choosing not to live in fear or pass on anxiety to their kids. So when her children entered a school system filled with masking and distancing protocols, it created confusion and emotional tension.

One moment stood out as particularly symbolic: her daughter ran to hug a teacher and was met with a gesture that stunned them both.

“She got out of the car and she ran up to hug one of her favorites. And that person hug air hug like they didn’t want to hug her. And I’m like that is pathetic really.”

The sense of disconnect was more than just physical. It reflected a growing gap in values and vision—what school should be, how children should be treated, and how families and educators should work together.

Searching for a Better Fit

With no personal connections in Kansas, Jenn turned to online communities for answers. She joined Facebook groups, watched parent discussions unfold, and began noticing one name pop up repeatedly: Josiah Enyart, a teacher who had left public education to start his own school.

“I don’t exactly remember how I found him specifically,” Jenn admitted. “I think parents were on a thread… and his name must have popped up somewhere. And I’m like, ‘I need to contact this person.’”

That one thread led to a life-changing conversation. Jenn and her husband met Josiah, visited the learning space, met his family, and immediately knew this was the kind of environment they were looking for.

“The first conversation, I felt so at peace with the decision to put them in his school.”

Freedom Learning Academy (FLA) wasn’t just an alternative—it was a new beginning.

When School Conflicts with Family Values

As Jenn settled into the rhythm of FLA, she realized her concerns about traditional education went deeper than COVID restrictions. It was also about the subtle (and increasingly overt) ideologies entering the classroom—ideas she didn’t want influencing her kids before they had a strong foundation of their own.

“I don’t want my kids subjected to things and ideologies that don’t align with what I want to teach them.”

Her high school son, who remained in public school for specific reasons, often commented on what he observed:

“He said, ‘I just want them to teach me.’”

Jenn described how politics and social agendas had crept into the school environment in ways that felt unbalanced and intrusive. From library books to posters, the values promoted in public schools no longer reflected the conservative, faith-based foundation she was trying to build at home.

A Microschool That’s Refreshing and Rooted

At FLA, Jenn found something rare: a school that combined structure, freedom, and alignment with her family’s priorities.

“While I always call it nontraditional, it’s so good. It’s just back to the basics.”

Instead of long hours at desks, her kids enjoy a dynamic school week filled with movement, hands-on learning, and real-world experiences. Field trips happen almost every Friday—to museums, libraries, parks, even the state capitol. The school includes music, gym, art, and more—all taught by specialized instructors.

“They’re not in desks all day long… they go outside all the time.”

FLA uses a mixed-age model, grouping students by developmental stage rather than just grade level. Older kids serve as leaders, and younger kids look up to them, creating a tight-knit, respectful learning culture.

“There’s not constant behavioral challenges because there’s an expectation.”

Jenn also emphasized how issues are addressed thoughtfully—not ignored, and not pathologized.

“It’s the way he goes about teaching kids through those behaviors or those challenges… That is what I love.”

The Role of Structure—and Safety

While some microschools or co-ops operate with part-time models, Jenn’s family needed something that resembled a full school schedule.

“It was really nice that it still had kind of a structured schedule where you’re going every day… it was a good structure that didn’t make it such a drastic change for the kids.”

With a Monday through Friday schedule and consistent hours, FLA provided the rhythm her family needed—especially as working parents.

“We want our kids to be in a place where we know they’re safe and we don’t have to worry about what’s going on at school every day.”

Reflecting on the Journey

Jenn didn’t set out to become a pioneer parent or a champion for educational alternatives—she simply followed what made sense for her family. From connecting with other parents in Facebook groups to trusting a conversation with a teacher she’d never met, every step was rooted in alignment with her family's values.

“We didn’t have any friends… so I started just kind of leaning in and kind of watching.”

That leaning in led her to a school where her children could grow, be safe, and learn in an environment that supported—not challenged—the foundation they were building at home.

By the end of the interview, Jenn shared what the conversation itself had reminded her of:

“It’s been fun… it’s renewing my ‘we did the right thing.’”

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:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wiseandotherwise