Since joining the Division of Non-Public Education in July, I have been afforded opportunities to engage with the home school community. This past weekend I was the guest of Heart for Homeschool Ministries, Inc.’s summer seminar, where DNPE education consultant Kristy Daughtry and I facilitated sessions.
Mari Fitz-Wynn and her late husband created Heart for Homeschool Ministries to provide a venue for novice and veteran home school families to network, partner and support one another. Mari is also the legislative liaison for North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE), the oldest and largest home school organization in the state.
Participants left “fired up” and wanting more. Veteran homeschoolers indicated that Mari’s seminars are always worth attending, and novices appreciated the opportunity to have questions answered by knowledgeable homeschoolers and DNPE representatives.
Through conversations with Sharon Henderson, NCHE Region 8 Director, Sandi Crosmun, NCHE Region 9 Director, and Diane Allen, a veteran homeschooler, I was able to learn more about the home school community and issues they face. During individual presentations, these women provided practical and unbiased information to novice homeschoolers. Their dedication to families, children and education is evident by the passion they exude and their willingness to support others.
This positive relationship is vital to the home school community as enrollment grows. Every child in North Carolina will impact the future of our state. Supporting families as they educate their children, whether in public or non-public schools, is important to having productive and actively engaged citizens who make this a great state to live, work and prosper.