Hello! My name is Arlee and somehow, we are rolling into our sixth year of homeschooling this fall! Like many, we reluctantly began homeschooling in 2020 when Covid policies made my child's education even lower on the ladder of priorities for the private school we attended. It was never my plan to homeschool, but I wanted what was best for my child so I had to adjust my plans and start down a new path. It wasn't an easy transition for myself - or my kids! - but now that we are through that season I'm really glad we stuck with it! Our family primarily enjoys the freedom and flexibility that homeschooling affords us, but I often marvel at how fulfilling it has been to devote myself to this work and all the little moments I get to be a part of because we chose this path.
Fast forward five years and I'm now educating a 7th, 4th and 2nd grader! We have a rhythm to our days and learning happens in all kinds of ways - in our home, at the park or library and during field trips, classes, hikes or parties with The Social Homeschooler. We love our weekly Recess meet ups and it's made all the difference for us to know there's always a place we can make new homeschool friends because, let's face it - it can be hard to make friends in person these days! I very much love the philosophies of Waldorf education and the work of Rudolf Steiner deeply shaped how we've raised our children. I thankfully stumbled upon the teachings of Melisa Nielsen, with Waldorf Essentials, and for the last four years it's been like having a map to keep going on a diverse and rich educational path that allows me to individually tailor my kids educational paths to them. What a gift it is to have the freedom to explore these different paths! I have served on the board of The Social Homeschooler for the past 3 years now and it's a joy to get to work with other ladies who are committed to building community for our families. I'm honored to be able to serve this group, knowing it helps to build an ever-growing community around us who are investing in our children's education and creating a safe environment for them to practice all that they learn. Although we didn't even want to start down this path in the beginning, having The Social Homeschooler in our lives has been like a breath of fresh air on our journey and reminded us that we weren't made to do this on our own!
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Hello, all! My name is Dayna, and I’m honored to be serving as the new member liaison for The Social Homeschooler. This is my first year on the board, and I’m looking forward to supporting this wonderful community.
We are a military family, with my husband currently stationed at Fort Leavenworth. We have three children—a 7-year-old son, a 5-year-old daughter, and a 2-year-old son. Because we’ve moved often (four times since my oldest was born!), we know how important it is to find friends and community wherever we land. We feel so blessed to have found TSH, where we were welcomed into an established network that is also so open to new faces. I first became interested in homeschooling when my oldest was about a year old. I dove into research on child development and parenting—both scientific sources and the lived experiences of homeschooling families. What began as a plan to keep my children home until school age quickly grew into a vision for a lifestyle of learning together. With the frequent moves that military life brings, I wanted our home to be a constant source of stability, closeness, and belonging for our children. Right now, our homeschool is less about formal academics and more about living and learning in the everyday. For us, childhood is a time of exploration—of the world, of relationships, and of oneself. My kids are naturally curious, and I’ve seen how quickly and joyfully they learn when they are interested in something. My role is simply to make space for that curiosity and to trust the process, even when doubts creep in. I’ve been deeply influenced by the works of John Holt, Peter Gray, Raymond S. Moore, John Taylor Gatto, and many unschooling families who have shared their journeys. Motherhood has been the greatest teacher of all. It has stretched me, humbled me, and grown me in ways I never expected. The mom guilt is real, but so is the grace. Little by little, I see growth—not only in my children, but in myself as I learn to be more patient, present, and understanding. This is the hardest work I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding. I am so grateful not to be walking this path alone. Community matters—people to lean on, learn from, and encourage. I am thankful for the amazing women who make this group thrive and who continue to build it up for the sake of raising good humans. I can’t wait to get to know you all better!
Hey there!
I am Stephanie, founder and director of The Social Homeschooler. My love of people and passion for homeschooling has led me on a journey to learning so much more about myself, my children, and my hopes for the world we get to share. We may be taking a less traditional approach than I had expected, but it is one that has brought so much joy and contentment that there is no doubt that we are on the right path! Our homeschooling journey began in 2017 when I decided to follow my gut and withdraw my daughter from public school. Our homeschool has shifted and grown over the years since stepping away from the traditional school forum, moving through developmental phases as my two girls have grown into teens. While we embraced unschooling in our early years as I dove deep into the words of wisdom of John Holt, reminding us that we are always learning through living, these days we have a slightly more formal approach as we embark on the journey into high school and transcripts. The flexibility that homeschooling has created for us has been invaluable, allowing us to seamlessly flow to and from things that we use in service of building our learning capabilities. The uniquely tailored education that I get to provide for my children was the motivation for stepping into this lifestyle and it continues to be the thing that I value the most about our choice to homeschool. When laying out the hopes and dreams for our homeschool experience I quickly realized that homeschooling isn’t something meant to be done alone. Sure, a lot of the learning may take place inside the walls of your home, but in order for our kids to continue to feel the pull of curiosity they have to get out and explore their world and they need peers to explore alongside. More than that, I needed peers for this new exploration journey I was on! Homeschooling was a brand new idea to me and I was eager to find those in the same boat as me, as well as those who had gone before to quiet the doubts in my mind and assure me that I was on the right path. I had an idea of what this community could be and in 2022 we officially opened enrollment for The Social Homeschooler. These days I feel like I am settling in well into the many different roles I play, both within my home and within the homeschool community. When you see me around at homeschool activities you will likely find me chatting with the moms, as my teens are independent now and I am less hands on when we are out and about. I still enjoy hosting the varied age groups (multi-age play and learning is invaluable to all parties!) and I love that I get to do that through our Community Conversation events as well as full family book clubs. It fills my cup to get to be in the company of the families who participate - connection is so important to me! I am also still doing my own learning and growing as I navigate what it looks like to facilitate a growing homeschool community and I value the experience that I am modeling for my girls of what it looks like to truly be a life long learner. When I am not doing homeschool things you can find me busy on my little homestead; tending the gardens and the chickens, setting the table for family meals, and tinkering with crafty things like sewing, painting and writing. I live with a cup of coffee in one hand and a pen, a book, or a spatula in another; eager to learn and grow my skills. There is always a seat at my table and I love when people drop in and keep me company while I work at the things that bring me joy. Enough about me, I want to know about you! What do we have in common? I'd love to hear! By Stephanie Wharton-Lynch The year is coming to an end and with that comes a time of reflection. I am so grateful for all of the families who have leaned into this community and who have helped create events, as well as a sense of belonging amongst families. It takes heart to show up, to create meaningful connections, and to host events so that others can expand their learning -and you all have done it so well! I would like to take the opportunity to ask you to join me in thanking the team of ladies who have worked on the board to make this co-op run with ease. Arlee, Carisa, and Jesse are members and homeschool parents just like you, who have volunteered their time in service of this community. They have kept our co-op organized and our calendar filled with events, gathering us all together to build the connections that are so valuable. None of this would have been possible without them! Please join me in thanking them by sharing your words of appreciation in the comments. We want them to know how much they mean to us!  Hi, I’m Carisa Mackey! I grew up in Iowa but moved to Kansas in 2010 to be with my now-husband, Joel. We have two amazing daughters—Lillian (10) and Poppy (7)—who keep our days filled with adventure, creativity, and learning.
Homeschooling wasn’t always in our plans. Before our oldest turned six, we wrestled with the idea of moving to a better-rated school district or finding other educational options. She attended preschool for six months before the world shut down in 2020. That’s when we took a leap of faith into homeschooling—and we haven’t looked back since! Looking back, it’s funny how many people told us we’d be a perfect fit for homeschooling. Turns out, they were right—we absolutely love it! Our homeschool journey is all about experience and exposure—trying new things, exploring, and learning in the world around us. We’re actively involved in the Kansas City Metro homeschool community, always seeking out new classes, co-ops, field trips, and hands-on learning opportunities. When the weather allows, you’ll find us outside! We live in Kansas City, Kansas, on a cozy half-acre lot that backs up to 50 acres of woods leading to the Missouri River. Thanks to our wonderful neighbor, we have free rein to hike and explore as much as we want. In the summer, we practically live outdoors—gardening, caring for our chickens, and doting our Maine Coon cats. I’ve always been a maker at heart, and crafting is a huge part of our lives—especially when it comes to Halloween! Each year, I design and create our family’s costumes from start to finish, turning ordinary materials into something magical. Though I’d love to hibernate in the winter, our homeschool adventures keep us busy year-round, connecting with other families and growing together. Homeschooling has been an unexpected blessing, and I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything! Who doesn’t love a break from the day and a chance to head out to play? Whether you are a swing person, up for a game of kickball, looking to run the court with the basketball, or just taking a stroll, chances are you can conjure up memories of things you used to do out in the fresh air on the playground. And just like the days when you would head out to play, your children also need space to move their bodies and a handful of friends to get the games going-that’s where Homeschool Recess comes into play! Homeschool Recess Leavenworth County is a community of families who gather in person to create a space for free play for homeschool families. Homeschool Recess began serving the Leavenworth County Kansas area in August of 2020 and was the first organized homeschool free play group that was open to the full homeschool community. Since its start it has provided a space for connection for homeschool families in the cities of Leavenworth, Lansing, Basehor, Tonganoxie, and Bonner Springs. Highlighting the amenities of local parks and trails, Recess is hosted every Friday, free of charge and free of commitment. Locations move throughout the county, making it easy to join in and foster connections to neighbors and the physical spaces we are living and learning in. Recess hosts are present to greet families and make people feel welcome, ensuring you will always meet someone at the park. Are you ready to join in on the fun? We have easy options to suit your needs! You can join in on the conversation and find a full list of events on Facebook at Homeschool Recess Leavenworth County or you can participate off of social media by heading over to our Recess page and signing up for the email list. We can’t wait to see you at the park!  Homeschooling can feel scary when you're just starting out!
Below is a list of resources that will help you get your footing if you are a Kansas homeschooler!
My name is Stephanie. I put down roots in my husband's hometown of Leavenworth in 2005 and together we are raising our two girls on our two acre homestead; complete with a garden, orchard, chickens, ducks, and cats. I joke that this undertaking is what spurred our homeschool, as it was all new to me and something that has been a long learning process full of rich rewards. The reality was that as a product of the public school system it never occurred to me that I might one day be a home educator. If I look back at the path it was clear that it was already forged for me. My role as mother and nurturer was one that was clearly defined for me at an early age so it was natural that I would continue to want an active role in my children’s day to day lives and later that translated into taking an active role in their education. I have always had clearly defined goals for my girls’ education experience and they revolved around two things: 1) helping them figure out how they personally learn; knowing how you take in and apply information will always put you in the driver's seat and keep all opportunities open to you, and 2) raising and teaching them as a part of day to day life in the world around them so that they understand that they are a whole person at every age, that the things they say and do matter, and that the way they engage holds weight; there is no coming of age that readies them, no one granting permission, and no restriction to the ways in which they can engage in their community. If people know their worth and have the ability to learn and grow then they will be unstoppable in achieving their goals! Our lifestyle lends itself well to learning new skills and much of our learning is a shared experience. I love that my husband and I are able to model what it looks like to be lifelong learners and we get to have a front row seat to watching our girls blossom and grow. The gift of community within The Social Homeschooler and Homeschool Recess has been pivotal in allowing my girls to learn and grow as individuals; growing their skills in interacting in new spaces and with new people. Over the years it has been a safe space to learn the important skills of navigating friendships, conflict resolution, working with multi-age peers, interacting in meaningful relationships with adults, participating in shared learning, and learning to share their own skills. The learning, skill building, and connections aren’t just something that my children benefit from, but something that has helped push me to continue to actively pursue my own learning and growth. The friendships and connections I have made within the community have been formative in my own journey as a home educator, mother, and friend. The gift of community is truly invaluable.
Hey there! My name is Jessica (Jesse) Schnellbacher. I’ve been homeschooling since my boys started 1st grade. I was one of those moms who heard about homeschooling, but I had enjoyed an amazing public school experience. That experience left me very prepared for pursuing the Bachelors in Biology I eventually obtained from Truman State University. When my children came to be, not only did I not want to deprive my kids of a similar experience, I also just didn’t think I was cut out to homeschool, so I thought to myself- nope, never, not going to be me, I just can’t. Spoiler Alert- I did (and still am.) My mother in law had operated her own Montessori school for over two decades by the time I had my boys, and when the Army moved us to Washington state, there were many Montessori schools to choose from in the Tacoma area. We found one we loved, and my boys each went there for 2-3 years. That experience served them so well, and they learned so much, that by the time they were old enough to enroll in the public school, I realized it wasn’t going to work for them. I had now lived in enough places (Washington was our third duty station) to understand that not all public schools were created equal. The school my kids would have attended was struggling. I realized that if I enrolled them in the school we were zoned for, they would be bored to tears, repeating so much of what they’d already learned, and having to completely shift how they approached a school day, since Montessori learning is heavily child-directed. In addition, it was becoming more and more clear just how many moves our family had in our future, and how unstable their school experience might be if we had to enroll in a new district every couple of years. So I did what I was *never* going to do and took the homeschooling plunge. I’ve learned a lot, and my kids have learned even more. We’ve gone through our growing pains, our de-schooling and mental-block removal phases. I laugh now remembering how I chose to homeschool to give them a different experience, yet still tried to emulate ‘circle time’ with my single first grader and his stuffed animals. Cute, but yikes. Now I’m homeschooling a high schooler, another thing I was *never* going to do, and there are new growing pains, new mental-blocks to remove, but thankfully, we have no regrets. I’m able to allow my children to seek out the knowledge they want, while tailoring their learning experience to ensure they obtain the lessons they need to grow into healthy, mature, responsible adults, keeping what works and grows them, and letting go of what doesn’t. As a part of The Social Homeschooler, I’ve been so thankful to see my kiddos develop connections and relationships, and experience things I’d struggle to provide them on my own. In addition, I’ve been blessed to make my own connections, and to have the opportunity to serve the co-op and its members so they can have the same opportunities.
Hi! My name is Arlee Kilbourn and I serve on the board for The Social Homeschooler. I’ve enjoyed being a part of Recess and The Social Homeschooler for the last year as it really helped my family feel connected after moving to Tonganoxie, Kansas from the seacoast of New Hampshire where we had lived for the previous ten years. Although I will be the first to admit that homeschooling was never part of my plan - we’ve been at it for 3 years now and I can’t imagine ever giving it up. I love the freedom homeschooling affords us to work, travel, school and balance the other pieces of life in whatever schedule works best for our family. All three of my children have dietary allergies or an autoimmune condition that we manage primarily through a specific diet - so I’m in my kitchen for a good amount of time every day and as you can imagine, it can be very isolating. Knowing we can go to Recess on any Friday has been so great for my kids to make friends and widen their social circle, but it’s been essential for me to make connections and build friendships with other moms that I wouldn’t otherwise have because we don’t have the food and lifestyle flexibility that other families enjoy. My eldest started his school journey in a local Waldorf school and in the last few years as we moved across the country and the world changed dramatically, we decided keeping our kids at home was the best path for our family. I learned that I’m passionate about Waldorf education, which includes a lot of art, literature and a love for nature - so that is something that still inspires our homeschool because it breathes life and beauty into our daily work, both for myself and my children. We’re also participating in the 1000 Hours Outside challenge this year, so if you love to be outdoors we’d love to make plans to play - if there’s water involved, even better - my kids will be entertained by a creek for hours! Recess and any other park dates are such great opportunities for our kids to work out what they are learning at home and figure out their personalities and how to build real friendships - we are so grateful for this group!
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September 2025
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