a little about us
Who we are:
Living Education Academy is a Charlotte Mason hybrid educational program staffed primarily by parents. We seek to encourage families’ home education journey using the Gospel-centered and beauty-filled philosophy and methods of Charlotte Mason. Our program seeks to spread the feast of learning to each of our students. Students engage with high-quality literature that encourages them to enjoy the beauty of the spoken and written word; they are also presented with a broad range of ideas that help to shape them into critical thinkers. They are guided to view biblically, respond graciously, and walk humbly among their peers.
Living Education Academy was founded in the Spring of 2021 on a back porch in Johnson City, Tennessee out of a desire to partner with families who are seeking to provide a Charlotte Mason education in their home. We began in May with this vision and quickly worked to develop the program and seek interest. Our first year of LEA began in August 2021 with full classes in 1st through 6th grade. In year 2, we added in 7th-9th graders and have been building our high school program from there.
We are a non-profit organization in the state of TN and a 501c3. Our board of directors meets quarterly to handle issues related to Living Education Academy as an organization. The board is composed of members invested in our school community in various ways:
Tracy Fannon – Principal of LEA, LEA parent, admin@livingeducationacademy.com
Joel Norris – Chairman of the Board, LEA parent
David Runge – Treasurer, LEA parent
Chris Feaster – Secretary, LEA parent
Emily Al-Khatib – Director, LEA parent, math teacher
Emily Kiser – Director, A Delectable Education consultant
Nicole Williams – Director, A Delectable Education consultant
Nadine Nekvasil – Director, LEA parent, science teacher
Mary Kate Williams – Director, LEA parent, science teacher
Julie Wine – Director, LEA parent, grammar/Plutarch teacher
*Contact the board at leaboard@livingeducationacademy.com
We may not be a good fit if:
1. You are looking for a traditional school-style program.
- We do not follow a traditional schedule, grouping students by grade level and only presenting ideas that are “common” for their age. Students may be in classes with classmates who are both younger and older.
- We strive to maintain smaller class sizes with a low student-teacher ratio.
- We choose classes and set our schedule based on Ms. Mason’s own schools and based on consultation with "A Delectable Education". For information about the different subjects taught in each form, you can look here.
2. You are looking for a drop off program.
- We seek to build a community with our families. Families connect outside of school hours by participating in field trips, after school activities, and school community events.
- We seek to support parents in their homeschooling journey; not replace them as teacher. All of our parents are invested in their child’s progress and development at the school.
3. You are looking for a co-op with electives and classes you can pick and choose from.
- Our schedule is set and dictated by the subjects that Ms. Mason laid out in her volumes. For the current year’s offerings, please go here. To read more about the variety of subjects in the feast and the way they are taught at LEA, go here.
4. You are looking for a secular or worldview-neutral program.
- You can read our statement of faith on our website here. All of our staff are unified in affirming a traditional Christian worldview.
- While not every book that we read is inherently Christian, every book will be approached in light of this worldview and statement of faith.
**We are not an umbrella school. Each family will still need to register with the state according to the guidelines laid out by the state. For more information about state requirements, you can look here if you are in TN or here if you are in VA.
