Check Out Christen McAfee’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Christen McAfee.

Hi Christen, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I am a homeschool graduate, who fell in love with teaching in the public school setting. My aunt, Sherri Horn, had always told me I’d make a great teacher because I loved to tutor younger kids who needed help with math and reading while in high school. God put it on my heart, and I had the opportunity to earn my teaching degree from Emporia State University. During my internship, I was mentored by Ashley Brooks and Cathy Scofield. During that year of student teaching, I really had to find my teacher’s voice and presence. Much of my confidence as a teacher began to develop during that year.

The team there gave me opportunities to stretch myself as an educator, and I am forever grateful. I had the desire to one day open my own school because I planned to homeschool my own children but I wanted to expand it and open it for other families. After graduating in December 2014, I began teaching in the Blue Valley District as an ESOL Long Term Sub, thanks to my friend Leslie Hayden referring me for the position. For the 2014-2015 school year, I was blessed with a third-grade position at Indian Valley Elementary. I fell in love with this Title School in the BV District. There I had the opportunity to teach with Janna (Lindemann) Boydston, Heather Falk, Holly Douglas, and Darcy Kaye over the six years I taught there. I leaned into my relational style of teaching and used my experience from homeschooling to prioritize customizing education for my students and doing my best to teach my students life skills as well. While teaching there, I earned my Master’s Degree from MNU in ESOL.

After the 2020-2021 school year, I felt the Lord’s pull that it was time for a transition. I was unsure why, because I planned to teach at a public school for at least 10 years to gain new experiences and sharpen my craft. I even considered going back to get my Doctorate’s Degree. I decided to step away from IVE to open myself up to other opportunities. This allowed me to be available to be a crucial part of the opening  Homeschooler Education Network (HEN), Inc. I have the privilege to do this with my mom, Rhonda McAfee, and our dedicated board members. It is an incorporation that empowers working parents to be able to homeschool if they desire to. HEN opens daytime learning centers to support these families and is the ultimate support for the working homeschool parent. Students receive math and reading instruction, and their parents receive mentorship and parent courses to equip them to feel confident as homeschool parents.

I am the director of the Olathe HEN Enrichment and Learning Center, and I work to create an environment for students to learn and grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. I know that my journey with education has enabled me to fulfill the requirements of this role, particularly in start-up incorporation. There are unique challenges to a mobile learning center and in creating a new learning culture for students, but I know the investment is worth it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
To create something that did not pre-exist, does come with its own challenges. Several of our students have come from educational backgrounds where they have not been supported as they should have. We are committed to meeting each student where they are academics. Instead of grade-based groups, we embrace skill-based learning. Students will be able to work on the skills they are ready for, instead of being limited or advanced simply because of their age. This is a challenge because most students are not accustomed to this way of learning with kids who may be older/younger. Some of the older students will have to readjust their mindsets. Unfortunately, some students have been advanced from grade to grade even though they have not learned and mastered how to read or do arithmetic. This becomes very problematic as these subjects become more advanced. Instead of ignoring that problem, we face it head on at HEN. We do not embarrass students for not being at a certain level, we build relationships and start with them where they are; this helps them to grow. We do this by customizing education and doing our best to teach to our students’ preferred learning styles. Every kid loves when learning is fun and mentally engaging. This is why we love homeschooling, because we help parents to learn how to do this at home too.

We are a weekly set up/tear down learning center. HEN is a nonprofit and financially we rely on donations and student tuition to pay staff, and provide scholarships, and resources. This means work must be outside of just teaching the students; setting up, tearing down, and raising funds. Volunteers are an extremely valuable asset to our success; the support we have received is amazing. Without them, we would not have the help we need to run smoothly. As new incorporation, we are working to build a strong foundation for the centers we hope to plant in the future.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As Director of the first HEN Learning and Enrichment Center I have worked closely with my mom (Rhonda McAfee, president of HEN) to create the structure and schedule of HEN. I am responsible for what the students will do when they come to HEN from 7:30 am-3:30 pm. We teach math and reading in the morning and provide group activities for students in the afternoon. I have hired specialists to teach the students on a weekly basis, as well as connect with community professionals to teach extracurricular activities for our students. I have enjoyed being a part of a start-up organization that believes in what I do – customizing education and cultivating students spiritually, socially, and emotionally. We plan to open up more centers overtime in different parts of Johnson County. Our first one we opened this year in Olathe, KS. We plan to expand and open one in Kansas City, KS next. We are always looking to add to our team.

I have always loved a good start-up. I started a young adult group called PAIR (proactive, accountable, intentional, reflective) to encourage my peers to learn the skills necessary to be successful in life. In the year 2021, I started a podcast and I interviewed inspiring young adults. So often we can hear people complaining about our generation, but I wanted to focus on the positives of our generation. Not only did I get to do that, but it also helped me to have a creative outlet in the midst of confusion about COVID. If I see a problem, I try to be a part of the solution. That’s what I feel like I am a part of with HEN. As a public school teacher, I saw the brokenness of our education system.
With HEN, it’s twofold. Firstly, I want families to begin connecting with each other again by equipping more families to be able to homeschool and invest in their children in that way. Secondly, I believe educators should do what’s best for kids when it comes to education; it has been proven kids learn best in small groups, with children of mixed age groups, and when they are able to move around and learn through play. At HEN, we provide a hybrid learning environment – we take the best of the two worlds of traditional homeschooling and private schooling.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
Trust God always. Remembering it’s okay not to know. It’s okay to take the time to feel things through. Build a great team that believes in your mission. Never forget the path you’ve traveled to get where you are.

Pricing:

• $3,000/school year for K-6 students

Contact Info:

• Website: www.henforparents.org
• Instagram: @henforparents
• Facebook: henforparents
• Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Olathe Chamber of Commerce and @kymberlyjanellephoto