Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Johnnie Seago.
Hi Dr. Johnnie, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
In 1988, I became a homeschooling mom. This was only one year after the Leeper v. Arlington Texas Supreme Court case made home schooling an option for Texas parents. As we began home-educating our daughter and son, our neighbors and friends became curious and asked if they could “come play school” with us. Before long, we were operating a regular schedule of classes held in our home with upwards of 40 students in and out of our living room and kitchen. Within a year, my husband began complaining that we were “using too much toilet paper!” I found a local church which allowed us to use their building for these students as their parents took turns teaching various classes. Thirty-five years later, we have graduated over 3700 students who have attended colleges around the world. Our former students have pursued careers in every walk of life and have gone to fulfill their dreams.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with most educational pursuits, funding has always been a great obstacle. We attempt to keep our costs for the program very affordable. Many of the parents of our students barter tuition for teaching classes in which they are skilled. Because of this practice, many of our skilled teachers leave us when their students graduate, and we begin the process of training new parents, teachers, and students all over again. Since we rent space from local churches, challenges include keeping a solid relationship with the church personnel, in order for our families to feel that this is a familiar and stable environment to educate their children.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We specialize in a Classical Christian education and environment. Through the study of the liberal arts and sciences, our students develop as a whole child. The word “paideia” means education of the whole. We focus on leadership development as well as character development through biblical studies. We are proud of the fact that we collaborate with parents so families can truly have an individualized experience. We offer a two-class day on-campus experience with an optional study group day, held in host family homes. On our Conroe campus, we also offer a four-day option for families’ convenience. As a totally inclusive program, our students graduate exceeding the number of hours to graduate in Texas with honors.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I would tell beginning home educators to trust the process. Modern education focuses too much on high-stakes testing and constant assessment. While assessments are important, learning is organic and occurs at different speeds for all children. They need to be given time, space, patience, and freedom to have delight-directed learning.
Contact Info:
- Website: pcsedu.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paideiaclassical/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaideiaClassicalSchool
