Empowered Parents: Navigating Educational Choices with Confidence 

In today’s evolving educational landscape, the conversation around school choice has shifted from the one-size-fits-all approach to empowering parents with the agency to find what works best for their children. EdChoice sponsored a panel discussion at the recent MOMCON event to help attendees understand the power of educational choice and find the right option for their children. The session featured three inspiring mothers—Tressena Jones, Sharon Sedlar, and Sherina Lyons—who shared their deeply personal journeys navigating the educational system to ensure the best outcomes for their children. Their stories offer practical insights into how parents can confidently pursue the right educational options, from homeschooling to cyber charters and everything in between. 

Tressena Jones: A journey into homeschooling 

Tressena Jones, a mother of five and a passionate homeschool advocate, opened the discussion by highlighting the challenges her oldest son faced in the public school system. “My son was having a really hard time with bullying,” she shared, explaining how her family came to the decision to homeschool. Despite initial fears about homeschooling’s long-term impact on her children’s academic success, Tressena emphasized how her son now thrives, aspiring to be an engineer. 

“What I’ve learned is that homeschooling is not a lesser option—it’s a valid and empowering choice,” Tressena remarked. “My son was concerned about his future—whether he’d be able to attend college or pursue his dream of engineering. But we’ve had open conversations, and he’s seen that homeschooling can prepare him just as well.” 

Tressena also spoke about the sense of community within homeschooling circles. “One of the great things he loves is seeing other successful homeschoolers, like professional athletes who’ve taken this route,” she shared, adding how important it is for children to see real-world examples of people who have thrived through alternative education models. 

During the question and answer portion of the event, Tressena was asked about the hardest part of making the switch to alternative schooling. “The biggest fear for me was what everyone else was going to say,” she admitted. “But my greater fear was leaving my children in an environment that was not safe. When my son reported that a classmate had brought a gun to school, and the school wanted to sweep it under the rug—that was my breaking point. I knew for my peace of mind and my children’s safety it was best to withdraw them from the public school system.” 

Sharon Sedlar: Trusting parental instincts 

Sharon Sedlar, a mother of six, shared how her decision to explore alternative educational options came when two of her daughters encountered health challenges in a traditional public school setting. “Two of my girls had post-concussion syndrome, and the traditional school environment became a nightmare. The lights, the noise—it was too much for them,” she recounted, emphasizing how crucial it is for parents to advocate for their children’s needs. 

Sharon spoke about how her instincts told her something wasn’t right. “I should have listened to my gut in the first month,” she said, referencing her daughter’s struggles. “There were times when she’d call me crying from school, begging to come home, and the district kept threatening truancy charges if I didn’t bring her in.” 

“But one day, after months of fighting with the school, I came home and found her in the fetal position, under her covers, just refusing to go. That’s when I knew I couldn’t keep forcing her. It wasn’t just about her education anymore; it was about her mental and physical well-being.” 

Ultimately, Sharon decided to switch to a cyber charter school, a choice that had a profoundly positive impact on her daughter’s well-being. 

“She recovered,” Sharon shared with emotion in her voice. “She’s thriving now and in ninth grade. I made the choice to homeschool her because she needed a break. We need to be open to changing course when the system isn’t working for our children.” 

Sherina Lyons: Navigating diverse educational models 

Sherina Lyons, a mother of seven and advocate for home-based learning, shared her rich experience navigating a variety of schooling options. “We’ve done it all—private, charter, public, and homeschooling. Each one of my children has different needs, and we’ve tailored their education to meet those needs,” she explained. 

For Sherina, homeschooling allowed her the flexibility and freedom to cater to her children’s unique learning styles. “I have twins, and even though they’re twins, they’re completely different personalities and learning needs,” she said. “The beauty of school choice is that you can find the right fit for each child, and for some of mine, that’s been homeschooling. For others, it’s been public online schools.”  

Sherina also works for White Pine Wilderness Academy, an asynchronous online public school that her children attend.   

“The focus is on reconnecting students with their environment, community, and cultural roots. Freedom of movement is huge for me. I feel so strongly that kids need to move. Recess time, being outside—that availability is really important.” 

Sherina was asked how she manages the transition from a public school environment to homeschooling. She acknowledged the fear of missing out on socialization. “People often say, ‘Your kids are going to be weird,’ but honestly, they’re going to be fine. They already have their unique quirks, and that’s a beautiful thing. It’s about nurturing those quirks in a healthy environment,” she said with a smile. 

Key takeaways for parents 

Throughout the panel, several key themes emerged that resonate with parents seeking the best educational fit for their children: 

• Follow your parental instincts: Both Sharon and Tressena emphasized the importance of trusting your gut when something feels off in your child’s current school environment. “No one knows your child like you do,” Sharon reminded the audience. 

• Explore all options: Whether it’s homeschooling, cyber charter schools, private, or public schools, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Parents should feel empowered to explore all available options. “There’s nothing wrong with changing course if your child needs something different,” Sherina shared. 

• Consider your priorities: Sherina highlighted the importance of identifying family priorities—whether it’s safety, academics, or personal values—and using those priorities to guide educational decisions. “Ask yourself, what is your priority for your child? Academics? Safety? Family values? Build their education around that,” she said. 

The panelists’ stories underscore a powerful truth: no two educational journeys are the same. By trusting their instincts, staying informed, and being open to various educational models, parents can provide their children with the tools they need to thrive. As school choice continues to evolve, one thing remains clear—parents have more power than ever to choose the educational path that’s right for their family.