Commentary
Single mom Shinara Morrison discovered homeschooling by accident. When public schools closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, she found herself taking the lead on her child’s education to fill the gap.
Morrison never withdrew her son, who was 7, from the public school system. But she supplemented his online instruction with custom coursework that blended academics and life skills. Morrison had no formal training as an educator, but she had special insight as a mother.
“I had a little cheat sheet in my head,” she says. “I knew his learning style.”
By the time her son returned to part-time instruction on campus, he had jumped ahead of grade level. His teachers praised Morrison for her diligence, and she felt supported—like she was part of a team. That changed when she moved from North Carolina to Port Arthur, Texas, in summer 2021….