Robert Duryea watched as his daughter, Trinity, gradually faded into the background of a public-school environment that no longer seemed equipped to help her thrive emotionally or academically.
By the end of 2022, after ongoing concerns involving bullying and a growing feeling that those issues were not being meaningfully addressed, he knew something needed to change.
“At times it felt like she was just being moved through the system instead of truly seen and supported as a student,” Robert said.
At the time, Robert says he was preparing to homeschool Trinity because he did not believe another realistic option existed. As a disabled parent living on a limited income, private school simply did not seem financially possible.
Then, while searching online for alternatives, he came across Children’s Scholarship Fund (CSF). Until then, he says, he was unfamiliar with the school choice programs and scholarship opportunities available through CSF.
After applying and being approved for support, Trinity enrolled at St. Catherine of Siena School in Manchester, where she is now completing sixth grade.
Looking back, Robert says the changes became noticeable quickly, not only academically, but in Trinity’s confidence, attitude, and overall sense of belonging.
“She is safe now,” he said.
For Robert, that sense of safety became the foundation for everything else that followed.
He describes Trinity’s current Catholic school environment as one in which students are encouraged, challenged, and genuinely known by their teachers. Instead of feeling overlooked, she began receiving praise for her work, support when she struggled, and opportunities to participate both inside and outside the classroom.
Her grades improved as well. Now completing sixth grade, Trinity carries a 98 cumulative average and has already been accepted to attend Holy Family Academy in Manchester for seventh grade during the 2026-2027 school year, accomplishments her father says once felt difficult to imagine during some of their earlier struggles.
But the academic improvement is not what Robert talks about most.
“The school boosted her self-esteem,” he said. “They helped her with schoolwork, encouraged her, and challenged her to bring out her educational capabilities.”
One moment still stands out to him in particular.
This year, Trinity was selected to speak at her 2025-2026 sixth-grade graduation, something Robert viewed as a reflection of how much her confidence and leadership had grown.
In her previous environment, he says, Trinity often felt invisible. Now, she was being trusted to stand in front of her classmates and speak on behalf of them.
Basketball became part of the transformation too. At St. Catherine’s, Trinity was able to join the school’s basketball program, something Robert says had not previously been available to her at her age level.
He still remembers one playoff game in particular from two years ago.
Late in the game, with her team trailing 8-7 and only minutes remaining, Trinity scored three baskets in a row to help secure a 13-8 championship victory.
For Robert, the moment was about far more than basketball itself. It was seeing his daughter step confidently into pressure, believe in herself, and contribute as part of a team in ways he says he had not seen before.
Recently, Trinity also won a 40-minute spelling bee after correctly spelling 52 words. Robert says seeing her willingly step into challenges now feels very different from where things stood only a few years ago.
“She was just a number before,” he said. “Now she’s encouraged.”
Outside of school, Trinity has also started pursuing new interests. According to her father, she dreams of one day acting and singing professionally, hopes to eventually perform in a musical at Manchester’s Palace Theatre, and has recently developed a growing interest in writing and poetry as well. Trinity says she has even started thinking about writing her own book one day. To help encourage those interests, Robert enrolled her in acting and singing lessons.
In a note she shared for this story, Trinity reflected on how much her confidence has grown over the past several years and shared one quote that has personally inspired her: “Nobody gets to decide whether a bellflower is the prettiest compared to a peony.”
For Trinity, the quote reflects the importance of self-confidence, individuality, and recognizing that people do not all grow, learn, or see themselves in the same way. In many ways, it also reflects the broader idea behind educational freedom itself: that children thrive in different environments depending on their individual needs, personalities, strengths, and goals.
Trinity said those ideas helped her become more confident “not just personality wise but academic wise,” while also encouraging her creativity and self-expression.
Looking back, Robert says he is not sure Trinity would have imagined any of those opportunities or ambitions for herself only a few years ago.
He also says those opportunities would likely not have been possible for their family without outside support. Through assistance from Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire, along with participation in New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account (EFA) program, the family was able to help cover tuition, school supplies, uniforms, and other educational expenses that otherwise would have been difficult to afford on a limited income.
Without that support, Robert says, Trinity likely would not have had access to the school environment that helped rebuild her confidence and sense of belonging.
For Robert, school choice ultimately comes down to something simple but important: making sure children have access to environments where they feel safe, supported, and able to grow.
“To me, educational freedom means giving a child the opportunity to be in a safe educational environment where they can truly thrive,” he said.
He also believes many families still do not realize opportunities like this exist.
“Many parents I talk to are unaware Children’s Scholarship Fund exists,” he said.
That is part of why he chose to share Trinity’s story. He hopes other parents facing similar struggles realize there may be options available and that they are not alone in searching for a better educational fit for their children.
Since 2013, New Hampshire’s Education Tax Credit program has helped expand educational opportunities for families across the state. Through the program, businesses can receive a state tax credit for contributing to Children’s Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to eligible students and families seeking educational environments that fit their needs. CSF is also supported through charitable giving from individuals, families, foundations, and community supporters who help make opportunities like this possible for New Hampshire students.
And for the donors and supporters who help make those opportunities possible, Robert says the impact reaches far beyond financial assistance alone.
“You are providing educational environments where children’s education is nurtured and emotional development is guided,” he said.
Help make stories like Trinity’s possible for students and families across the state. Learn more or make a donation here: