For a while, Kristen and Danny never quite knew what kind of school day their son was going to have.
During preschool and kindergarten, separation anxiety made school especially difficult for Zekey, and the family found themselves constantly adjusting schedules, shortening days, and trying different approaches just to help him feel more comfortable with the experience.
“We kept trying different things because we wanted to find something that worked for him,” Kristen said.
Because one of Zekey’s siblings was already attending Trinity Christian School, the family decided to try a hybrid approach, splitting kindergarten between homeschooling and the school’s afternoon kindergarten program. Later, when Zekey entered first grade full time, Kristen and Danny realized the environment still was not the right fit for him emotionally. His anxiety around school continued, and eventually the family made the difficult decision to pull him out and homeschool him full time.
For the remainder of first grade and throughout second grade, home became a place where learning felt more manageable for him again. He could move at his own pace, spend extra time on subjects that interested him, and work through difficult moments in an environment that felt calmer.
Toward the end of second grade, Zekey told his parents he wanted to try school again, not because everything had suddenly become easy, but because he missed being around other kids regularly and wanted more friendships.
Kristen and Danny began exploring options carefully. They worried the size of their local public school would increase his anxiety, so they searched for something smaller and more personal. Eventually, they visited Meeting House Montessori School.
Kristen remembers the feeling almost immediately.
“It felt more like homeschool, but with other kids,” she said.
The school was small, with just 26 students from kindergarten through fourth grade. Students learned together across age groups rather than being separated strictly by grade level, and the smaller environment immediately stood out to their family.
At the same time, Kristen was also trying to figure out whether attending the school would even be financially possible.
The family had first learned about Children’s Scholarship Fund New Hampshire years earlier, and over time CSF scholarships and Education Freedom Account support became an important part of helping make a school like Meeting House financially possible for their family.
Without that support, Kristen says Meeting House likely would not have been realistic for their family.
“The scholarships helped make this possible for us,” she said. “Without scholarships and EFAs, our children wouldn’t have the option to attend a private school.”
At first, the changes were subtle.
Zekey started talking more openly about his day and mentioning classmates by name. Sometimes he would come home excited to explain a project he had worked on or a conversation from recess.
“Every day at school pick-up, he had a smile on his face,” Kristen said. “He would share every detail about his day with us.”
Hearing him retell his days that way meant a lot to Kristen and Danny.
Zekey especially loves the mixed-age environment at Meeting House. He likes knowing everyone in the school and enjoys helping younger students with reading.
“My current school is smaller than my old school,” he explained. “I don’t feel as nervous because I know everyone and I know the teachers really well.”
He also loves the school’s outdoor spaces.
“I love the playground,” he said. “It’s in the woods and we can do so much.”
When he talks about school, he talks about the sandbox, the wooded areas, and the garden space he and his friends created together. He talks about being able to move around, explore, and learn in ways that work better for him.
“Compared to my last school, I really like that Meeting House has so many materials that help us learn in different ways,” he said.
Outside of school, he continues spending time on interests he enjoys.
He is finishing his third year of guitar lessons through Trinity Music Academy, something his family says has been especially therapeutic over the years. This year, he also participated in a 10-week recorder program.
He is also what his mother laughingly describes as a “Lego fanatic.” He joined a Lego club through the local library and already hopes to participate in a Lego robotics team.
Looking back, Kristen says there was never one dramatic turning point. Instead, she watched Zekey become more comfortable and confident little by little over time.
Kristen says watching both of her children grow in environments that fit them better has been deeply meaningful for their family.
“Seeing them grow these last few years and being excited about getting to go to school is a blessing,” Kristen said. “They get to experience, explore, and learn in an environment that truly allows them to thrive.”
Today, some of the moments that stay with her most are still the ordinary ones: hearing Zekey happily retell his day during the drive home, watching him run off to play with friends, or seeing him walk into school comfortably each morning.
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.
Help make stories like Zekey’s possible for more New Hampshire students and families.