Throughout the U.S., homeschooling has seen a significant increase since 2019. What was a slowly growing community had a student boom, and for Keys parents, many of their homeschooling questions can be answered by a local homeschooling group.
The parents of the “Home Schoolers of the Florida Keys Informational Page” on Facebook provide information on educational opportunities throughout the islands, and also bring the kids together to play and build friendships.
For Kimberly Matlock, the group allowed her to find a curriculum focused on her daughter. “My daughter is interested in science,” she said, “so we can schedule more of what she is excited about.”
For a young scientist, the Keys offer lots of opportunities for homeschooling kids to learn hands-on from local professionals.
“There’s lots of opportunities here,” said Matlock. “Some kids were waking up to go into a classroom at 8 a.m., while we were waking up to go snorkeling with Mote.” Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium offers monthly homeschool classes, and local organizations like the Marathon library offer weekly homeschool hours including STEM activities, arts and crafts, LEGO building contests and a 3D printing lab.
The group also provides coaching from experienced homeschooling parents, including Carolyn Campbell and Tanya Hackney. Campbell’s son, Cameron Waldera, is now the owner of Curly’s Coffee. Campbell shows parents new to the community the success story of her son’s path from homeschooler to local business owner. “It’s freedom to do what you want for you and your children,” said Campbell. “Kids remember the topics that they question. We can focus on what inspires the kids”.
For Hackney, a former public school teacher and now author, homeschooling looked different. “Carolyn and I approached homeschooling differently,” she said. “We had friendly debates on techniques. I wanted to do structured classes in the morning, and then self-learning in the afternoon.”
Hackney’s five kids were all homeschooled on their boat while traveling the Caribbean. Her book, “Leaving the Safe Harbor: The Risks and Rewards of Raising a Family on a Boat,” is a memoir of the transition from a “white picket fence” life to that of a close-knit family at sea. For Hackney, “The Keys were always home base. The kids consider Marathon home. This group welcomes everyone with open arms, and is very open to newcomers. (So) every time we came back, the kids could pick up where they left off with their friends.”
RV traveling families, sailing families and vacationers are all a part of the homeschool community in Marathon and allow for an ever-changing, diverse social experience. “Traveling families having a group to come home to is so important,” said Hackney. “I didn’t want my kids to be socialized, I wanted them to be sociable.”
Both Campbell and Hackney’s kids participated in a since-discontinued P.E. program run by the city of Marathon until the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed homeschool kids to participate in a group P.E. class with team sports, themed activities and even an end-of-year dance. “It was one of my kids’ favorite parts of coming to Marathon,” said Hackney. “We’d love to see it come back.”
Recently, veteran parents have passed the baton to newer homeschool educators as new young students join the homeschooling group.
“There aren’t a lot of options for schools in the Keys,” said Hackney, “but there are other options, and this is a special place to explore those.”
Hackney added that homeschooling might not be the right fit for all kids and all parents, but was “100% the best thing we ever did.”
Parents looking to reach out to the homeschooling community can start at the Home Schoolers of the Florida Keys Informational Page on Facebook. Educational organizations can also visit to post homeschooling classes and activities.
