Hi, we’re Jeremy and Carla McKean. We have two children currently attending Houlton Elementary. When the closure of Houlton and Willow River was announced, like many families, we were forced to rethink what education could and should look like for our kids.
Over the past few years, we’ve also felt increasingly disconnected from traditional K–12 approaches. Innovation is slow, kids are often trained to memorize instead of problem-solve, and technology has become more of a distraction than a tool. In our own home we’ve reduced screens and electronics to protect our kids’ mental and emotional health, yet that has sometimes left them feeling left out socially, especially as peers move on to gaming, YouTube, and soon, cell phones.
We are aware that a couple groups of parents are working on returning the school board’s decision and if Houlton does not close, we will stay through 5th grade. But, if the district stays firm on the closure decision, we plan to take this new path.
A few parents are actively working to collect community interest in establishing a charter school https://www.houltonfarmschool.org . While we wait, we are gathering interest from other families who may be interested in homeschooling. We envision our children learning and growing into healthy adults.
Our goal is to create a flexible, supportive, innovative learning community for families who want:
We imagine an education where kids grow into capable, confident young adults who can navigate real life — not just pass tests. The kind of learning that matters, like:
We want our kids, and yours, to grow up capable, grounded, skilled, and inspired.
As we build out this homeschooling/partner-family model, we welcome other families who want to be part of something healthier, smarter, and more aligned with the world our children are growing into.
If you’re interested in updates or collaboration we’d love to connect.
Copyright © 2025 Iterate Hudson - All Rights Reserved.
Powered by Houlton People
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.