Learner Spotlight: The McLaughlin Family

The McLaughlins are longtime independent studyers who appreciate the freedom to pursue their passions and learn what interests them. Both Owen and Tess McLaughlin appreciate the flexibility to shape their own education to their learning styles and adjust its pace to their needs.  

Owen McLaughlin is a 14-year-old freshman. He has been independent studying for eight years and takes full advantage of the great vendors iLEAD Exploration offers. He rock climbs, plays the piano, and is working on his second-degree orange belt in karate. His two favorite subjects are history and science. He enjoys history because he likes to understand the events that contribute to where we are today. As for science, he has loved this subject since he could talk. He loves the challenge science offers and the logical answers it gives through discovery. Owen has been on the Hart District Robotics Team 691 for two years, where he is the team’s quartermaster. This year was super exciting because his team made it to the world competition.

Tess McLaughlin is an 11-year old iLEAD Exploration learner who has been independent studyed from the start. Her passion is ballet and she is excited that this year she goes on pointe. She has taken voice and musical theatre lessons since she was six years old at one of iLEAD’s wonderful and nurturing vendors, Vibe Performing Arts Studio. She has made the leap this year to the big stage with another one of iLEAD’s great vendors: The Canyon Theatre Guild where she has performed in James and the Giant Peach musical and now has landed a lead in The Adventures of Robin Hood. She is happy to have found a tribe of kind and supportive independent study kids at the theatre! Her favorite subjects are reading and science. She loves reading because it can take you into worlds you never would have imagined. She never leaves home without a book in hand. She loves science because of the hands-on experiments (such as a bioluminescent experiment).

Asked where they see themselves in 10 years, Tess imagines herself dancing with the Joffrey Ballet Company as a prima ballerina, while Owen imagines himself as a mechanical engineer in his dream job at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Bravo to the McLaughlin learners!