A Heartfelt Thank You & What's Next for NNA 💜
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Peace & Light, Family! I want to take a moment to pour into this community the way you all have poured into me this year. This past year has been one of the most unexpected and beautiful chapters of my life, and I am so deeply grateful. I launched Nia Natal Academy just three months postpartum. What started as an intentional effort to create a learning environment for my son and build community with other Black homeschoolers, turned into something far greater than I imagined. We built something real and rooted, this school year and I don't take that lightly. And yet, as I've sat in reflection since the school year ended, I've had to be honest with myself. This year moved fast. A lot was done. And as I look back at everything I built and held and carried during my first year postpartum, I realize I didn't give myself the rest I truly needed. That's my truth, and I'm honoring it. Now, my son is entering his high school era and is college bound, which means his homeschool journey is going to require even more of my intentional focus and energy. And my daughter — my now one-year-old who is walking, talking, moving and grooving — will soon be beginning her own homeschooling journey too. The demands are real, and they are beautiful, and they require me to be fully present. So after much prayer and reflection, I've made a decision: Nia Natal Academy will not be continuing this upcoming school year. I am shifting my energy toward ensuring my son gets a full ride at somebody's HBCU in the next four years, and toward what I believe is most needed in the African-centered homeschool space right now... and that is more curriculum. What I see missing is deeper curriculum options that strengthen our children's literacy, deepen their understanding of who they are, and equip them with the tools to walk confidently into adulthood, whether that path leads to college, entrepreneurship, the workforce, global travel, or beyond. That is the work I feel called to do in this next season. I will be writing and publishing curriculum homeschooled students, and I will share more as I'm ready. I am also working on a Rite of Passage program along with Mama Messina, for our rising young adults that I'll be sharing more details about when the time is right. In the meantime, I'll be documenting and sharing more of my journey 'Homeschooling through High School' on my YouTube channel and across my social media. I invite you to follow along, especially if you are / are intending to homeschool through high school. I know there's not as much content and resources out that support us Black homeschoolers beyond 8th grade, so intend to use my platform and voice to fill that gap. I'll also be popping up with conversations, community dialogues, and more as the year unfolds. One more thing before I go — If you are a homeschool family who would love support in building a personalized learning plan for your child based on their natal chart, I will continue to be available for that work. I truly believe every child came here with a unique blueprint, and when we align their education with who they truly are, everything shifts. I'm committed to showing what that looks like in real time as I guide my young King toward graduation. If that's something you're interested in, simply reply to this email and let me know. I would love to support your family in preparing for the upcoming school year. To every family who trusted me with their scholar this year — THANK YOU. From the bottom of my heart, it has been an honor, a joy, and a full-circle moment in my life as an educator and as a mama. I am rooting for every single one of your children. Until next time. ✨ With Love & Strength, |