Making The Leap

Homeschooling is on the rise! This week, Chris and Christine do a deep dive into the benefits of homeschooling with special guest Tonya Wiley. Despite being a former public school teacher herself, Tonya knew homeschooling was the best choice for her family since the mid-1990s. She has since homeschooled all six of her children from grades K-12. Tonya shares everything parents needs to know while considering the leap to homeschooling including the costs, administrative tasks, day-to-day scheduling and more. Tonya is a firm believer that there are no limits when it comes to homeschooling your children, and if you teach them a love for learning, they can learn anything. Resources Tonya mentioned on the show:-Midwest Parent Educators-Five in a Row-Home School Legal Defense AssociationEmail Chris & Christine: hello@makingtheleappodcast.comStay in touch with Making the Leap on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube or sign-up for the NEW monthly newsletter!Stay in touch with the Herzog Foundation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates. Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Meet Chris & Christine at the Herzog Foundation's Education Freedom Rally on Dec. 6! Register here.  This week, Chris and Christine catch up with the Herzog team and discuss the midterm election results. Education freedom won BIG. The first guest is Herzog Foundation President Darrell Jones. Darrell shares information about the Foundation's programs, initiatives and its new facility in Smithville, Missouri. The building's full-service video and podcast production studio is the new home of Making the Leap! The Herzog Foundation's facility is also home to over 20 employees and hundreds of Christian educators who attend training events each month. Christian educators and administrators interested in attending Herzog Foundation events can learn more and register HERE. The second guest is Mayela Esser from the Herzog Tomorrow Foundation. The Herzog Tomorrow Foundation was established to continue Stan Herzog's legacy of advancing Christian education for many years to come. Mayela share mores more information about her work funding scholarships and the MoScholars program. Individuals interested in participating in the MoScholars program can learn more HERE or contact Mayela at donate@herzogtomorrowfoundation.com. STUDENTS: Apply for the Herzog Foundation's Bill of Rights Essay Contest HERE. Stay in touch with Making the Leap on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube or sign-up for the NEW monthly newsletter!Stay in touch with the Herzog Foundation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates. Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Sign-up for Making The Leap's newsletter today!On this week's episode, Chris and Christine discuss the importance of speaking up and demanding transparency in K-12 education. They are joined by a mom who has been a fearless warrior for Pennsylvania students since 2020. "She did something during covid that no other parent did," Chris said. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Megan Brock said she was a "regular mom." That quickly changed when Megan saw politics taking over the public school system in her state. Schools were shutting down with no science to back up the closures. From her vantage point, kids were being used as political pawns. Meanwhile, juvenile crime rates in Philadelphia were increasing and math and science scores were rapidly dropping. Megan decided to speak up and demand answers, filing numerous Right-To-Know requests with state and local officials in Bucks County. These requests were quickly met with lawsuits, which Megan has been able to fight with the help from Judicial Watch. You can stay in touch with Megan on Twitter and learn more about your rights as parents by visiting her website. If you enjoyed this episode of Making the Leap, leave a 5-star rating and let us know what you liked about the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also comment on any of our social pages; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Check out our latest YouTube Shorts too!To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates. Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Christine and Chris discuss how churches can partner with schools and share their own personal experiences with their children in daycare and pre-school at local churches. They are joined by Dr. Ken Parker, pastor of First Baptist Church Kearney, who gives his perspective on the challenges churches face when supporting or interacting with schools. Dr. Parker discusses his church's efforts to support the education community, both in public school, homeschooling, and Christian schools. He also shares ideas and advice as to the logistics that go into a partnership between a church and a school. Christine and Chris wrap the show by talking about the possibility of schools mandating COVID vaccines.Learn more about First Baptist Church Kearney at KearneyFBC.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.For more information about Dr. Parker, click here, or visit his Facebook page. To purchase Elephants in the Church, click here.If you enjoyed this episode of Making the Leap, leave a 5-star rating and let us know what you liked about the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also comment on any of our social pages; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Check out our latest YouTube Shorts too!To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates. Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Christine and Chris start this week's episode with discussing the increasing role of unions in education, and the emerging trend of independent-minded teachers leaving their unions. Christine shares her views, as a former public school teacher, of the increased pressure put on teachers by unions and administrators, and what the correct role of a teacher ought to be, especially outside their role as educator.Christine and Chris are joined by Jake Herzog, son of the late Herzog Foundation founder, Stanley M. Herzog or "Stan" as he liked to be known. Stan was a Christian businessman, philanthropist, father, and grandfather. He believed Christian education was critical to spiritual and cultural flourishing. Jake was raised exclusively in Christian education and shares his experiences as well as a history of his father's company.Jake shares his views of Christian education, both as a child and now as an adult, the importance of Christian education in today's world, and the legacy his father left to promote that goal.Jake Herzog is the Vice President of Engineering and R&D at Herzog Contracting, Inc., founded by his grandfather and eventually run by his father, Stan Herzog. You can find more about the company at Herzog.com.If you enjoyed this episode of Making the Leap, leave a 5-star rating and let us know what you liked about the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also comment on any of our social pages; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Check out our latest YouTube Shorts too!If you'd like to learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Christine and Chris dive into one of the more controversial issues in Christian education; the role of science in a biblically-based education.The Stigalls welcome guest, Nancy Reid, a middle-school science teacher at Veritas Christian Academy in Wayland, Massachusetts. Nancy was one of twelve 2022 Christian Teacher of the Year winners at the Excellence in Christian Education Awards presented by the Herzog Foundation last month in Washington, D.C.They discuss how science and the bible merge when taught well, talking about issues like the age of earth, evolution and the creation of life. They also discuss how science and Christianity agree on most issues. Nancy shares her teaching style and why she starts with secular textbooks and then critiques them scientifically to show that biblical principles still apply. She discusses her project to create companion guides for secular textbooks so that Christian schools or homeschoolers have more resources to teach biblically based science.Learn more about Veritas Academy and visit their website at Veritasma.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.To learn more about the 2022 Christian Teacher of the Year recipients, click here. If you'd like to nominate a Christian teacher in your school, visit HerzogFoundationAwards.com.If you enjoyed this episode of Making the Leap, leave a 5-star rating and let us know what you liked about the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also comment on any of our social pages; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Check out our latest YouTube Shorts too!If you'd like to learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Christine and Chris begin today's episode discussing mental health and how education might impact the alarming statistics we see in children today. They mention some specific scenarios where increased pressure on students can easily lead to mental health issues, and how a Christ-centered education might help.The Stigalls are joined by Connor Boyak, founder of the Libertas Institute and author of the Tuttle Twins series of children's books. Connor shares his reasons for starting to write books for children and how the pandemic accelerated the project. Connor also discusses the current state of public education and how books like the Tuttle Twin series are needed to create a firm educational foundation outside the government school system. They focus on how American history and civics is currently being taught and how we should be focusing on the substantive over the superficial.Learn more about the Tuttle Twins books and purchase the series at TuttleTwins.com. To learn more about the Libertas Institute, visit Libertas.org or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. For more information about Connor Boyack, visit his website. You can also follow Connor on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.If you enjoyed this episode of Making the Leap, leave a 5-star rating and let us know what you liked about the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also comment on any of our social pages; Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Check out our latest YouTube Shorts too!If you'd like to learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Christine and Chris begin this week's episode by recapping their time in Washington, D.C. for the Herzog Foundation's Excellence in Christian Education Awards Gala, honoring 12 Christian teachers from across the country.To learn more about the 2022 Christian Teacher of the Year recipients, click here. If you'd like to nominate a Christian teacher in your school, visit HerzogFoundationAwards.com.The Stigalls also share about their experiences over the past year with their daughter's enrollment into a private Christian school. They talk about how their perspective regarding Christian education drastically shifted with the positive changes they saw in their daughter's life. They encourage parents who may still be on the fence about making the leap to Christian education. There is an entire community of parents who are either making the same decisions they are or parents who have been in the Christian education sphere for years ready to walk alongside them. Christine and Chris emphasize the importance of considering which education route to parents should take, what kind of school best aligns with your beliefs as well as the education format your children learn from best. Lastly, they encourage parents that they are not alone in their journey of Making the Leap.If you enjoyed this episode of Making the Leap, leave a 5-star rating and let us know what you liked about the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also comment on any of our social pages; Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Check out our latest YouTube Shorts too!If you're interested in learning more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Christine and Chris welcome Dr. Josh Mulvihill, author of numerous books and articles on Christian life and education for this week's episode of Making the Leap. During this episode, the Stigalls cover why some might choose a Christian education, why public schools are failing Christian families and why that may be irredeemable. Dr. Mulvihill shares the types of curriculum a Christian school should offer as well as the benefit of teachers being retrained to teach from a biblical perspective. He also talks about the common objectives to Christian education, Christians evangelizing in public schools; and how parents can monitor public school curriculum. To learn more about Dr. Mulvihill and his work, follow him on Twitter or read his blog, Gospel Shaped Family. Read Dr. Mulvihill's article "Countering Common Objections to Christian Education," here. For more resources or to purchase any of his books mentioned in the podcast, visit his Amazon storefront here.If you enjoyed this episode of Making the Leap, leave a 5-star rating and let us know what you liked about the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also comment on any of our social pages; Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Check out our latest YouTube Shorts too!If you're interested in learning more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.  Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.

Join Christine and Chris as they discuss the role of dads in education, and how dads can be a part of Making the Leap. The Stigalls are joined by Adam Rizzieri, founder of the Dads and Dudes (DADs) Initiative, part of the Building Education for Students Together program at FreedomWorks. Adam, a father-to-be, details the critical role dads play in life and education, the challenges dads face today, and the positive results when dads remain active. He outlines the programs offered by the DADs initiative. Learn more about Adam and follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn. Learn more about FreedomWorks on their website or follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To learn more about Building Education for Students Together or to join the BEST Dads and Dudes Initiative, visit parentsknowbest.com.Read the full Lion article on Christine, Chris and Making the Leap here.If you liked this episode of Making the Leap, leave us a 5-star rating and let us know what you liked about the show on your favorite podcast app. You can also comment on any of our social pages; Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Check out our latest YouTube Shorts too!If you're interested in learning more about the Herzog Foundation, visit herzogfoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, Twitter , and Instagram or sign-up to receive monthly email updates.Follow Making The Leap on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube. You can also sign-up for our newsletter or send us an email hello@makingtheleappodcast.com.To learn more about the Herzog Foundation, visit HerzogFoundation.com. Like and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram, or sign up to receive monthly email updates.