Why We Left the Classroom — And What We're Building Now
Combined for over a decade, my brother Matthew Mastronardi and I dedicated ourselves to public education. We had the best job in the world, working together in the same high school right across the hall from each other. We showed up early, stayed late, coached soccer and wrestling. We poured into our students, and worked hard to make learning meaningful. We believed in the power of education to shape lives—and we still do. But we no longer believe that today’s state-run school systems are committed to truth, independent thought, or the kind of education that helps children truly thrive.
Our decision to leave wasn’t made lightly. It came after an event that made it clear we could no longer stay.
My brother, Matthew Mastronardi, a beloved high school Spanish teacher, was non-renewed by our school district after reading a passage from To Kill a Mockingbird—a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that has long been taught in schools across the country. There was no hate, no agenda—only literature doing what literature is meant to do: provoke thought, challenge assumptions, and foster meaningful discussion.
The district saw it differently. And when they decided not to renew his contract, I knew I couldn’t continue teaching in that environment either. I resigned in protest—not just because of what happened to my brother, but because I could no longer support a system that punishes truth-telling and suppresses honest conversations.
But we didn’t walk away from education—we walked toward something better.
We’re now building something new: high-quality, truth-based education for homeschoolers and families who are seeking something beyond state-school ideology. Our mission is simple:
To restore truth, wonder, and moral clarity to the learning process
To equip students with practical skills, historical understanding, and real-life wisdom
To serve families who want a more grounded, meaningful, and intentional approach to education
Along the way, we’ve been deeply inspired by the work of John Taylor Gatto, a former New York State Teacher of the Year who courageously exposed the true nature of institutional schooling. His writing opened our eyes to how the system—by design—undermines curiosity, independence, and family values. Gatto’s vision for education rooted in freedom, purpose, and self-directed learning has helped shape our own mission.
We are starting small: offering Spanish, economics, and health courses, with a focus on personal responsibility, sound thinking, and timeless values. But our vision is big. We want to create a model that gives families a real alternative—one rooted in faith, liberty, and intellectual honesty.
We’re not doing this to get rich. We’re doing this because it matters. Because kids deserve better and an honest education. And because we refuse to remain silent in the face of a system that has lost its way.
If you’re a parent or educator who feels the same—let’s connect. We believe there is a growing community of families ready to reclaim education. We’re here for them.
If you are looking for an honest education, rooted in truth for your child, apply for enrollment here.
— Andrew & Matthew Mastronardi