IronWorks offers unique and much-needed support, guidance, and community to homeschooling families, all while adhering to a set of core values that prioritize seeking God's encouragement in education and fostering a welcoming and supportive environment for members.
Our Mission:
IronWorks seeks to support and encourage Christian homeschool parents and their middle school and high school students through parent support services, intentional community, and multi-faceted, responsive academics.
Our Vision:
We desire to create a place that feels like a comfortable, second home to our members, where they feel seen and known, accepted as they are but called to something higher, and where the difficult aspects of homeschooling can be tackled with encouragement, support, and excellence.
Our Values:
- We believe all parents are called to seek God about how to educate their children and then to follow where He leads.
- We believe that God has called some of us to homeschool but that this will look different for every family.
- We recognize that homeschooling can be very challenging and overwhelming.
- We believe God has created certain good works for us each to do. This means we need to seek Him to determine what He would have us to do. It also means we do not need to feel pressured to do all the aspects of homeschooling ourselves unless He has specifically directed us to do so.
- We believe that as followers of Christ, we are called to live as aliens and strangers in this present world.
- We believe that while God has called us to share His love with everyone, parents and students both need to be wise about who they include in their inner circle.
Meet the team.
Marilee Hough is a dedicated and experienced individual with a strong commitment to serving God and supporting His people. With a background in social work, holding an MSSW in Direct Practice with Families and Children and additional training in administration, she possesses the ability to recognize problem areas and find effective solutions.
Marilee is deeply connected within the homeschooling community, both in terms of people and resources, which allows her to offer valuable insights and assistance. Her homeschooling journey spans 18 years, during which she acknowledges making mistakes and learning from them, making her passionate about helping others avoid similar pitfalls.
Furthermore, Marilee has a wealth of experience in directing middle school and high school programs, consistently achieving full enrollment even when other programs struggled. She played a significant role in growing a local program from just 14 students to reaching full capacity at 60 during her tenure. Marilee's commitment to training and mentoring is evident as she has participated in training conferences and workshops for over a decade, served as a workshop trainer for several years, recruited new directors, and actively mentored numerous moms, program directors, and students. Her multifaceted experience and dedication make her a valuable resource for the homeschooling community.