The First Online Private School: 30+ Years at Laurel Springs School episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 24, 2026 · 36 MIN

The First Online Private School: 30+ Years at Laurel Springs School

from LiberatED Podcast · host Kerry McDonald

What does it take to build the first private online school in the United States—before most families even had internet access? In this episode of LiberatED, Kerry McDonald talks with Alyssa Tormala, Head of School at Laurel Springs School, to explore the school's remarkable evolution from a small distance-learning program in 1991 to a global, accredited K–12 institution that has served more than 6,000 students across 100+ countries. With a proven track record of high-quality online learning, including selective college admissions, Laurel Springs School continues to lead the way in virtual education. For families exploring alternatives to conventional schooling, this episode offers a compelling look at how private online education can combine personalization, rigor, and worldwide community. *** Sign up for Kerry's free, weekly email newsletter on education trends at edentrepreneur.org. Kerry's latest book, Joyful Learning: How to Find Freedom, Happiness, and Success Beyond Conventional Schooling, is available now wherever books are sold!

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 24, 2026

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The First Online Private School: 30+ Years at Laurel Springs School

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