In a free nation, education is never neutral, it is always forming something.

In this episode, Dr. Khalid Khan explores what it really means to educate a child for citizenship, not just academics. Through examples like the restraint of George Washington and the life of Benjamin Franklin, we consider how what children learn shapes the kind of people they become.

At the center of this conversation is a simple but often misunderstood idea: you can’t teach a child to think without first giving them something to think about. Knowledge is the fuel for thinking, and without it, true understanding never takes root.

You’ll hear how Lafayette Academy builds that foundation through rich historical study across each grade level, meaningful stories, and books like Why Not, Lafayette? that help form what we call moral imagination, a child’s ability to recognize virtue, responsibility, and truth.

We also discuss why the school delays screens and technology in the early years, not to resist the modern world, but to protect attention, cultivate focus, and create real pathways for deep thinking.

This isn’t about producing better students.
It’s about forming future citizens.

Not just what is my child learning,
but who is my child becoming?

For more information about Lafayette Academy, A Classical School please visit https://lafayetteacademy.org/

For Referenced Resources from the LadyK Podcast Click Here for Download

Why would someone start a school from scratch?

In this episode of the LadyK Podcast, Katy McKinney shares the real story behind founding Lafayette Academy: A Classical School, in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri. It wasn’t a business plan or a strategic move. It was a conviction.

After years of teaching, homeschooling, and searching for the right environment for her own children, Katy kept running into the same problem: schools that offered strong academics often lacked character formation, and schools focused on character often fell short academically.

So she asked a simple question:
Why can’t a school do both well?

This episode walks through the heart behind Lafayette Academy, the gap it was created to fill, and why classical education is resonating with so many families in St. Charles County and beyond.

If you’re a parent exploring school options or curious about classical education, this episode will give you clarity on what makes it different—and why it matters.

For more information about Lafayette Academy, A Classical School please visit https://lafayetteacademy.org/

For Referenced Resources from the LadyK Podcast Click Here for Download

What truly makes a student successful?

Grades and test scores are only part of the story. In this episode of the LadyK Podcast, Katy McKinney, Founder and Head of School at Lafayette Academy, a classical school in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri, explores the often overlooked skills that shape strong and capable students.

Katy discusses the importance of soft skills, executive functioning, and emotional intelligence—the abilities that help students read the room, manage responsibilities, lead well, and interact with others with maturity and confidence.

While classical education is known for its rigorous academics, much of what forms exceptional young people happens in the margins: learning how to think clearly, interact wisely, and develop awareness of others.

If you're a parent in Lake Saint Louis, O’Fallon, Wentzville, St. Charles County or St. Louis County exploring education options for your child, this episode will give you insight into the deeper formation that happens inside a classical school.

Learn why the skills that are hardest to measure often have the greatest impact on a student’s future.

Link to study mentioned:

NATIONAL C-SUITE EXECUTIVE SURVEY ON
COLLEGE GRADUATES in the WORKFORCEhttps://www.highpoint.edu/lifeskills/c-suite-executive-survey/

For more information about Lafayette Academy, A Classical School please visit https://lafayetteacademy.org/

For Referenced Resources from the LadyK Podcast Click Here for Download