More Time for Adventures, Rigorous Curriculum Add to Siblings' Success in TTU K-12

By Leslie Cranford, Section Manager

In early 2020 when the pandemic hit, three of Ryan and Milena Smith's four daughters were attending private school in West Texas. But according to mom Milena, COVID made them pause and think about what would be in their family's best interest for the future.

Coming from a long line of Texas Tech Red Raiders, looking at TTU K-12 was a no-brainer.

“The girls have Texas Tech roots that go way back in our family,” Milena explained. “I am a native Lubbockite and Texas Tech alumna. I also worked at Texas Tech as an event planner before Ryan and I started our family. Ryan is from Dallas, but he grew up coming to Lubbock to visit his grandparents, who attended Texas Tech in the 1940s. Even though Ryan grew up in Dallas, he calls Lubbock home and considers himself an adopted Red Raider.” 

They enrolled the girls in TTU K-12 in fall of 2020. Paloma is the oldest and is wrapping up third grade. Margo is the second oldest and is finishing first grade. Eleanor is the third oldest and is completing kindergarten. Filomena is the youngest and has enjoyed her pre-k year learning at the kinder, first and third grade TTU K-12 levels from her big sisters.

Milena says the girls have thrived in this experience. They have very much enjoyed the rigor of the curriculum and the flexibility of time.

“We enjoy traveling, playing tennis, going on bike rides and finding adventures and new experiences wherever we are,” she added.

She also explained that, while all of the world seemed to be falling apart and in true disarray at times during the past year, they tried to take away the good.

“We never considered distance learning or ‘school at home' for our girls, but God had bigger plans for us, and we thought, ‘let's just try it.' This way of schooling also helped our family as we travel for business. The ease of picking up school when and wherever we are made it fun and adventurous.”

However, Milena says the girls are challenged with their schoolwork at times, but the reward is greater, with more time to play, more time on the tennis court, more time to soak up the sun, more time to play in the river or in the lake.

“We believe in fostering closeness as a family and especially closeness for the girls, so this naturally has allowed for them to be together more than ever. While COVID brought worry and sadness, it also brought stillness and a true pause to what we all are used to doing. We are grateful for the opportunity TTU K-12 has opened up for our family.”

Milena says Paloma is the creative, artistic, avid reader, textile-loving fashionista! She already tells them she is moving to Paris as soon as she can, but she says she needs to learn how to speak French first.

“My favorite part of TTU K-12 is having more time to read and go on adventures with my sisters,” Paloma says. “I also like that I do not have to get up super early like I used to when I was in school.”

Margo is the quick thinker, fast worker and builder extraordinaire, according to Milena. She creates buildings with Magna-Tiles and Legos or creates things with paper or ways of maneuvering things that makes their jaws drop. Milena said she looks up to her big sister and has already informed her she is not allowed to move to Paris unless she goes with her.

“My favorite part of attending TTU K-12 is working on school projects and having way longer recesses than I did at my other school,” Margo said.

Eleanor is their funny, happy, adventure-seeking animal and bug lover. She loves all animals and enjoys finding unusual bugs and creatures, Milena explained. She loves to make people laugh and she sings everywhere she goes.

“My favorite part of school is learning to read and write my sight words and having more time to play outside,” Ellie said.

Filomena is thrilled to join her big sisters and become a Red Raider this fall. Milena says she turns heads because her vocabulary and thinking seem advanced for her age; she is witty, and she likes to be funny. She has three big sisters as built-in play buddies but also as mini mentors and teachers.

The Smiths plan to continue with Texas Tech Elementary School this fall. They also plan to continue to teach them life skills and have them involved in life sports that they can benefit from, Milena said. The girls will also keep taking tennis and music lessons and begin golf lessons as well.

“We are eager to see where it leads all of us as a family and we will continue to take it a year at a time. We will have all four of our girls enrolled. Our youngest is so excited to join the ‘Lil' Red Raider Club' as we call it here at home,” Milena laughed.

If there are families considering the TTU K-12 program, Milena encourages them to try it.

“There isn't a right way or a wrong way of how one chooses to do school, everyone has to choose what is best for them. If though, you are thinking you may want more time, time to play, time to read, time to adventure, time to travel, the flexibility of time, time to even just be still, this is an awesome option to try. Our school journey is different from how we always imagined it would be, we believe joining TTU K-12's program has been one of the best decisions we have made for our family.”