About Us

Emily Fort is honored to serve as the Executive Director of the Homeschool Freedom Coalition — a mission that began as a prayer in 2010 and has become a nationwide movement by the unmistakable hand of God.

Emily was homeschooled alongside her ten siblings from birth through graduation. At just 17, she left home to attend a Christian college in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she earned her B.A. in Applied Theology with an emphasis in Christian Education — graduating debt-free at the age of 20. She credits her home education not only for her academic success, but for shaping her love of learning, her bold faith, and her refusal to bow to the broken systems of the world.

She began her career tutoring government school students but quickly saw that as wonderful as it was to help them one at a time, there was still a deep-rooted rot in the system. God redirected her steps to a homeschool curriculum company, where within just five months she was promoted to Lead of Homeschool Sales. Her mission? Get more kids out – and fast.

For the next five years, Emily Fort helped tens of thousands of families transition to homeschooling — guiding them through curriculum choices, legal questions, and the fears of leaving state control behind. In 2014, she married a sixth-generation Texan and began her own homeschooling family, even while continuing to work at homeschool conventions nationwide through 2019.

In 2018, Emily stepped into the world of digital strategy for high-impact conservative nonprofits in the Pro-Life and Second Amendment arenas. There, she saw what few dared to say out loud: the battle for the future of homeschooling was heating up, and the tactics of the past weren’t going to cut it in the fights that were coming.

Emily Fort believes that homeschooling is the last great stronghold of parental rights in America — and the enemies of freedom know it. The era of “friendly” conservative politics is over. It’s time to stand, speak, and advance our homeschooling rights.

She lives with her husband, two children, thousands of books, and an orange cat with a bent tail named Tigger in the heart of Texas. While her passion for homeschooling seems limitless, Emily knows that her primary mission in life is to be a God-honoring wife to her husband, Michael and a good mother to the children God has given them. She prays her children will grow up to fight tyranny, to never back down in the face of evil, and to advance God’s kingdom no matter the cost.

Madelyn Michels is the Executive Director of Marketing for the Homeschool Freedom Coalition, where she works to protect and promote the rights of families to raise and educate their children free from government overreach.

As a homeschooling graduate herself, wife and Mom, she lives in Minnesota – a state where homeschooling and medical freedom are constantly under attack.

Before joining the coalition, Madelyn spent three years working at one of the largest homeschooling curriculum companies in the world. She walked alongside thousands of families as they stepped into homeschooling for the first time, offering practical support in choosing a curriculum, figuring out the legal requirements in their state and getting started.

She often traveled to conventions across the country to showcase new curriculum and help families get started with teaching their own kiddos. Her favorite part of that season was helping parents realize that yes, they really can do this — and that they aren’t alone.

Now, Madelyn brings that same passion into her work at HFC. Whether she’s writing an email, working on a campaign, or strategizing behind the scenes, she never loses sight of the families who are counting on someone to stand in the gap and speak up.

At home, Madelyn and her husband are raising their daughter with deep roots in the Christian faith and freedom. She spends her free time gardening, reading and keeping up with the latest threats to parental rights — because in a state like Minnesota, there’s always another one coming.

Jessica Lovett is the Executive Communications Director of the Homeschool Freedom Coalition, where she passionately amplifies the voices of families dedicated to raising and educating their children with faith-driven independence.

As a high school student, Jessica wasn’t homeschooled until senior year, when she strategically said goodbye to public school education and pursued dual credit college courses instead – an early testament to her drive. Now, alongside her husband, she’s actively homeschooling their two children, navigating the challenges and triumphs firsthand. Jessica and her family reside in Texas, a state where the landscape of parental and educational rights is constantly in the crosshairs.

Before co-founding the Homeschool Freedom Coalition, Jessica spent the better part of a decade serving as Lead Editor and Writer for another homeschool non-profit organization. In this pivotal role, she empowered countless parents – from those just starting to explore the idea of homeschooling to those navigating high school and college admissions – through expertly crafted resources, publishing countless impactful articles, cultivating content from homeschool voices around the nation, and by serving as a dedicated homeschool mentor and coach.

She regularly provided one-on-one guidance to homeschool parents from all walks of the journey at multiple conferences across the state of Texas, solidifying her commitment to the cause. She also currently serves as Creative Director of Texans for Homeschool Freedom. Through her personal website, HomeschoolwithJoy.com, her insights and resources continue to inspire, focusing on making homeschooling joyful for all as well as providing one-on-one coaching. Her favorite aspect of her work is igniting confidence in parents, showing them they possess the capability to homeschool excellently.

Now, Jessica channels that same unwavering dedication into her work at the Homeschool Freedom Coalition. Whether crafting communications that cut through the noise, developing strategic campaigns, mapping out ideas, or connecting directly with families, she is steadfast in her commitment to standing resolutely in the gap for homeschoolers nationwide.

An accomplished published author, her literary fiction novel, Transplanting Hope, offers a compelling narrative and is available wherever books are sold. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a minor in Communications from Howard Payne University and a Master of Humanities with emphasis in Creative Writing from Tiffin University, and is a lifetime member of the Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society. She also holds multiple marketing certifications, underscoring her expertise in communication.

A lifetime musician, she plays guitar, piano, keyboard, flute, and drums. She’s an active force in both a local rock band and her church’s worship team. When not making music, she enjoys writing, delving into science fiction, discovering quirky coffee shops, and managing her lively household which includes a skittish cat, a pirately half-blind rescue dog, a grouchy hedgehog, and a sugar glider who is scared of heights. All while keeping a vigilant eye on the ongoing battles to protect parental rights.

Kate Smith, MBA, is the Executive Director of Social Media for the Homeschool Freedom Coalition. A homeschooling mom of two, she firmly believes in the God-given right of parents to direct their children’s education.

Having experienced public school firsthand as a child, Kate saw how the system regularly undermines family values and parental authority. Rooted in her Christian faith, she is passionate about protecting the freedom to homeschool and empowering families to reclaim control of their children’s future.

Kate holds a degree in psychology from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, as well as an MBA and a master’s in Organizational Leadership from Christian universities. Her professional career began in finance, investments, and regulatory reporting with hedge fund administration. As she transitioned to a work-from-home position to begin homeschooling her children, she became involved with public school therapist licensing regulations, where she saw just how pervasive and ideologically driven the public education system had become. That experience solidified her calling to stand up for parents seeking a better, values-based educational path through homeschooling.

Since leaving the regulatory field, Kate has become a full-time homeschool mom and an advocate for educational freedom. She regularly shares encouragement, resources, and practical advice with young homeschooling families exploring their options, helping them navigate the early years with confidence and clarity.

Married for over 15 years, Kate enjoys leading women’s events at her local church and is always eager to learn new skills – from gardening and embroidery to electrical work and plumbing. When she’s not advocating for homeschooling, you’ll find her beautifying her home, canning jam with her daughter, preventing her ten-year-old son from starting a black widow farm, or hiking with her tireless husband.