In this conversation, Jody Underwood traces her path from city life to an off‑grid homestead in rural New Hampshire. She describes day‑to‑day reality—solar power upgrades, a good well, and close ties to a nearby pig-and-cattle farm. She emphasizes that off‑grid does not mean austere living.

The centerpiece is Croydon’s 2022 school‑budget revolt. At a traditional district meeting (about 35 attendees in a town of 800), residents amended the budget from roughly $1.7M to $800k (about $10k per student). A rarely used statute later enabled a second, high‑turnout ballot that restored the original budget. This occurred amid heated local politics.

Underwood argues that spending levels do not determine outcomes. Administrators should be able to work bottom‑up from whatever voters authorize.

She outlines alternatives that have gained traction: homeschooling and co‑ops, micro‑schools/learning centers with self‑paced curricula, charter schools with classical models, and New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Accounts (~$5k/year). These help families pay approved providers.

Jody favors readiness‑based reading, mastery learning in math, and ‘critical thinking’ as the parental superpower.

Practical advice: start with homeschooling if possible. If not, seek a co‑op or a local learning center. Leverage dual‑enrollment, apprenticeships, and programs like “Learn Everywhere.” The through‑line is decentralization—families choosing flexible, local solutions in both education and everyday life. EdOpt can help you figure out what path is best for your family.

See the entire interview here: