Our Background

Since 1988, our organization was known as Thomas More School, begun in Bozeman, Montana, and then moved to Emigrant, Montana, in Paradise Valley where we incorporated as a small, non-profit independent school (The Thomas More Schools, Inc.) serving preschoolers through high school students in this beautiful mountain valley, with the Yellowstone River “running through it.”
From skiing lessons at Bridger Bowl, to shelter digging on an island in the Yellowstone River, to Shakespeare productions at Emigrant Hall and overnight hikes into nearby mountains – the challenging school curriculum of literature and grammar, math, science, geography, history, art, phys ed and more had plenty of extras to keep life interesting. Our preschoolers enjoyed the richness of a Montessori environment.
With declining school population in this very rural area, after more than a quarter century serving our students, we turned our attention to serving youth by serving families and teachers on the internet. Now with a new name, Thomas More Education Services, Inc. , we hope to be a useful voice at a crucial time in our nation’s history when clarity is needed regarding the role of parents in their children’s lives and education. Likewise, the role of schools needs to be clarified, along with the scope and content of curriculum. Both online and locally, we aim to be a resource, exploring new pathways in education.
To what end education? Whether in our public or private school systems, in homeschooling, or in new approaches parents have always sought when they were not satisfied with what was available, we want to prepare our young to deal successfully with the opportunities, responsibilities and challenges they face in today’s changing world.

Enlightened Parenting And Education

Our first online outreach is our Blog, EnlightenedParentingAndEducation.org, dedicated to helping parents appreciate and utilize the wonderful learning opportunities within family life itself, as well as evaluate and explore schooling opportunities for their sons and daughters.

We will be developing a Library of free and for-sale reports, booklets, audio and video content, related to issues of family life, the extended family, community resources, finding right schooling (early learning through high school) helping young adults in their educational and career aspirations, and other topics to enrich family life and to help parents feel empowered and confident in finding and speaking up for what they feel is best for their children.

We encourage ideas and feedback from parents and extended family in response to our monthly blog topics (see Blog tab above) and news they can share regarding new Schooling Options they discover which can be of value to other families. We develop this website, also, as a valuable resource for teachers to follow, not only as parents, but as professionals who can learn more about what parents value and are seeking for their children’s education.

Meet Our Team

Christine Thomas - Editor and Researcher

Christine believes in the importance of parents as the child’s first and most important educators. She has raised two delightful children, has a BA in education, has been a certified Montessori teacher, which taught her to follow the child’s inner knowing and interests in learning. She has multiple years of experience working with parents and children as both teacher and administrator.

 

Her special interests are in the social-emotional development of children. And she has a passion for helping parents who are raising and trying to educate a family at this confusing time when many educational principles have changed so dramatically. She would like to connect parents and teachers to some of the excellent resources available today. Understanding and restoring right educational principles that are timeless is her goal.

 

Christine enjoys beautiful music, watching sunsets, reading, and research and she finds joy in living a life of service to the wonderful community she lives in. She values being an American and believes we must teach our children to understand and support our beautiful country and restore the values it was founded on.

Marjorie Lombard - Writer and Content Manager

Marjorie was recruited out of a college classroom to help meet the baby boomers as they crowded into schools across the country beginning in the 1950’s. She was given a carefully guided internship as she met her first students, 50 fifth-graders, in what was the start of a 60-year-plus career,

 

During those decades she taught preschoolers through high schoolers in regular and special ed settings, local and residential schools, public and private. She brings that experience, both as teacher and sometime administrator, to a new career in writing and public speaking.

 

Marjorie is aware that “today, more than ever, our children and youth – their parents, teachers and others serving them – are in need of encouragement and help as they navigate a sometimes unfriendly or chaotic environment. Even in such an environment, life is full of possibilities.

 

“As the young create the adults of tomorrow, we, their elders, want to offer the best of ourselves, and the best homes, classrooms, culture and nation we can manage, for their wholesome, skilled and fullest development.”

Mary Jane Webb - Website Director and Writer

Mary Jane is devoted to supporting children, families, and lifelong learning. As a parent and civic-minded educator she taught children gratitude, community service, and thoughtful pride in our country. She holds a Masters in Educational Administration and a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies with a specialty in Math. She has many years of experience across public schools and the corporate sector.

 

Teaching kindergarten through fourth grade, she inspired students to love reading, writing, and critical thinking, while also teaching them to believe in themselves and that they can become or achieve whatever they desire. Other school roles served include Gifted and Talented teacher for several grade levels, creative writing coach, Literary Anthology coordinator, grade-level chair, and a member of instructional and school-improvement committees.  

 

She believes education is a powerful force that reveals potential and inspires growth; every quote and lesson can fuel the mind and motivate the journey to knowledge. She encourages students and families to embrace the wisdom that education offers as a bridge to endless possibilities. 

 

Mary Jane understands that parents juggle work, finances, special needs and so much more — while so often navigating language and resource barriers. As an educator, she can help offer clear, flexible communication, practical home learning tips, and inclusive support. Together, she sees that we can model lifelong learning to empower families and strengthen student success.

Circle of Friends

Circle of Friends

These are volunteers who are gathering, helping us to “get off the ground” with our new venture.

 

Each conversation, each brain-storming session, and each experience or idea shared, is a treasure. We are grateful!