Education Built with Purpose
At Prairie Rose Schoolhouse we believe learning happens best when children are active participants in their education. Through project-based learning, children develop academic skills while gardening, cooking, building, crafting, caring for animals, and exploring the natural sciences. Small group learning allows for individualized guidance and strong relationships.
Our Founder
Hello, my name is JoAnn Rosebrock, and I’m the founder and learning guide here at Prairie Rose Schoolhouse.
I’m a licensed educator with experience teaching students from kindergarten through high school, in both traditional public school settings and homeschool enrichment programs. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on building relationship-centered learning environments and supporting a wide range of learners - always putting individual students first.
I earned my Bachelor of Arts from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and my Master’s in Education and Human Development from the University of Colorado Denver. I hold a professional license in Elementary Education (K–6) with endorsements in Art (K–12) and as a Special Education Generalist (ages 5–21). This background allows me to design learning that is flexible, responsive, and deeply individualized, without relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.
As the founder and learning guide, I work closely with each child, shaping learning around their strengths, needs, and interests. Because Prairie Rose is intentionally small, I’m able to offer the kind of attentiveness, flexibility, and connection that simply isn’t possible in larger school settings.
Outside of school—and when I’m away from the homestead—I love spending time outdoors camping, hiking, kayaking, biking, and road-tripping with my husband and our four children. I’m a huge national park enthusiast and hope to someday visit all of them here in the U.S., with a few international adventures along the way.
Our Foundation
Prairie Rose Schoolhouse grew out of both my professional experience and my life outside the classroom.
I grew up in Ohio, spending time near my grandparents’ farm in Michigan, and much of my childhood was spent camping and traveling across the United States with my family. Those early experiences—being outdoors, exploring new places, and learning through real life—shaped my deep love of nature and my belief that some of the most meaningful learning happens beyond four classroom walls.
As an educator, I saw how often children are rushed, standardized, or asked to fit into systems that don’t honor how they learn best. As a parent and homesteader, I’ve experienced the power of slower rhythms, meaningful work, and learning that’s connected to daily life.
My husband and I have been on our homesteading journey for several years now, learning through observation, experimentation, problem-solving, and persistence. Prairie Rose Schoolhouse grew naturally out of that way of living—a desire to create a place where academics, creativity, responsibility, and connection to the land are woven together.
Prairie Rose is intentionally small by design. It exists so children can be known, learning can be personal, and education can feel grounded, human, and purposeful.
I’m excited to share what we’re learning here—and just as excited to continue learning and growing alongside the children in our care.
Our Core Values
Rooted Learning
Education grounded in real life, seasonal rhythms, and meaningful work.
Whole-Child Development
Honoring intellectual, physical, emotional, and social growth.
Stewardship & Responsibility
Caring for land, animals, tools, and community with intention.
Curiosity & Inquiry
Encouraging thoughtful questions and exploration of the natural world.
Craftsmanship & Care
Doing work well, with patience, pride, and purpose.
Community & Belonging
Learning together in a small, respectful, interdependent community.
Why Prairie Rose Exists
Like many families, we saw the growing disconnect between how children naturally learn and how most schools are structured.
Large class sizes. One-size-fits-all pacing. Heavy emphasis on compliance and testing. Very little room for curiosity, movement, meaningful work, or individual growth.
Prairie Rose Schoolhouse was created to offer something different.
Here, learning is rooted in:
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Relationships
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Purposeful work
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Time outdoors
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Academic growth that follows the child, not the system
This is a place where learning feels relevant, grounded, and alive.
Our Approach
A blend of:
- Strong academic foundations
- Hands-on, experiential learning
- Outdoor and place-based education
- Mixed-age collaboration
- Meaningful responsibility and contribution
We value curiosity over compliance, depth over speed, and understanding over memorization.
Children are encouraged to ask questions, solve real problems, work with their hands, and reflect on their learning. Academic skills are taught intentionally and thoughtfully, while also being connected to real-world use and purpose.
A Rhythm, Not a Rigid Schedule
Because we are small, our schedule is flexible—but not unstructured.
Each day follows a predictable rhythm:
Mornings:
Focused academic work in small groups or one-on-one
Midday:
Movement, outdoor time, and connection
Afternoons:
Projects, hands-on learning, land-based work, and collaborative activities
This rhythm allows children to feel secure while still having space for curiosity, creativity, and deep engagement.
Intentionally Small by Design
Prairie Rose Schoolhouse is not designed to grow large.
We intentionally keep enrollment small so that:
- Each child is truly known
- Learning can be personalized
- Relationships stay at the center
- The pace of the day remains unhurried
This model allows us to remain responsive, flexible, and deeply relational—qualities that are often lost as schools scale up.
A Partnership with Families
We see families as partners, not customers.
Open communication, shared values, and mutual respect are essential to the Prairie Rose community.
When children experience consistency between home and school, they feel safer, more confident, and more able to grow.
Our Educational Philosophy
At Prairie Rose Schoolhouse, education is not something done to children—it’s something built with them.