History & Leadership

In 1984, Susan Schaefer Macaulay wrote a book that would herald the need for sane education for children in the USA and across the world. For the Children’s Sake brought to light the almost forgotten school educational philosophy of Charlotte M. Mason (1842-1923). Karen and Dean Andreola republished the six volumes of Charlotte Mason’s philosophy in 1989, making it fully accessible to parents and teachers. These two literary achievements alone were responsible for every form of Charlotte Mason education worldwide, as well as the formation of ChildLight Association of Schools.

At about that same time, Bobby Scott and his wife, Valerie, realized the drastic need for a better education option for their own children while Bobby was serving as the Head of School for a traditional Christian school. When his career moved him from Virginia to Atlanta in 1986, Bobby providentially met Susan Macaulay and was tutored by her at L’Abri in Greatham, UK. This was the turning point that ignited the Scotts’ passion to implement Charlotte Mason philosophy to inspire their own children and many others.

In his 34 years at Perimeter School, Bobby had the privilege of founding other schools and building relationships with future leaders in Charlotte Mason education, from whom came the formation of ChildLight Schools in 1995. Bobby, along with Charlotte Mason educators Jack Beckman and Maryellen St. Cyr, wrote When Children Love to Learn (2004), an attempt to effectively apply Charlotte Mason philosophy to school education. 

What started as a small group of Atlanta schools has now blossomed into 15 schools across the country, and the ChildLight Association of Schools continues to grow! Now fully incorporated as its own non-profit, we are looking to add more schools who share this same wonderful philosophy to our network.