Building Character. Expanding Freedom. |
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| Freedom Friends,
As I reflect on Freedom’s incredible success (anticipating serving over two hundred students this fall on two different sites in only our 4th year) a key reason is our students’ high character and desire to make things better. Freedom provides learning based upon our C5 system (Core, Traditional American Civics, Consumerism, Career, and Character). Although last in that list, Character is certainly not last in power. Freedom Eagle students want to be here – that is an admissions requirement. They also pledge to pursue excellence in our four-character principles: Hard Work, Respect, Kindness, and Patriotism. When foundational systems of learning are built upon Freedom, Respect, Kindness, and Patriotism, incredible outcomes are all but guaranteed.
As we look ahead to the 2026/2027 year, at a school called Freedom, with Patriotism as a core character expectation that is celebrated, imagine what will happen with a theme of The United States of America’s 250th Birthday…
I still remember when I was in grade school during America’s 200th Birthday in 1976 and the heart for our country that my school developed in me. Just wait and see what we do for these high school Eagles as we celebrate our 250th. It is great to be at Freedom! Sincerely, Christopher Marker CEO & Chief Learning Officer |
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Big February news 🎉 Freedom is honored to be featured in two major local publications this month. We’re spotlighted in Naples2Night, Naples’ #1 digital magazine, and extensively throughout Neapolitan Family’s Annual Education Guide. Our presence in the guide includes The Freedom Program listing on page 36, a feature on Freedom AI on page 39, our full-page ad on page 48, and our CEO and Executive Director of Programs & AI highlights on page 50 . We’re proud to be recognized across both lifestyle and education platforms as we continue shaping the future of learning in our community.
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Freedom Expands to Ave Maria |
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Photo: Future home of Freedom Ave Maria. Building photo shown with rendering of conceptualized signage and students for visualization purposes. |
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Exciting expansion news 🎉 Freedom is proud to announce Freedom Ave Maria, our second campus opening August 2026 in the heart of Ave Maria at 5078 Pope John Paul II Blvd. The campus will offer the same award-winning high school program as Freedom Naples within an inspiring 10,000+ sq. ft. third-floor learning environment. Year 1 enrollment is limited, applications are now open, and Freedom is a Step Up For Students state scholarship program provider, increasing access for families statewide. This expansion is made possible by a $1 million dollar-for-dollar match grant from the Dekko Foundation—doubling all donations through Christmas 2026—and in partnership with Barron Collier Companies and Ave Maria Development, supporting both Freedom Ave Maria and Freedom Naples. Freedom is More Than a High School.
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Parker Conrad Speaks at Freedom |
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Rippling Founder & CEO visits Freedom
The Freedom Institute recently welcomed Parker Conrad, founder and CEO of Rippling, for an inspiring American Dream Conversations at Freedom event moderated by Board Chair Tom Grady. During the 90-minute session, Conrad shared candid lessons from his journey through multiple startup failures to building a $20B company, emphasizing resilience, accountability, and growth through setbacks. He encouraged students to focus on developing their natural talents, view AI as a powerful new toolset, and prioritize in-person mentorship early in their careers. A dynamic Q&A highlighted our students’ curiosity and sophistication—the kind of real-world, high-impact learning opportunities offered to Freedom students like nowhere else, and one of the many reasons Freedom is More Than a High School®.
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Student Enrichment at Freedom |
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We were honored to welcome Collier County Commissioner Dan Kowal as our February Career Speaker, where he generously shared insights into his career journey, professional experiences, and current role in public service. Commissioner Kowal was a true wealth of knowledge, offering thoughtful, real-world perspective that deeply resonated with our students, who genuinely appreciated the opportunity to learn from his leadership and service. As part of Freedom’s monthly career speaker series, these visits align with our mission to expose our Eagles to meaningful career pathways and inspire informed, purpose-driven futures. Thank you, Commissioner Kowal, for your time, your wisdom, and all you do for our community!
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Freedom students recently enjoyed an enriching field trip to Keiser University's Naples campus, where they explored campus life, academic programs, and the wide range of career pathways available beyond high school. The visit gave our Eagles valuable exposure to postsecondary options and helped them connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities. Experiences like this directly support Freedom’s mission to expand horizons, foster informed decision-making, and prepare students for purposeful futures through hands-on enrichment and career exploration. A huge thank you to Keiser University for hosting us!
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Last month, Freedom staff and students attended the NextGen Speaker Series at Arthrex, featuring Marillyn Hewson, former Chairman, CEO, and President of Lockheed Martin Corp. The event provided an exceptional opportunity to learn from the career and life experiences of one of the world’s most accomplished executives, while also allowing our students to network and represent Freedom in a professional setting. Experiences like this play a vital role in our commitment to career preparation, real-world engagement, and exposing students to leadership pathways that inspire confidence, curiosity, and ambition.
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Senior Riley Staunch is leading the way with exciting college news—he has been accepted to and awarded academic scholarships from Florida Gulf Coast University, University of Tampa, and The Ohio State University, with additional decisions still pending. With multiple options and significant scholarship awards earned through his academic excellence, Riley is now thoughtfully considering his final choice. We are incredibly proud of him and are celebrating alongside his family. More acceptances are rolling in for our seniors, including University of South Florida (USF) and Nova Southeastern University, and we are eagerly watching as each student weighs the opportunities ahead.
These successes reflect the Freedom difference. From 9th grade through graduation, our Success Coaches work one-on-one with students and families to design highly personalized academic and career pathways aligned to each student’s strengths and aspirations. That individualized approach may include customized curriculum, dual enrollment, internships, enrichment opportunities, and comprehensive college and career counseling—paired with intentional financial planning so students graduate with little to no debt, or strategically planned debt. In just three years, our college-track graduates have matriculated to UF, Florida Polytechnic University, BYU, Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW), and Lorenzo Walker Technical College—each path uniquely crafted to fit the student’s future goals. This is what it means to be More Than a High School®.
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A HUGE congratulations to Alex and Connor Brown for earning 1st Place at the Collier Regional Science & Engineering Fair with their project, “From Launch to Leaf: Do G-Forces Affect Plant Growth?” Their curiosity, innovation, and dedication to exploring complex scientific questions reflect Freedom’s mission to cultivate critical thinkers and real-world problem-solvers. A special thank you to Mrs. Chieco and Lisa Mair for their guidance and mentorship throughout the process. We are so proud of how Alex and Connor represented our Freedom family—what an incredible achievement!
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Meet Ms. Furar - Office Manager |
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Hello all! I am Ms.Kim, and I am the office manager at The Freedom Institute. I am passionate about my work, supporting students and staff, and making a positive difference every day. I truly enjoy seeing students’ successes and knowing I play a positive role in helping them. Outside of work, I love spending time with my family-especially spending time with my 4 grandkids, who bring so much happiness and purpose to my life. I apply my spunky personality to our everyday mission. |
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| We have a scheduled some amazing events for our Freedom Eagles, Families & Friends. |
💖 02.12 - Valentine's Day at Freedom 💈 02.14 - Freedom at Blues, Brews & BBQ in Ave Maria (come visit our tent) 💪 02.27 - Female Self Defense Training - for Freedom students and staff 🎤 03.04 - Career Guest Speaker - U.S. Army Recruiter 🍀 03.14 - Freedom at Shamrock Festival in Ave Maria (come visit out tent) 🌮 03.28 - Freedom at Margarita & Taco Festival in Ave Maria (come visit our tent) |
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Join the $1M Matching Grant | Double Your Impact |
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Freedom launched the $1 Million Match Challenge : a powerful opportunity to double your impact from day one. For a limited time, every dollar you give is matched 1:1 to help expand our proven, personalized education model and build a new campus that will serve hundreds more students debt-free and future-ready for college, careers, and AI leadership. This is the moment to help set the pace, spark momentum, and turn bold vision into real growth. Give now and watch your generosity go twice as far.
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We are grateful to the DEKKO FOUNDATION for their support of our innovative Freedom Institute, Freedom AI and Freedom Ave Maria educational programs and campuses. |
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Follow us on our socials: |
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2706 Horseshoe Dr S, Naples, FL 34104, USA |
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