The LadyK Podcast

Marin McKinney returns to the Lady K Podcast to share what has been a remarkable and transformative season. After completing her sophomore year at Hillsdale College, Marin devoted herself to training for USA Shooting selection matches and recently competed for the opportunity to represent the United States in international competition. But this conversation goes far beyond athletics. Marin reflect...

What draws someone to teaching, and what does it take to become a great teacher? In this episode, Head of School, Katy McKinney, welcomes Ms. Glidden, who spent the year serving as an intern at Lafayette Academy: A Classical School,  under the mentorship of master teacher Grace Leonard. Ms. Glidden shares what she learned from working alongside experienced educators, teaching young students, and s...

What does a popular song have to do with economics? In this episode, Katy sits down with four Lafayette Academy students whose economics project was selected for publication by the Federal Reserve's Journal of Future Economists . Inspired by the classic essay I, Pencil , the students set out to answer an intriguing question: What does it actually take to bring a song to life? What they discov...

In this special episode, Head of School, Katy McKinney, sits down with one of Lafayette Academy’s students, Ellie Schweizer, who just completed her senior thesis exploring virtue, friendship, and the “good life” through the philosophy of Aristotle and the novels of Jane Austen. The senior thesis is a capstone that reflects years of reading deeply, writing with care, and learning to think with clar...

In this episode of the Lady K Podcast, Katy McKinney pulls back the curtain on how Lafayette Academy: A Classical School teaches history, and why it’s so much more than dates, battles, and tests. From kindergarten stories about George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette to tales of pioneers, Almanzo Wilder, and Benjamin Franklin, we explore how history is intentionally used to build moral imag...

In a free nation, education is never neutral, it is always forming something. In this episode, Dr. Khalid Khan explores what it really means to educate a child for citizenship, not just academics. Through examples like the restraint of George Washington and the life of Benjamin Franklin, we consider how what children learn shapes the kind of people they become. At the center of this conversation i...

Why would someone start a school from scratch? In this episode of the LadyK Podcast, Katy McKinney shares the real story behind founding Lafayette Academy: A Classical School, in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri. It wasn’t a business plan or a strategic move. It was a conviction. After years of teaching, homeschooling, and searching for the right environment for her own children, Katy kept running into...

What truly makes a student successful? Grades and test scores are only part of the story. In this episode of the LadyK Podcast, Katy McKinney, Founder and Head of School at Lafayette Academy, a classical school in Lake Saint Louis, Missouri, explores the often overlooked skills that shape strong and capable students. Katy discusses the importance of soft skills, executive functioning, and emotiona...

Choosing a school can feel overwhelming, but, it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, Katy McKinney shares four specific questions every parent should ask when visiting or considering a school. These questions go deeper than academics and test scores, they uncover culture, expectations, leadership, and the overall health of a school community. She also explains the red flags and green flags to loo...

Choosing a school is one of the most significant investments a family will ever make, but, how do you evaluate the return? In this episode of the LadyK Podcast, host Katy McKinney, Head of School for Lafayette Academy, sits down with Joe DeLisi, a parent at Lafayette Academy and a financial advisor who helps families and business owners make thoughtful, long-term decisions. Together, they explore...

Parents are noticing something is off, shorter attention spans, constant distraction, and learning that feels harder than it should. In this episode of the Lady K Podcast, Katy McKinney, Founder and Head of School at Lafayette Academy: A Classical School, explores how screens are shaping attention, learning, and childhood, and why classical education takes a more intentional approach. This convers...

Life After Lafayette Academy, a Lake Saint Louis classical school, as alumna Marin McKinney shares how her education prepared her for high-level shooting at Hillsdale College. In this episode of the LadyK Podcast, KatyMcKinney sits down with Marin to reflect on her journey from Lafayette Academy to collegiate competition. Marin discusses how the habits formed through classical education, disciplin...

At Lafayette Academy: A Classical School, manners and etiquette are not simply expectations, they are foundational to how the school day begins and how students are formed. In this episode, Katy McKinney explains why manners matter beyond social niceties and how classical education treats etiquette as a form of daily formation. From the first moments of the school day, students are taught how to c...

Classical education can feel unfamiliar to many parents, especially when they first walk into a school without computers, see students handwriting notes, or hear about things like the Paideia or a senior thesis. In this episode, Katy Mckinney breaks down the most common questions parents ask when touring Lafayette Academy and explains why classical education intentionally uses different tools, met...

Show summary here. Join Katy McKinney, founder of Lafayette Academy: A Classical School, as she shares the beginnings of a classical school that’s now home to over 125 children. From a single moment of wonder at the kitchen table to a decade of growth rooted in faith and the timeless Trivium, Katy reflects on what it really means to nurture minds and hearts with beauty, truth, and goodness. If you...

Founder and Head of School Katy McKinney shares “mission moments” from Lafayette Academy: A Classical School, real snapshots where students’ character shines. From a first‑year student who refuses to quit a body‑drag challenge, to a ninth‑grader choosing forgiveness after a creek‑side mishap, to a transfer student advancing four years of math in 18 months, to a spontaneous chorus of “America the B...

Accreditation sounds reassuring—but it doesn’t always mean better learning. In this episode, Katy McKinney shares why Lafayette Academy chose not to pursue accreditation and how the school measures excellence instead. She explains what colleges really care about, how accreditation can distract teachers from their mission, and the practical data Lafayette tracks weekly to stay accountable. You’ll l...

The LadyK Podcast invites parents, teachers, and community leaders to rediscover the timeless truths that shape strong minds and hearts. Hosted from Lafayette Academy in St. Charles County, Missouri, each episode explores topics like classical education, virtue formation, family culture, and the moral foundations of freedom. Through stories, history, and faith-filled reflection, LadyK shares how c...

In a culture that often fuels comparison and entitlement, what if the real key to joy is something far simpler — gratitude? In this episode, LadyK explores how practicing thankfulness can transform families, classrooms, and communities. With stories from The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder and insights from The Entitlement Trap by Richard & Linda Eyre, she unpacks why gratitude isn’t just...

Join host Katy McKinney, founder of Lafayette Academy, for a compelling conversation with Mr. Keith Preston, a dedicated U.S. history teacher with seven years at the school. In this episode of the Lady K Podcast, Keith shares his journey from investor to educator, revealing why he’s passionate about teaching history through a classical lens. From the emotional impact of a Civil War soldier’s lette...

Ever wonder how your family’s daily efforts could shape a thriving, virtuous future? In this captivating episode of the Lady K Podcast, Katy McKinney, Founder and Head of School of Lafayette Academy: A Classical School , unveils key practices to building resilient families that strengthen communities and beyond. Using the powerful metaphor of prairie plants’ deep, intertwined roots, Katy hints at...

In this episode of The Lady K Podcast, host Katy McKinney, Founder and Head of School for Lafayette Academy: A Classical School, a Hillsdale College Curriculum School  in Lake St. Louis, MO, dedicated to shaping knowledgeable, virtuous, and independent thinkers, sits down with John Schweizer—Lafayette’s PE teacher and upper-level math instructor—to talk about the transformative power of physical e...

In this episode of The Lady K Show, Katy McKinney, founder of Lafayette Academy: A Classical School, shares her passion for preserving American values through classical education. Inspired by Thomas Jefferson Education and Cultural Literacy, she discusses how modern schools are failing kids and families by softening curriculums and pushing divisive ideologies. Referencing The Naked Communist’s 45...

In this episode of the Lady K Podcast, Katy McKinney reflects on her journey from business to education, emphasizing the importance of enabling students to adopt a victor mentality rather than a victim mentality. She shares her personal experiences and teaching philosophy, which focuses on building confidence and resilience in children. Through anecdotes and practical strategies, Katy illustrates...

In this conversation, Katy McKinney discusses the critical role of religion in democracy, emphasizing how it fosters a culture of voluntary law obedience. She explores the importance of teaching virtues and character in education, particularly at Lafayette Academy: A Classical School , where faculty and staff help nurture self-governance and personal responsibility within each student. McKinney sh...