Faith-based education and family support in North Idaho
By Like Media Team
Creating a strong foundation for education and family development, 9B Family Foundations and Foundations School are making a meaningful impact on North Idaho families. Led by Charli Turner, these innovative programs combine faith-based learning with tailored educational approaches, empowering students and their families to thrive. With a focus on community, character, and education, these schools provide an environment where growth and support go hand in hand.
9B Family Foundations, established in 2022, serves as a Christian preschool and a vital family resource center. “We offer a Bible preschool from 9am -12pm each day with an afternoon childcare option,” explains Turner. The resource center offers parenting classes, family coaching, and guidance for families in need. Meanwhile, Foundations School—a Bible-based, trade-focused K-12 program—has grown into a unique educational hub in Naples, Idaho. “Foundations School is unique in our ability to meet each individual student where they are and create a learning program for just them,” Turner shares.
Operating with shared core values, both schools are guided by four pillars: Faith Foundations, Educational Building Blocks, Character Development, and Strengthening Families and Communities. Turner highlights the synergy between the two programs: “Between the preschool and K-12 school, we have close to 100 students enrolled.”
At 9B Family Foundations, the focus starts early, serving children from five weeks old through kindergarten. Each class is carefully designed to meet the developmental needs of specific age groups, fostering curiosity and creativity. “The lessons are created each week with an intentional approach to each age group with a unique set of songs, books, and creative and physical activities to engage little minds,” Turner explains.
Foundations School offers an equally dynamic experience for K-12 students, combining traditional academic subjects with hands-on trade skills. Weekly Skills Days expose students to various trades and jobs in the local area, preparing them for real-world opportunities. “We are raising expectations in a culture that has been lowering the bar for too long,” Turner states. The curriculum also emphasizes ethics, financial literacy, and history, incorporating resources like Dave Ramsey’s Smart Dollar and Financial Peace University, Mike Rowe’s Work Ethics, and Mystery of History.
Each day begins with a meaningful ritual, including the ringing of a bell, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Foundations School Pledge: “We pledge to serve God first in everything that we do, be a friend to people, and live a life worthy of our calling.”
Both schools strongly emphasize family and community involvement. From seasonal events like the Fall Festival Carnival to acts of kindness such as food drives and the Angel Tree gift program, students learn the importance of service and connection. “Our students and their families participate in many community involvement activities throughout the year,” Turner shares.
For Foundations School, partnerships with local businesses and tradespeople have been instrumental. “Over 60 tradesmen and businesses have partnered with us to offer our Skills Day classes, field trips, and even apprenticeships,” Turner says. The community's support has allowed the school to thrive, providing everything from books to furniture, child care, and teacher resources.
Looking ahead, Turner and her team have ambitious plans. In the next five years, they aim to build a shared facility for both schools, including a full-sized gymnasium that can also serve as a community center. “We are prayerful and excited to watch this dream grow,” Turner shares.
Families seeking a personalized, faith-based education with a strong sense of community will find 9B Family Foundations and Foundations School valuable resources. “We are certain that if we keep God in our foundations, we will be successful,” Turner reflects.
9B Family Foundations
7142 2nd St.
Bonners Ferry
208.610.6507
Foundations School
138 Latigo Ln.
Naples
208.267.3139
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