Our Team
Lauren Leggett
Director
Language Arts & Social Sciences, Agriculture & Conservation Educator
Lauren is a licensed teacher with a Bachelor of Education from Mississippi State University (2011), specializing in middle-level education with emphases in Language Arts and Social Sciences.
Her teaching career began at Jackson Elementary in Montana, where she taught grades 4–8 in a two-classroom school of only 10 students. While there, she also planned countywide events, including the basketball season and spelling bee, and served as student council sponsor and editor of The Jackson Monthly student newspaper.
Lauren lives with her husband, Jed, and their son, Wylie, on a 40-acre grass-fed beef farm—home to The Country Schoolhouse. She is passionate about hands-on, enrichment-based learning and was named a 2021 Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Teacher of the Year.
Chloe Hodge
Music & Arts Educator
Chloe is a licensed educator with a Bachelor of Music Education degree from The University of Southern Mississippi (2018), where she earned placement on the Dean’s and President’s List throughout her college career. She is certified to teach music for kindergarten through 12th grade, with an emphasis in violin.
Chloe has performed with the Southern Miss Youth Orchestra, the Festival South Chamber and Orchestral Academy, and the Southern Miss Symphony Orchestra. During college, she taught private violin lessons and later transitioned into public education, leading a pre-K through 5th grade music program at an elementary school.
Since joining The Country Schoolhouse, Chloe has embraced teaching not only music but also theater, visual arts, and other creative subjects. She brings deep enthusiasm and joy to her classroom and is looking forward to many more years with TCS.
Chandra Graham
Special Education & Dyslexia Specialist
Chandra is a licensed teacher with more than 30 years of experience in education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (William Carey University, 1992), a Bachelor of Science in Special Education (University of Southern Mississippi, 1994), a Master of Education in Special Education (2001), a Specialist in Educational Leadership (Arkansas State University, 2016), and a Master of Education in Dyslexia Therapy (William Carey University, 2019).
Chandra holds certifications in business education (K–12), special education (K–12), elementary education (K–6), and dyslexia therapy. She has worked with students from kindergarten through twelfth grade in a variety of educational settings.
Now retired from the public school system, Chandra is excited to bring her passion and expertise to homeschool education through The Country Schoolhouse. She is looking forward to connecting with students and families in this next chapter of her teaching journey.
Jana Bennett
Office Manager
Science Educator & Home-school Consultant
Jana Bennett is a licensed educator and consultant with Bennett Homeschooling. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Science with a minor in Chemistry and a Graduate degree in Education (2011). In 2018, she furthered her studies with a graduate degree in Biological Science.
Jana has more than a decade of experience teaching general science, biology, and state test preparation. She has also coached soccer, robotics, and archery. Currently, she homeschools her own children and supports other families through educational consulting.
Outside the classroom, Jana enjoys reading, painting, crocheting, and playing board games.
Jonathon Hodge
Communications Manager
Jonathon holds a Bachelor of Contemporary Worship Ministries from William Carey University (2018), with a dual emphasis in Vocal Performance and Music Technology.
He brings nearly six years of experience in media production and web design, having worked with a wide range of churches, non-profits, and businesses across South Mississippi. Jonathon previously served as Vice President of the Board of Trustees for Leaps of Faith Mississippi, a nonprofit dance company based in Hattiesburg. He is also a founding member of Reach Conference, the first outreach event created for Christian content creators.
At The Country Schoolhouse, Jonathon has implemented a creative and operational strategy built on sustainability, integrity, and awareness. He continues to shape the school’s digital presence and is excited for many more years of meaningful work with the TCS community.
Abigail Smith
Support Staff
Abigail began her journey with The Country Schoolhouse in 2020 as a home-schooled student, quickly falling in love with the learning environment and enrolling in as many classes as she could each semester. Her enthusiasm for learning and her dedication to the TCS community stood out from the start.
After turning 18, she gradually took on more responsibilities and officially joined the support staff. Her genuine kindness, positive outlook, and deep appreciation for Schoolhouse values made her a natural fit for the team.
Today, Abigail serves in a wide variety of roles, including Sewing Class Teaching Assistant, Office Assistant,Library Manager, Janitor, and Classroom Support in many multi-age environments. She also supports Beaver Creek Farm as a reliable farm sitter and garden helper, drawing from her background as a Level 2 Certified Junior Master Gardener.
Edward “Jed” Leggett
Co-Founder
Jed is a lifelong educator, software engineer, and co-founder of The Country Schoolhouse. He holds undergraduate degrees in Physics, Philosophy, and Mathematics, and a Master’s degree in Physics from Mississippi State University. Jed is currently pursuing his PhD.
From 2013 to 2016, Jed taught Physics at The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS), where he earned the title of Mississippi STAR Teacher in 2015. At MSMS, he sponsored and coached a variety of academic clubs and teams, including Rocketry, Robotics, Engineering, Science Olympiad, and Science Bowl, and served as ACT Test Coordinator.
Jed currently works as a software engineer while helping manage the farm and homeschooling community. He also serves as a Den Leader for Pack 101 in Purvis. Through The Country Schoolhouse, Jed and his wife are committed to offering creative, outside-the-box learning opportunities for local families.