City of Ojai honors K-12 online education pioneer Marilyn Mosley Gordanier, celebrating more than 7,000 global graduates and a 35-year legacy of personalized, mastery-based learning.

OJAI, Calif., Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Marking 35 years as a pioneer in accredited online K-12 education, Laurel Springs School celebrated its first official Founder’s Day on October 1st, 2026. City of Ojai Mayor Andy Gilman officially proclaimed the holiday, honoring founder Marilyn Mosley Gordanier, who established the school in 1991 on the visionary premise that education should empower students to pursue their unique dreams without academic compromise. Today, Laurel Springs serves a diverse, global student body across more than 100 countries and boasts notable alumni including Jennifer Love Hewitt, Taylor Fritz, Kristen Stewart, Raven-Symoné, Cole Sprouse, and Alexandra Eala.

To commemorate the municipal proclamation and 35-year milestone, the Laurel Springs community held global virtual watch parties for the premiere of Born to Educate the World, a new documentary chronicling Gordanier’s mission to redefine learning for non-traditional students worldwide.

“Founder’s Day is such a special milestone for our community, and capturing Marilyn’s incredible legacy in Born to Educate the World has been an inspiring journey,” said Nicole Ariya, Laurel Springs Social Media Manager and producer of the documentary. “This film truly captures how Laurel Springs continues to empower students around the world to pursue their unique passions.”

Over its 35-year history, Laurel Springs has graduated more than 7,000 students who have attended more than 500 unique colleges and universities around the world. The school’s rigorous college-prep model continues to deliver proven outcome metrics: 84% of the Class of 2026 were accepted to at least one of their top three choices of college and 28% were accepted to highly selective schools. By offering flexible, high-caliber academics tailored for athletic, artistic, neurodiverse, and high-achieving learners, Laurel Springs remains a vital alternative to traditional brick-and-mortar schooling.

To learn more about the history of Laurel Springs and the story of Marilyn Mosley Gordanier, visit Laurel Springs’ YouTube Channel and view the full documentary

About Laurel Springs School
Laurel Springs is a fully accredited, online private school for K-12 students. With a premier college-prep curriculum including AP® and Honors courses, in-person and virtual events, and a global community spanning over 100 countries, they’ve ranked as one of the top online private schools in the nation. Virtual Open Houses are offered periodically throughout the year, and families who attend will be eligible for a waived $300 enrollment registration fee. To learn more about what families have to say, view Laurel Springs School’s Niche page.

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SOURCE Laurel Springs School, Inc.