While life in Samana offered the simple peace the Ryans craved, it lacked the key component of a quality education. Emily was homeschooling their children because the Dominican Republic has one of the lowest education rates in the world. Kids in agricultural areas like Samana, frequently withdraw from school in the sixth grade to work to support their families.
“Samana is paradise, and it needed a good school,” Emily notes.
After prayer and consideration, Emily and Jason felt the call to bring the school the community needed to Samana. They had just embarked on the beginning stages of building their dream house on a piece of land they recently purchased, but the school became their priority. They once again pivoted, simplified, and realigned with their true purpose. What was supposed to be their new home was renovated into the Samana International School. The family solely funded the entire endeavor because they deeply desired to give back to the people and community that taught them so much about what is important in life.
Opened in January 2024, the 3000 square foot Samana International School sits on five acres and has 180-degree views of the Samana Bay and the mountains of Los Haitises National Park. The bay is connected to the Atlantic Ocean. The property also looks out to Cayo Levantado and downtown Samana. It is an open-air, nature-based building, with over twenty-nine edible fruits and vegetables on the premises making it easy for students to get their mid-day snack off the fruit trees.
The curriculum at the Samana International School is not affiliated with the Dominican school system. They solely use American curriculum. Says Emily,
“We want students to learn about Dominican culture while getting an American quality education. We want to show children they are worthy of a good education and a beautiful environment to learn in and enjoy everything God created around them. The community is supportive and excited to have a school with this level of quality education.”
Teachers at the school are American, Canadian, and Dominican. Students are from all over the world including the US, Canada, England, Australia, Scotland, Spain, Haiti, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic. Most students are bilingual, but many are trilingual. One-third of students receive a scholarship.
“Families and teachers have moved to the Dominican Republic just for the school. We frequently get calls from parents wanting to enroll their children and teachers wanting to teach here. We’ve welcomed students whose parents are doing world-schooling to travel and immerse their children in different cultures,” Emily says.
The school currently has four multi-aged classrooms serving 4K-7th grade. Each year, more grades and classrooms will be added. The Ryan’s vision is to create treehouse classrooms with swinging bridges for older students. Current enrollment is thirty students who are receiving a unique learning experience rooted in nature, community, and hands-on exploration.
“Students mentor younger friends, share projects from our school-wide themes, or get creative with nature-inspired STEM and art. At recess, they’re climbing rope swings, balancing on slacklines, lounging in tree nets, bouncing on the trampoline, sliding down hills on coconut palm leaves, or helping care for animals. They leave covered in dirt—and full of stories! Learning goes beyond the classroom—our field trips bring lessons to life. When we studied Marine Biology, we went out on a boat with a renowned marine biologist and saw humpback whales up close. During our Veterinary Technology unit, a local equestrian expert visited, and students rode horses along the beach, experiencing firsthand how to care for horses. After diving into Ancient History, we took a trip to El Valle Beach, where we had a Taíno-themed BBQ and swam in the river, making history real instead of just something in a textbook. Experiences are how we make learning stick. We also offer Muay Thai, and Hip-Hop classes after school,” Emily notes.
Moving to the Dominican Republic and building the Samana International School has been a blessing, but there have been challenging moments that strengthened the Ryan family’s bond by becoming one of their greatest lessons in resilience. After living on a boat in the Caribbean, they still weren’t prepared for navigating construction in a new country with a different language and work culture. Says Emily,
“In the Dominican Republic, people want to please their bosses, so they’ll always say they can meet your deadlines—even when they can’t. But time moves differently here. Mondays aren’t always a guarantee after a Sunday night of dancing and rum. Our “ready by July 2023” deadline came and went. Six months later, with families already arriving from abroad, we were still pushing to finish everything. It was stressful. But our kids watched us face each challenge head-on, adapting, problem-solving, and leaning on each other. In the end, we didn’t just build a school—we built something even stronger: perseverance, trust, and the kind of bond that only comes from weathering storms together.”
The Ryan family’s work isn’t just changing the lives of local children, it’s shaping future generations in other families and their own family. It began with a simple idea, recognizing a need, and stepping in to fill it. Their journey has been a whirlwind of challenges, surprises, and growth. They are excited to see where the adventure and lessons learned take them next.
“One of the biggest lessons learned is that nature is healing. Slowing down to breathe in the ocean air, feeling the warmth of the sun on your skin, walking barefoot in the sand—it resets the soul. Just as nature heals us, time spent with those we love does, too. Children don’t need more things; they need more of us. They thrive when they have quality time with their parents—time to explore, to ask questions, to simply be together. But when you’re working around the clock to provide, it’s easy to forget what truly matters,” Emily reflects.
Making a change of this magnitude in life can seem out of reach, but the Ryan family discovered that with courage and belief in yourself, anyone can create a life focused on what truly matters. Says Emily,
“Many of our friends in the US say they’re searching for more than the rat race and the overwhelming stress and feeling of running on empty that comes with it. They want to know how life can be simpler, intentional, fulfilling. The truth is it can. All it takes is the courage to step back, reassess, and create a life that aligns with what truly matters. Chase the things that set your soul on fire, step outside the ordinary, don’t be afraid to take risks in pursuit of something meaningful. Life isn’t meant to be lived on autopilot; it’s meant to be filled with passion, purpose, and connection. If things feel too chaotic, trust yourself to pivot. The answers are often simpler than we think—all we must do is listen.”