I began homeschooling in 2017 with my daughter to accommodate our family’s unique schedule, as my husband works as a railroad conductor and travels frequently. My stepfather was also in hospice with lung cancer at the time and we needed to help my mother with his care. Committing to a traditional public school schedule would have meant an exhausting amount of time on the road and a complicated schedule. Homeschooling allowed us the flexibility to accomplish educating our children without sacrificing time with our family. I now homeschool both of my children—my son’s kindergarten year would have been 2020, when schools were closed anyway, so it just naturally become a permanent fit for me. I am a stay-at-home mom, but I enjoy encouraging both stay at home parents and working parents (or caregivers) to pursue homeschooling in ways that fit their lives, and to see non-traditional schedules—nights, weekends, holidays, summers, and even learning on the road—as perfectly valid. I believe the goal is for homeschooling to work with a family’s schedule, not the other way around. I also live in a very rural part of Washington State and understand the experiences of being a homeschooler with limited local resources.
I’m deeply interested in the history of homeschooling, both locally and around the world, and I value hearing about families’ personal journeys—no two situations are ever the same. Learning from the experiences of others, past and present, helps me better serve as a board member and advocate for a wide range of homeschooling paths. In addition to homeschooling, I volunteer as the treasurer for my local museum, foster homeless pets, and have a strong passion for research, staying informed on legislative issues, and engaging with policymakers on topics that impact my community, especially homeschool families.
I am grateful to be a part of the homeschooling community!
