Voices of IDEA Homeschool IDEA Homeschool

Guests:







Naomi Winters







Topic:







On this episode, Lindsay and Galena Interior Learning Academy’s (GILA) Principal, Naomi Winters, share their mutual love for career and technical education. Naomi talks about the community of Galena and how they converted a military base into a boarding school in rural Alaska. One of the state’s only career and technical education boarding schools, GILA offers CTE programs in Aviation, Cosmetology, Health Sciences, Education, STEM careers, Culinary and more! Along with sports and clubs, GILA also houses an Olympic-size swimming pool! Listen to learn how you can enroll for the 2024-2025 school year.







Guest Biography:







Naomi Winters is the Principal of Galena Interior Learning Academy (GILA). Originally from Colorado, she has been in education for 15 years. Naomi and her husband, Jake, GILA’s PE teacher, are pleased to be celebrating their third year in Galena.







Mrs. Winters was a special education teacher for most of her career and has spent time as a classroom teacher and taught at a residential treatment center.  She has a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction and a Graduate Certificate in Educational leadership.  Mrs. Winters also completed the Alaska School Leadership Academy in 2020.







Mrs. Winters fell in love with Alaska when she and her husband moved to a tiny village in the southwest region of Alaska in 2018 where she was the principal and special education teacher. She has seen, firsthand, the need for educational opportunities for rural Alaskan students, and strives to provide as many opportunities as possible for students at GILA.







Episode Sponsor:







GILA Enrollment Department







Resource Links:







Galena Interior Learning Academy







https://www.galenaalaska.org/gila

Guests:







Brianna Gravelle







Topic:







IDEA’s virtual and in-person Curriculum Fair is happening in April. In this episode, long-time home schooling mom Brianna Gravelle talks about her multiple experiences at the Anchorage Curriculum Fair. Podcast host, Lindsay Pinkelman talks about her experience at the Fairbanks Curriculum Fair and together they share all of the ways you can use the Whova app to best experience the virtual Curriculum Fair. This really is Alaska’s best homeschool Curriculum Fair!







Guest Biography:







Brianna Gravelle has been an Alaskan resident for over 20 years and has a long history homeschooling with IDEA that started as student in her teens. She has dedicated herself to schooling her three children, boys aged 3 and 5, and daughter 13, since 2020. She is passionate about supporting our IDEA community, helping it to grow!







In addition to her commitment to her children’s education, Brianna actively engages with the homeschooling community as a member of the Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) for the past three years. Currently serving as the Social Media Secretary, she utilizes her skills to connect with fellow homeschooling families and share valuable resources.  She also attended the PAC retreat in Fairbanks this year, representing our MatSu families and working with other regions to present recommendations from parent surveys to the School Board.







Brianna is eagerly anticipating the upcoming IDEA Curriculum Fair in April, an event that holds special significance for her and her family. Having attended the fair for the past four years, Brianna views it as a cornerstone of her homeschooling journey. She eagerly looks forward to attending workshops, socializing with fellow homeschoolers, planning out their next year, and of course spending some of their allotment! For Brianna, the fair is more than just an event—it’s a dynamic platform that has enriched her family’s educational endeavors and fostered a sense of community among her and fellow homeschoolers across Alaska.







Episode Sponsor:







IDEA’s Curriculum Fair Vendors







Resource Links:







IDEA Curriculum Fair









2024 IDEA Curriculum Fair

Guests:







Scott GingrichLori ZulligerJen SchutteMandy Wraith







Topic:







Scott Gingrich, Lori Zulliger, Jen Schutte and Mandy Wraith join the podcast as IDEA’s Academic Decathlon (ACADECA) Coaches. This statewide club has grown exponentially since 1998 and continues to find success in competitions, including this year! Listen and learn about the growth students experience studying 10 academic disciplines throughout the semester, what it takes to make the team, and also hear a students’ speech as she practiced for the state competition.







Guest Biography:







Mandy Wraith is a home-educating mom from the Wasilla area who has educated her three sons at home from preschool. In 2009, her family moved to Alaska and joined IDEA. She loves the strong relationship formed with their amazing contact teacher and the support IDEA has provided along the way. In 2017, she started IDEA’s first Academic Pentathlon program and coached that for several years while her two youngest sons participated. This year she joined the MatSu area’s Academic Decathlon program as the assistant coach, and she is excited to be coaching the MatSu AceDeca team next year! She and her husband have two sons who have graduated, a lovely daughter-in-law, and is finishing strong with her last student, her son who will be a senior next year! The Wraith family love everything about life in Alaska; hiking, backpacking, hunting, fishing, bush flying, gardening, berry picking. As a second-generation home educator who was educated at home K-12, she loves encouraging families along the thrilling adventure of person-tailored learning!







Jen Schutte joined IDEA in January of 2012 with her son, Alex.  They never regretted that decision and only wish they had taken the plunge sooner.  Alex graduated in May of 2019. She has two more students (Morgan and Quinn) moving up the ranks.  She looks forward to crossing the stage with them as well in 2025 and 2032. She believes in being an active participant in her family’s lives enabling them to follow their passions.  She has led clubs such as FLL Robotics and held the positions of Secretary and Chair for the Parent Advisory Committee.  Jen became the Field Representative for the Fairbanks office in July of 2019.  She advocates for all families in the IDEA program.  She maintains communication between families and administration; oversees PAC; welcomes new families to the program; and helps coordinate events, orientations, activities, curriculum fair and workshops.   







Lori Zulliger is a Contact Teacher for IDEA. She has served homeschooling families as their educational colleague since 2001, and has delighted in watching young children grow up to be confident and capable adults. Lori homeschooled her own daughter through IDEA, so she understands IDEA from the inside-out. Lori adores the homeschooling community and is excited about the choices that are afforded to the parent-teachers and their students. 







Scott Gingrich is a contact teacher who has worked for the District going on 31 years.  Married for 36 years with 5 wonderful kids.  He likes biking and kayaking when not at work.







Episode Sponsor:







IDEA’s Curriculum Fair







Resource Links:







Academic Decathlon: https://www.usad.org/







Learn more about IDEA’s Curriculum Fair: https://www.ideafamilies.org/fair

Episode:







Mary Fowler and Lisa Williams are guests on this episode talking about homeschool burnout. Maybe you have felt it over the years of homeschooling? For example, the wall you hit when there’s no creativity left or life responsibilities are too much. What if you gave yourself permission to take a break? Listen in to find out more about the importance of taking a break as well as the power of self-reflection!







Guests:







Mary Fowler has worked for IDEA as a Contact teacher since 1999. She has four kids and is currently homeschooling three of the four ranging in grades 3-12. Mary loves the outdoors, fishing, reading, and playing games with her family.







Lisa Williams grew up in McLean, Virginia near Washington DC.. She received her Undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in the School of Foreign Service followed by commissioning in the United States Marine Corps as a Cryptology/Intelligence Officer. After serving in the Marines, Mrs. Williams, her husband and four sons moved to Alaska where she homeschooled her children through IDEA and other Charter and Private schools.







Mrs. Williams became involved in classical education at Holy Rosary Academy. Mrs. Williams attained her Master of Arts in Education from Alaska Pacific University while teaching. She then became the Principal at Holy Rosary, and later she was the Headmaster at Chesterton Academy of Annapolis. Mrs. Williams and her husband were blessed to spend a year abroad where she taught at The International School Westphalz in Landsthul Germany teaching at a Swiss school using the Cambridge curriculum.







Finally, life has returned full circle and she is now a contact teacher at the Eagle River IDEA office where she once was a homeschool parent.







Episode Sponsor:







Technology department

Guest:







Nola Kruber joins the podcast from the Fairbanks region to discuss the Ham Radio Club.  In this episode, Lindsay and Nola discuss how to become involved in the club, whether you are 12 or 66. You will learn about the community involvement in the club and hear a real-world HAM Radio conversation Involving IDEA students. Two IDEA “Hammers” also join the conversation to talk about learning morse code, radio ettiquete and different technical licensing. Nola also talks about how to make HAM radio an elective offering on an ILP!







Topic:







Build an elective, How to start a club in your region







Guest Biography:







Nola Kurber graduated from college with a degree in elementary education but didn’t teach for quite a while—deciding to stay home with her four children. She homeschooled, took advantage of private schooling and then taught at building-based schools. She and her husband are active in the community. Now, as a grandmother of 16, most of whom are homeschooled, she has the pleasure of working to support homeschool families here in Fairbanks, coming back full circle. Currently, with IDEA Homeschool, she is the sponsor of the Ham Radio Club and she helps lead Bedtime Math Club and Drama club. She is a passionate gardener and has added beekeeping to her repertoire. She and her husband have lived in Fairbanks for about 25 years.







Episode Sponsor:







IDEA’s Contact Teachers. Thanks for all you do!







Resource Links:









Morris Manie App Download







Spelling Connections







Ham Radio School







Technician Level Resource

Guest:  







Heidi Mobley Nikki Gore Renee Tegen 







Topic:  







Nikki and Renee share how they each got started with their region’s Parent Advisory Committee (PAC). This parent group within each region holds open meetings for any IDEA member to attend. Listen to this episode to hear how events are developed from an idea to completion, but more importantly, how much this group has positively impacted our families’ experience within IDEA. Heidi Mobley, Field Rep shares stories of families whose lives have changed because of their involvement in the PAC.  







Guest Biography:  







Domenique “Nikki” Gore is an active member in the IDEA PAC for the Matsu Region. She holds the position of PAC Secretary and helps volunteer for many of the events the MatSu PAC hosts. She is a small business owner on top of homeschooling two elementary-aged kids and caring for her toddler. Her family has been homeschooling with IDEA for going on four years now and loving every minute of it! ” 







Renee Tegen is an Air Force veteran and mother to four boys (ages 18, 17, 15, & 11) and has been with MatSu Region IDEA for six years. She joined the PAC in her first year to be involved and stay caught up on events and activities to bring her boys to. After a couple of years, she became the Vice-Chair on the PAC and recently assumed the position of PAC Chair. She has been involved in organizing multiple events each year as well as clubs. Homeschooling has been wonderful for her and her boys and they’re so glad they made the decision to join IDEA.   







Heidi Mobley is a homeschooling momma of 18 plus years and a Field Rep for the Mat-Su Region for four years. When she is not serving the IDEA families, you can find her cooking fantastic meals for her loved ones, skiing in fresh snow, and enjoying soft 80’s rock. Her love for homeschool developed as she taught her three children and further grows as she connects with IDEA families. Her passion for instilling opportunity for enrichment and engagement flourishes as she runs events, stands as a liaison for staff and families, and greets new faces into the program. 







Episode Sponsor:   IDEA’s Business Office 









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