“Since having my son at Homeschool Now, I have witnessed him grow and come into a whole new sense of himself and his own confidence and presence. The teachers care so deeply about the students, and have creates an environment of individual attention combined with group activities and play. Thursdays Nature School is a big highlight! We are thrilled with the program and will continue forward with it as long as we can.”
-Sarah Rhinelander (1st grade parent)
Christina has been working with children since she was a teenager. To pursue her passion of children, she received her B.A. in Elementary Education and continued on to receive a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Kentucky University. Starting her teaching career in Lexington, Kentucky in a 5thgrade classroom, she learned quickly that she loved helping mold students into responsible, productive citizens. Teaching in a diverse school allowed her to work with children from many different backgrounds, abilities, and levels. A few years later, she allowed her wanderlust heart lead her to a teaching career in Hawaii. She started off her adventure in a public school setting and had the privilege of teaching third grade, fifth grade, sixth grade and special education.
Christina then transitioned into a private education/homeschool setting where she felt the students would receive more one-on-one attention in a small group. She believed the students deserved to work at their own pace which allowed them to be completely engaged in their education. She wanted to create a quality education while also preserving the adventure and wonder of childhood for the children. After two successful years on her own, she knew she had to share this with the world! Her teaching style and program become in high demand and upon this, she founded Homeschool Now. She has grown Homeschool Now into a movement where students are able to discover their individual talents, making education relevant to their interests and showing them how to be successful with their academics. She believes the best thing we can do for our children is to teach them the love of learning and in turn create lifelong learners. She will continue to help mold Homeschool Now into a program that promotes a positive, safe learning environment while focusing on the highest form of academics that we can offer our children.
Emily Blackburn is a licensed elementary teacher and school counselor that has been professionally educating children for 15+ years. She holds a Bachelor in both Education and Fine Arts. Her teaching career began in Colorado at a preschool that was using the Reggio Emilia Philosophy. This Italian approach weaves the student’s interests into the academic curriculum, encourages students to discover and inquire about their environment, and celebrates the “hundred languages” that children can use to demonstrate their learning. In 2003, Emily was recruited to Kauai to bring the Reggio approach to a preschool in Kilauea, HI. A few years later she decided to obtain her teaching credentials for grades K-6, so that she could bring her creative teaching style to elementary students. In the 7 years Emily was employed at Hanalei School, she not only taught at several different grade levels, but was also a school counselor, librarian and art teacher at times.
Emily has also had several years of success educating children in homeschool environments. She ran Kauai Experiential Learning Program (K.E.L.P.) for two years at the Hanalei Community Center. This group of K-1 homeschool students would meet several days a week to have their home education enhanced by Emily’s hands-on activities that catered both to the students’ interests and to state standards. Art, music, drama, movement, manipulatives, and games, were used whenever possible to make learning fun and memorable. Students were encouraged to inquire about the world around them, perform experiments, reach out to experts, and take field trips. Emily also provided private homeschooling/tutoring for families on the mainland. Geography, cultural history, marine sciences and life skills were all intertwined into the children’s daily studies.
Christina has been working with children since she was a teenager. To pursue her passion of children, she received her B.A. in Elementary Education and continued on to receive a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from Eastern Kentucky University. Starting her teaching career in Lexington, Kentucky in a 5thgrade classroom, she learned quickly that she loved helping mold students into responsible, productive citizens. Teaching in a diverse school allowed her to work with children from many different backgrounds, abilities, and levels. A few years later, she allowed her wanderlust heart lead her to a teaching career in Hawaii. She started off her adventure in a public school setting and had the privilege of teaching third grade, fifth grade, sixth grade and special education.
Christina then transitioned into a private education/homeschool setting where she felt the students would receive more one-on-one attention in a small group. She believed the students deserved to work at their own pace which allowed them to be completely engaged in their education. She wanted to create a quality education while also preserving the adventure and wonder of childhood for the children. After two successful years on her own, she knew she had to share this with the world! Her teaching style and program become in high demand and upon this, she founded Homeschool Now. She has grown Homeschool Now into a movement where students are able to discover their individual talents, making education relevant to their interests and showing them how to be successful with their academics. She believes the best thing we can do for our children is to teach them the love of learning and in turn create lifelong learners. She will continue to help mold Homeschool Now into a program that promotes a positive, safe learning environment while focusing on the highest form of academics that we can offer our children.
Emily Blackburn is a licensed elementary teacher and school counselor that has been professionally educating children for 15+ years. She holds a Bachelor in both Education and Fine Arts. Her teaching career began in Colorado at a preschool that was using the Reggio Emilia Philosophy. This Italian approach weaves the student’s interests into the academic curriculum, encourages students to discover and inquire about their environment, and celebrates the “hundred languages” that children can use to demonstrate their learning. In 2003, Emily was recruited to Kauai to bring the Reggio approach to a preschool in Kilauea, HI. A few years later she decided to obtain her teaching credentials for grades K-6, so that she could bring her creative teaching style to elementary students. In the 7 years Emily was employed at Hanalei School, she not only taught at several different grade levels, but was also a school counselor, librarian and art teacher at times.
Emily has also had several years of success educating children in homeschool environments. She ran Kauai Experiential Learning Program (K.E.L.P.) for two years at the Hanalei Community Center. This group of K-1 homeschool students would meet several days a week to have their home education enhanced by Emily’s hands-on activities that catered both to the students’ interests and to state standards. Art, music, drama, movement, manipulatives, and games, were used whenever possible to make learning fun and memorable. Students were encouraged to inquire about the world around them, perform experiments, reach out to experts, and take field trips. Emily also provided private homeschooling/tutoring for families on the mainland. Geography, cultural history, marine sciences and life skills were all intertwined into the children’s daily studies.
Kimberly Bayless has been a primary teacher for 22 years, with experience in International Schools, public schools, and Montessori and Waldorf Schools. She has a California Teaching Credential from National University and a Bachelor of Science from Loyola Marymount University. Her passion is to teach children to have a life-long joy of learning and to help them shine their inner lights. During her free time, Kimberly likes to play in the sea, make music with her marimba and walk her tightrope.
Karla Rowan is passionate about teaching and learning. She believes children have a natural curiosity and desire to learn. She provides an encouraging and safe learning environment. Karla’s teaching strategies are based on researched practices and over 20 years working and responding to elementary students in grades 2, 3, and 4 at Hanalei Elementary.
Growing up in southern California started her love for the ocean and outdoors. She graduated from California State University, San Diego and went on to California State University, Chico to pursue her clear teaching credential. She returned to CSU,SD and took classes in special education towards a Masters Degree. In 1979, Hawaiian surf beckoned and she has lived continuously on the North Shore of Kaua’i ever since. Though she doesn’t surf as earlier days, she still gets in the ocean to swim & snorkel. You may see her biking, hiking, paddling, or running.
With great joy, Karla begins her second year with Homeschool Now and embraces the opportunity to teach creatively, foster healthy relationships, appreciate differences, develop a deep love and connection to nature, and help each child grow to their fullest potential.
Kimberly Bayless has been a primary teacher for 22 years, with experience in International Schools, public schools, and Montessori and Waldorf Schools. She has a California Teaching Credential from National University and a Bachelor of Science from Loyola Marymount University. Her passion is to teach children to have a life-long joy of learning and to help them shine their inner lights. During her free time, Kimberly likes to play in the sea, make music with her marimba and walk her tightrope.
Karla Rowan is passionate about teaching and learning. She believes children have a natural curiosity and desire to learn. She provides an encouraging and safe learning environment. Karla’s teaching strategies are based on researched practices and over 20 years working and responding to elementary students in grades 2, 3, and 4 at Hanalei Elementary.
Growing up in southern California started her love for the ocean and outdoors. She graduated from California State University, San Diego and went on to California State University, Chico to pursue her clear teaching credential. She returned to CSU,SD and took classes in special education towards a Masters Degree. In 1979, Hawaiian surf beckoned and she has lived continuously on the North Shore of Kaua’i ever since. Though she doesn’t surf as earlier days, she still gets in the ocean to swim & snorkel. You may see her biking, hiking, paddling, or running.
With great joy, Karla begins her second year with Homeschool Now and embraces the opportunity to teach creatively, foster healthy relationships, appreciate differences, develop a deep love and connection to nature, and help each child grow to their fullest potential.
Rebecca Hart began working with children at the age of 10 assisting her mother in her classroom. Inspired by the impact her mother made in the classroom Rebecca began professionally working with students as a teachers assistant while earning her BA at University of Hawaii-Manoa. In 2005 she moved to Kauai and continued to teach and create curriculum specific to students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She worked both privately for families as well as for the Department of Education. In 2010 she went back for a Masters Degree as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She finished her course work in 2015 as well as became the school counselor for Hanalei School. Rebecca missed her time working directly with the students so returned to teaching the classroom in 2016. In 2018 she began teaching 2nd grade at Homeschool Now. She incorporates her social and emotional lessons into the curriculum as well as her passions as a yoga teacher, an environmentalist and a musician.
Erika first came to Kauai in 1996, after studying art and education at Santa Clara University in California. After meeting her husband, she started a family and began her teaching career at Kilauea Elementary School, where she worked as a part-time teacher and reading assistant while finishing her BA in Social Sciences from the University of Hawai’i. She went on to earn a Master’s in Teaching (K-8) from Western Governors University. In 2005, she and her husband moved to the Pacific NW where Erika worked as an instructional facilitator and English Language Learner program manager for the local school district. During this time she not only gained experience designing and adapting curriculum and assessments for ELLs but also created professional development around the value of culturally and linguistically diverse learners and ways to best support these students in the classroom, both academically and socio-emotionally. She designed and implemented community and parent outreach programs and advocated for ELLs and their families. Additionally, she provided direct support for ELLs at every grade level and taught daily support classes at both the middle and high school levels.
She and her husband returned to Kauai in 2016 to be closer to family and to raise their children on the island that they both love. She worked as a math teacher for students in grades 7-9 at Pu’ukumu School prior to joining the HSN middle school team. Her teaching is guided by the belief that students learn best when they feel safe, respected and engaged and when the learning is meaningful. In addition to teaching, some of her favorite things are spending time with family and friends, dancing, the ocean, making art, music, reading, collecting shells, traveling, eating out and coffee. When she grows up, she wants to be a backup dancer for Beyonce.
Rebecca Hart began working with children at the age of 10 assisting her mother in her classroom. Inspired by the impact her mother made in the classroom Rebecca began professionally working with students as a teachers assistant while earning her BA at University of Hawaii-Manoa. In 2005 she moved to Kauai and continued to teach and create curriculum specific to students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders. She worked both privately for families as well as for the Department of Education. In 2010 she went back for a Masters Degree as a Clinical Mental Health Counselor. She finished her course work in 2015 as well as became the school counselor for Hanalei School. Rebecca missed her time working directly with the students so returned to teaching the classroom in 2016. In 2018 she began teaching 2nd grade at Homeschool Now. She incorporates her social and emotional lessons into the curriculum as well as her passions as a yoga teacher, an environmentalist and a musician.
Erika first came to Kauai in 1996, after studying art and education at Santa Clara University in California. After meeting her husband, she started a family and began her teaching career at Kilauea Elementary School, where she worked as a part-time teacher and reading assistant while finishing her BA in Social Sciences from the University of Hawai’i. She went on to earn a Master’s in Teaching (K-8) from Western Governors University. In 2005, she and her husband moved to the Pacific NW where Erika worked as an instructional facilitator and English Language Learner program manager for the local school district. During this time she not only gained experience designing and adapting curriculum and assessments for ELLs but also created professional development around the value of culturally and linguistically diverse learners and ways to best support these students in the classroom, both academically and socio-emotionally. She designed and implemented community and parent outreach programs and advocated for ELLs and their families. Additionally, she provided direct support for ELLs at every grade level and taught daily support classes at both the middle and high school levels.
She and her husband returned to Kauai in 2016 to be closer to family and to raise their children on the island that they both love. She worked as a math teacher for students in grades 7-9 at Pu’ukumu School prior to joining the HSN middle school team. Her teaching is guided by the belief that students learn best when they feel safe, respected and engaged and when the learning is meaningful. In addition to teaching, some of her favorite things are spending time with family and friends, dancing, the ocean, making art, music, reading, collecting shells, traveling, eating out and coffee. When she grows up, she wants to be a backup dancer for Beyonce.
Andrea Arnold loves teaching middle school. She has a special place in her heart for these students, at maybe their most awkward age, and considers it her personal goal to help send out thoughtful, great humans who nurture and enhance the world and people around them. AJ studied at the State University Teachers College at Buffalo and graduated with degrees in Fine Arts, Psychology and English. Right out of college, she taught at a museum-based functional Art Therapy program for developmentally disabled middle schoolers as well as a high school AP Art History and Psychology teacher. Throughout the following years, she developed and taught art camps and after-school educational and creative enrichment programs for both kids and adults while pursuing other varied careers like cafe- owner and fashion buyer/designer.
After leaving Hawaii in 2007 to check out the northwest, she and her family returned home in 2014. AJ decided to return to teaching and fulfill her heart’s desire. She came back as a substitute elementary and middle school teacher and art teacher with the DOE and in private schools before landing happily at HSN this past year. Aj’s favorite thing about teaching at HSN is the freedom to teach all the important stuff, but to also be able to stop for all the REALLY IMPORTANT stuff. Or to change one’s whole lesson plan in response to a compelling kid question or an urge to head outside and experience more than just the classroom “walls”. At home, she loves making art, cooking, reading, biking and just generally hanging out with her family in paradise.
As an educator, my responsibility is to provide the presence, care, opportunities, and connections for your children to experience the joys and value of being lifelong learners. My focus is on the holistic development of your child: their heart, character, minds, talents, and gifts. It is my observation that the quality of rapport and communication we as parents-children-educators practice significantly enhances the learning experience for all parties. Some of my core values for an educational experience that allows learners to thrive include but are not limited to: self-motivated/curiosity-based learning, self-awareness and mindfulness skills, cultivating emotional intelligence and the capacity for compassionate communication, and teamwork values such as personal responsibility, accountability and interpersonal cooperation.
I grew up in northwest Pennsylvania, and graduated from Juniata College, an intimate liberal arts college in central Pennsylvania. My degree is a Bachelor’s in Holistic Education. Prior to teaching 6th grade for HSN, I have been a professional caregiver since 2012 and educator Since 2013. As a caregiver, I have experience working with families in the capacity of child-caregiver & family assistant. I have held various teaching roles such as environmental educator, preschool aide/substitute, and an after school care teacher. I have been both a lead facilitator and a part of wonderful teaching teams. When not wearing the ‘Mr. Travis’ teacher hat, I spend my summers on the mainland working in the role of Artist Relations Coordinator for an events company, and as an assistant to a family of four I have been working with for a few years. This workflow also blesses me with pockets of time to reconnect with my family in Pennsylvania and elsewhere on the mainland.
Bio coming soon…
As an educator, my responsibility is to provide the presence, care, opportunities, and connections for your children to experience the joys and value of being lifelong learners. My focus is on the holistic development of your child: their heart, character, minds, talents, and gifts. It is my observation that the quality of rapport and communication we as parents-children-educators practice significantly enhances the learning experience for all parties. Some of my core values for an educational experience that allows learners to thrive include but are not limited to: self-motivated/curiosity-based learning, self-awareness and mindfulness skills, cultivating emotional intelligence and the capacity for compassionate communication, and teamwork values such as personal responsibility, accountability and interpersonal cooperation.
I grew up in northwest Pennsylvania, and graduated from Juniata College, an intimate liberal arts college in central Pennsylvania. My degree is a Bachelor’s in Holistic Education. Prior to teaching 6th grade for HSN, I have been a professional caregiver since 2012 and educator Since 2013. As a caregiver, I have experience working with families in the capacity of child-caregiver & family assistant. I have held various teaching roles such as environmental educator, preschool aide/substitute, and an after school care teacher. I have been both a lead facilitator and a part of wonderful teaching teams. When not wearing the ‘Mr. Travis’ teacher hat, I spend my summers on the mainland working in the role of Artist Relations Coordinator for an events company, and as an assistant to a family of four I have been working with for a few years. This workflow also blesses me with pockets of time to reconnect with my family in Pennsylvania and elsewhere on the mainland.
Marie Francoise was raised in San Diego deep sea fishing and freediving with her dad and surfing with her mom along the coast from Mexico to Northern California. She deeply felt the value of direct experience of nature in her and her families lives at a young age and wanted to transmit that to others. She has been working with children since she was a teen as a tutor, camp counselor, nature mentor and eventually a teacher. She has taught both day-long and overnight programs with all ages in Hawaii and California, in a variety of settings including Outdoor Education, Montessori and Waldorf. She studied Coyote Mentoring and the 8 Shields Model developed by John Young and Wilderness Awareness School. Her biggest goal is that each child walks away with a happy lifelong hunger for learning, a sense of gratitude and loving respect for the earth and each other.
Kai Fehring grew up on the island of Kauai and spent a lot of time playing outside. He was tutored by Mark Anderson in the 8 Shields Coyote Mentoring way as a youth and later attended the Regenerative Design and Nature Awareness Institute in California. There, he studied primitive/survival skills, permaculture, coyote mentoring and community building. He has been working with children for over a decade, helping to cultivate their natural curiosity about their outdoor surroundings while guiding them to ask questions and have fun in the process. He finds a lot of joy in teaching primitive skills and watching the growth of confidence and connection to nature. Kai uses a style of “Invisible Schooling” where students engage with the natural world through the child’s passions. He believes when emotions are stimulated directly through interactive experiences, children can experience a culture beyond books and the mind. Instead, they can connect directly with their hearts, creating a deep excitement for learning.
