Crystal Javier – Page 2 – IDEA Homeschool

Ep 21: How Does Galena Interior Learning Academy Foster Career And Tech Education In Rural Alaska?

Posted on May 3, 2024May 3, 2024 by Crystal Javier

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:45 — 17.7MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Ep 20: How Can You Get The Most Out Of Your Experience At Alaska’s Biggest And Best Homeschool Fair—Both Virtually And In-Person?

Posted on April 2, 2024April 2, 2024 by Crystal Javier

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:02 — 22.2MB)

Subscribe: RSS

Ep 19: How Is IDEA’s Academic Decathlon Team Encouraging Tomorrow’s Leaders?

Posted on March 21, 2024March 21, 2024 by Crystal Javier

Guests:

Scott Gingrich
Lori Zulliger
Jen Schutte
Mandy 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.