Our Instructors
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge."
-Albert Einstein
Amanda Ngo
Pastry Chef
With over a decade of experience crafting stunning wedding cakes, Amanda Ngo is a seasoned pastry pro. But don't let her formal training and expertise fool you—she's also a homeschool mom with a knack for making baking classes fun and engaging. As a former teacher holding a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, Amanda knows how to strike the perfect balance between education and enjoyment. Her classes are informative yet relaxed, ensuring that every young baker leaves with new skills and a smile on their face. Join Amanda for an unforgettable baking experience where families bond over buttercream and laughter fills the air. Let's create something sweet together!
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://paperheartpatisserie.com/instruction/
Vendor for: Cottonwood, Feather River, Clarksville
If you are with a different charter, please email instructor to inquire about adding your charter school as an option.
Classes:
Fun with Layered Cakes: Basics for Kids ($120 + $30 supply fee)
Jessica Ostrander
Physical Theatre & Art
Jessica Ostrander is passionate about entertaining, educating, and inspiring young minds and hearts. She is a performer, artist, and content creator who has worked in the film and TV industry both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. Notable clients have included Disney, Paramount, Universal, Touchstone Pictures, Bash Entertainment, and Emmys. Her specialties include physical theatre performance, illustration, and storytelling. She currently resides in Sacramento, CA living a quiet life as a homeschool mom of 4 girls. She loves empowering others to find their creative voice through the visual and performing arts.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.createcircle.com
Vendor for: Cottonwood, Clarksville, Feather River, Lake View, South Sutter
Classes:
Cartoon Character Design: ($120 + $30 supply fee)
Physical Theatre: Mime Magic (($120)
Danielle Naler
Poetry & Piano
Danielle embarked on her musical journey at the tender age of 4 in her coastal hometown of Santa Barbara, California. This early immersion ignited a lifelong passion for music. During her formative years, Danielle thrived at the Santa Barbara Music and Arts Conservatory, a Saturday arts program that nurtured her love of both music and poetry. In high school, she traveled to European jazz festivals, performing with the Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir, sparking more inspiration and an enduring love for travel!
At UCSB, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Studies with a specialization in Creative Writing from UCSB while working for the Music Department as a collaborative pianist for instrumentalists and opera singers. She ventured to Rome, Italy, in the Study Abroad Program, where she immersed herself in the rich tapestry of art, culture, and architecture, fostering a profound appreciation.
Continuing her musical journey, Danielle pursued her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University in Bloomington under the mentorship of Israeli pianist Yael Weiss. She worked as a pianist in the Opera Program as a graduate student. As a performer, Danielle blossomed under the guidance of notable conductors and musicians. She graced prestigious stages, including a solo debut with the Santa Barbara Symphony at the age of 15.
Currently, Danielle can be heard in concert throughout the Sacramento Region and the greater Bay Area with Bella Sorella, Pleasanton Chamber Players, Livermore Valley Opera, Festival Opera, and Chorus Eclectic, as well as in performance with various freelance singers and instrumentalists. Danielle lives in El Dorado Hills, CA, with her husband and their four children.
Phone: (805) 895-4307
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.commasfbay.com
Vendor for: Clarksville, South Sutter, Feather River, Cottonwood, Lakeview
Classes:
Young Poets Unite! ($120)
Music, Rhythm, and Dance - Oh My! ($120)
Joanne Sy
Composer, Ukulele, Web Development, Chinese, Piano
Since 2012, Joanne has collaborated as composer, orchestrator and arranger with dozens of critically acclaimed recording artists - most notably Grammy award winner Bobby McFerrin, Mercury Prize winner Michael Kiwanuka, Emeli Sandé, JVKE (golden hour), BAFTA and Academy Award winner Tim Yip (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), and Grammy and Emmy award nominee Robert Logan on her upcoming instrumental album - FIRST STEPS.
She's worked as a creative director, composer, producer to performer for global brands such as Burberry, Mont Blanc and Microsoft, as well as creating custom scores and arrangements for film and documentaries like 'The Me You Can't See' co-produced by Oprah Winfrey and Prince Harry on Apple TV.
Her multi-disciplinary work with the likes of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and Lawrence Olivier award winner Akram Khan Dance Company has been performed, recorded and broadcasted everywhere from BBC Radios, The National Gallery, Royal Academy of Arts, Sadlers Wells, Air Studios to Royal Albert Hall.
Performances include cities such as Amsterdam, Prague, Zurich, Vienna, Berlin, Cannes, Seoul, Busan, Hong Kong, New York, Los Angeles, Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi, from solo shows, tours, national art & music festivals, TV to radio appearances.
After living in London for most her life, Joanne is now based in California to work more closely with artists and studios in Los Angeles, where she continues to produce and record cinematic string and orchestral arrangements for film, TV, songs and dance.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (916) 699-5615
Vendor for: coming soon...
Classes:
Strumming Stars: Ukulele ($120 + bring your own ukulele)
Portfolio Pioneers: Website Building for Young Creatives ($120+ laptop, digital camera or iphone)
Brandy Beda
Jiu Jitsu & Functional Training
Brandy Beda, a dedicated Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner for over 12 years, proudly earned her Black Belt in 2022. She is the co-owner and operator of Beda Brazilian Academy with her husband Eli, which has been a cornerstone of the Folsom community since its opening on November 11th, 2011. Brandy is known for her warm, approachable personality, supportive and nurturing spirit, and ability to coach a variety of skill levels simultaneously, making sure everyone is challenged appropriately.
With a rich background as a collegiate student-athlete and a coach at a Division 1 high school from the age of 24, Brandy brings a wealth of experience and passion to her teaching. She has competed at the highest levels but now dedicates her energy to nurturing new talent through women's only classes, functional training, and kids' Brazilian Jiu Jitsu programs. Her lifelong commitment to athletics underscores her solid understanding of the form, function, and discipline essential to excelling in sports.
With an emphasis on core strength, balance, agility, and power, Brandy's challenging functional fitness training is excellent for overall health, and will also help strengthen students for a wide range of sports.
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://bedabjj.com/
Phone:916-985-2332
Vendor for: all charter schools: South Sutter, Visions, Horizons, Cottonwood, San Juan Unified School District, American River Charter School, Sequoia Grove affiliates: Clarksville, Feather River, Lakeview and others
*We will apply to any of the homeschools not listed above
Classes:
Beda Brazilian Jiu Jitsu's Functional Training ($120)
Vanessa Martucci
Music & Vocals
Vanessa Martucci is an Italian American music teacher and vocal performer. She grew up in the Sacramento area and graduated from Sacramento State with a Bachelor’s of Music in Vocal Performance and from UCLA with a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance. She specializes in teaching children and is respected for her ability to teach material in an adaptive way to students of all ages. After graduating in 2018, Vanessa has taught extensively in Sacramento and Los Angeles and has studied abroad in Italy and Austria where she received lessons and coaching from respected teachers, singers, and coaches. She currently teaches group and private voice and piano classes, and collaborates with local musicians on music projects and programs.
Email: [email protected]
Vendor for: New Hope Charter School
If you are with a different charter, please email instructor to inquire about adding your charter school as an option.
Classes:
Feel the Music! ($120)
Beginning Piano Keyboard ($120)
Wendolyn Rose
Music Tutor & Founder of Lion's Roar
Wendolyn first encountered Jesus face to face, under a piano bench when she was 5 years old while going through one of the most painful and confusing times in her life. Although she gave her heart to Christ and was marked for music at that time, It was a long and sometimes very dark journey before she became truly born again, delivered and filled with the Holy Spirit. It was at that time, the Lord planted the seed of LIONS ROAR, a worship arts group that would help to cultivate young worshippers to truly know God, His Presence, and the power of ministering to Him and others through the creative worship arts.
After years of pursuing a secular music career, which left her empty and unfulfilled, Wendolyn now has a passion to cultivate a space for the next generation to pursue excellence in creative worship unto the Glory of God wherever that may take them, whether in the church or going into the secular industry to shine God's light. Over the last 10 years, Wendolyn has been overjoyed to not only be able to take Lions Roar into schools and communities for over but also the nations of Romania and India! Wendolyn has big plans for a YouTube channel, Live Concert outreaches. as well as Lions Roar Worship albums featuring our next generation!
You can listen to some of Wendolyn's latest worship music on any streaming platform by searching "WROSE WORSHIP"
Wendolyn is a devoted wife and mom to 3 children and lives in Rocklin Ca. She and her husband co run their non profit "Kingdom Conduit" , and enjoy spending time together working their family co op garden and sailing on their sailboat.
Email: [email protected]
Phone/text: (530) 301-2634
Website: coming soon
Private vendor: You will pay Wendy directly since these courses are faith-based and do not qualify for charter school funds.
Classes:
Lion's ROAR worship
Alicia DeVore
Gardening & Sciences
Alicia is passionate about moving the obstacles out of the way to help families grow gardens. Having spent a few years teaching in the public school, and subsequently homeschooling her children for the past 17 years and counting, gardening became a pivotal part of her existence. The journey of learning how to cultivate her food alongside her children developed into a passion, as their family formed profound connections around the garden. Alicia's love for teaching and gardening has inspired her to empower students and families to take the initiative in growing their food. Holding a master's degree in education with a reading specialty, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her role. Moreover, Alicia is a certified Gardenary Kitchen designer and coach. She is currently pursuing her Horticultural certification through UCLA extension and has recently completed her certification as a Life Lab Garden Educator for schools and children. Alicia is particularly passionate about teaching gardening life-skills classes that bring learning to life for neurodivergent students. She firmly believes in the power of hands-on activities as an effective learning tool. Observing a garden grow and acquiring the life skills necessary to nurture that growth are invaluable experiences that will serve students throughout their lives. In Alicia's view, these are not just lessons, but lifelong skills and passions being shared for a life time.
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.createmygarden.net
Phone/text: 562-587-4563
Vendor for: All local charter schools
Classes:
Garden Explorers: Unearthing the Wonders of Nature and Science ($120 + $25 supply fee)
From Soil to ScienceGardening as a Window to Life Sciences ($120 + $25 supply fee)
Kelly Mullens
Tumbling, Cheerleading & Writing
Kelly Mullens is a dedicated wife of 21 years and a proud mother of seven children, whose ages range from 2 to 28. For the past 14 years, Kelly has passionately embraced homeschooling, creating a dynamic and enriching educational environment for her children. Her commitment to homeschooling is highlighted by her involvement with Classical Conversations, where she has both tutored classes and directed a campus, fostering a community of learners.
Kelly's journey in education has ignited a new passion for academics as she explored various alternative educational methods alongside her children. This hands-on approach has deepened her understanding and appreciation of diverse learning styles and educational philosophies.
Before dedicating herself fully to her family and homeschooling, Kelly enjoyed a successful 15-year career coaching gymnastics. Her background in athletics is extensive; she cheered throughout high school and went on to cheer professionally for two years with the Canadian Football League and the World Football League. Her expertise in gymnastics and cheerleading extends to coaching her daughter's team, where she has shared her skills and enthusiasm for the sport.
Kelly's multifaceted experiences as an educator, coach, and mother have shaped her into a well-rounded and passionate advocate for family-centered, individualized learning. Her dedication to her family's growth and development continues to inspire those around her.
Email:[email protected]
Website: coming soon
Phone/text: (916)524-1700
Vendor for: Clarksville, Cottonwood, and soon all charters
Classes:
Tumble Time: Tumbling for all Ages ($120)
Writing with Whimsy: Institute for Excellence in Writing --Ancient Civilizations. ($120)
Jessica Stoner
STEAM, Robotics & Coding
Jess Stoner has a background in youth camp leadership, planning & administration for 10 years & believes that the best learning happens when people are having fun. She started teaching as a student centered homeschool parent for the past 7 years & teaching various grades in cooperative settings with experience in: science, history, art, phonics, food science.
She has been a vendor with charter schools for the past 2 years lead teaching, co-teaching and substitute teaching for various subjects including: cooking, musical theater, STEAM, art.
Helping to facilitate growth in each individual and encourage confidence to try new things are values she holds in her teaching spaces.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (916)337-0630
Website: https://www.youthmovementgo.com/schedule-copy-1
Instagram: @jessannstoner
Vendor for: All charters (Youth Movement)
Classes:
STEAM: Towers, Bridges, and Mazes ($120)
Jadyn Ramos
Hip-Hop Dance
Jadyn Ramos is a dedicated dancer with a lifelong passion for hip hop. From an early age, Jadyn discovered a love for dance that grew over the years. Growing up in California, she honed her skills through practice and competition. However, her journey extends beyond personal achievement; Jadyn's true calling lies in sharing her enthusiasm with others, particularly children. With a natural affinity for teaching, she guides young dancers to unlock their creative potential. Her hip hop classes are not just about teaching technique; they're about fostering a supportive and uplifting environment where every child feels valued and empowered. Jadyn's vision is clear: to provide a safe and nurturing space where children can thrive, learn, and, above all, have fun exploring the world of dance..
Email: [email protected]
Phone/text: (701) 771 8362
Website: in process
Vendor for: Cottonwood, soon all charters
Classes:
Hip-Hop Dance ($120)
Heather Lu
Literacy, Literature Circles, History & Jewelry
Heather Lu is a dedicated and passionate educator with an undergraduate degree in Human Development and a Master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). Her teaching journey began internationally in China, where she developed a love for learning about other cultures and an appreciation for phonics-based instruction, reinforcing her belief that all students can learn to read when given the proper foundation. Upon returning to the United States, she taught ESL in Oregon's public schools, gaining valuable insight into Total Physical Response (TPR), a teaching method that engages all the senses to enhance learning and significantly increase retention. Over the last eight years, Heather has homeschooled and actively participated in various co-ops, incorporating unit studies based on children's interests, such as dinosaurs and fossils, California history with field trips to the La Brea Tar Pits and California missions, watercolor, poetry teatime, literature circles, leather jewelry design, and even literature-based units on world travel. During this time, Heather also tutored students in the Classical Conversations Foundations program, which imparts rich content through music, games, and movement. Ultimately, Heather is driven by watching children come alive as they discover their own passions and purpose. Her rich educational background, diverse teaching experiences, and enthusiasm for lifelong learning have fueled her desire to give all children the opportunity to connect their hands, hearts, and heads through the exploration of interests and the discovery of their passions.
Email: [email protected]
Phone/text: 503-290-4421
Website: coming soon
Vendor for: coming soon...
Classes:
Leather Design: Jewelry-Making for Young Artisans (120 + $30 supply fee), History
Phonics Funland: Let's Play with Sounds and Letters!
Literature Circles: Journey into Book Adventures
Jonathan Holowaty
Ukulele, Guitar, Piano
Jonathan Holowaty is a music teacher in the Sacramento area with years of experience teaching students as young as four years old to as old as fifty. Since 2004, he has been helping students grow in their love of making music. He currently teaches piano, guitar, ukulele, and music appreciation, offering lessons both in-person and online. He has also taught band, violin, choir, and general music in a school setting (TK through 8th grade).
Email: [email protected]
Phone/text: (650) 576-2427
Vendor for: Clarksville, Feather River, South Sutter, Cottonwood, Sutter Peak, and Horizon.
Classes:
Ukulele $120 (students must bring their own ukulele)
Francine Hardy
"Mrs. Party"
Gooey, Gummy, Sticky and Funny: Slimy Science and Jam Sessions
Francine Hardy is a passionate educator with extensive experience nurturing the whole child through character development, social-emotional skills training, and bringing joy and wonder to everyday learning. She holds a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and is pursuing a Master’s in Educational Therapy. Francine’s journey includes homeschooling her own children, founding an elementary school, and serving as a Preschool mentor and teacher trainer. She has inspired countless educators as a Coach for the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) and advocates for special needs children.
"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." – Aristotle
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