We are a small team of talented professionals with a wide range of skills and experience and we are all livescanned. We love what we do, and we do it with kindness, care, and passion. We believe in individualized alternative education and we look forward to working with you.
Elmarie Hyman
Founder, Executive Director, and Math, Economics & Entrepreneurship instructor
Elmarie is the founder of Learn Beyond The Book and has more than 25 years experience as an educator. She has taught her own 4 adult children, as well as group classes for homeschoolers and after school enrichment classes for public school students. She also has experience tutoring and has been a speaker at various homeschool seminars and conventions. She has been the coordinator of various homeschool co-ops and support groups, organizing numerous fieldtrips and other homeschool events as well.
Before she fell in love with education, she obtained a degree in Accounting and worked as an accountant and auditor for years. Later she earned her Master’s degree from Antioch University specializing in Transformative Learning Communities.
She has a passion for student-centered and relationship-based education and strives to accomplish that goal through means that go way beyond the textbook. She loves using projects, games, and hands-on learning while teaching, which is evident in the classes that she offers and the staff she works with at Learn Beyond The Book. She also founded EdSolutions4You.org, a non-profit organization serving homeschoolers and educational entrepreneurs with podcasts, coaching, and curriculum, such as her financial literacy curriculum Where’s the Money? for teaching Economics, Finance, and Entrepreneurship.
Email her at learnbeyondthebook@gmail.com
Susan Beaty
Piano Lessons
Susan grew up in Southern California and has been playing piano since the age of 6. She received her education from UCLA, earning a degree in Music Education. Starting small while raising her 4 daughters, she now maintains a private studio and has for over 30 years, averaging 35-40 students.
She is an active member of the Music Teachers’ Association of California (MTAC) and offers her students the Certificate of Merit® testing program. She also holds a position on the CM Council and helps to run the program throughout the state. Susan is also a member of the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) which allows her to offer her students even more testing and performing opportunities. One of the things Susan enjoys most about teaching piano is that each student is different, with unique capabilities and challenges. Her goal is to instill a lifelong love for listening and making music in all of her students.
Ruth Blanding
Cultures & Creativity Unit study, Pre-K Circle Time, Sewing, and more
Ruth Anne Blanding is the mother of 6 wonderful children; ages ranging from 26 to 7 years old. She has homeschooled her children for 15 years across multiple learning styles, abilities, and learning desires. As a homeschool professional, Ruth is well versed in the many various styles and functions of homeschooling as well as available resources online and in person. She runs local community classes for multiple ages and learning levels. Ruth moderates several social media homeschool groups where families can seek community connection and ask questions of each other.
Sarah Bonham
Science & History
Sarah is a homeschool mom to two girls with an enthusiastic eye for Science. In her former life (before kids) she was a collegiate rower with a scholarship that helped her obtain her B.S.in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Fitness, Health and Nutrition. She spent a year on a Study Abroad program in both Scotland and Australia, which had her fall in love with history as well. She cannot wait to share her love of science and this history of the world with your children!
Meredith Boyle
English & STEAM for all ages
Teacher and mother of four. I love learning and teaching and want to help others around me experience the joys of discovery through learning. l starting my teaching career in the homeschooling community teaching English, cross curricular STEAM, preschool, and Science classes in both co-ops and here at Learn Beyond the Book. My love of teaching English led me to purse and obtain a credential in English and English language development. I spent the past several years teaching High School English and English Language Devlopment at Kennedy High School. I am pleased to now be able to offer classes to those beginning their educational journey and provide support to any who may be interested in more advanced studies.
Charlotte Cass
Clay Art courses
My name is Charlotte, I’m 21 years old and I’ve been sculpting since I was 11. I sculpt miniature foods, figurines, cake toppers, earrings, and keepsakes for fun on my own and now I’ve been teaching kiddos the same things for about three years! I recently got married and I’m very excited to be teaching again.
Suzy Cooper
Phonics & Reading Comprehension, Handwriting & Early Math Concepts
Suzy Cooper has always loved working with kids and knew from a young age that she was meant to teach. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Oregon studying International Studies with a focus on Culture and Art. She then earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and Master’s in Education from Pepperdine University. She taught Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade for 12 years in the public school setting and she also has experience teaching in the Montessori school setting. Her speciality is to teach children how to read and write with ease. Suzy has a 2nd grade girl, a 5th grade boy and two dogs named Thor and Loki. She would love to meet everyone and invites you to say hi and introduce yourself if you see her on Learn Beyond The Book campus.
Lisa Creahan
Music & Singing & Northridge Site Manager
Born in Alaska and raised in Taiwan, the Philippines and Florida, Lisa grew up singing in choirs, bands and musicals. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Roosevelt University in Chicago, where she was fortunate to perform with some great theaters. She put professional performance on the back burner to raise her two beautiful children. After moving to Los Angeles, she returned to music with acoustic sets and vocal recordings, many of which have been featured on TV. Bring it on Home to Me was featured on 90210 with Keaton Simons and Nothing Can Change this Love was featured on TV’s Arrow. She is thrilled to be working in music again. To see more about Lisa’s singing career, feel free to check out her website: lisacreahan.com
Also, check out this short video of Lisa’s homeschooling experience.
Rachel Dang
Real-life Math, Pre-algebra, High School Algebra & Geometry
Rachel has a decade of intermittent teaching experience, complemented by a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and a Master of Arts in Film Studies. Her career journey has included roles at a film studio and a television station, but her passion for teaching mathematics has been reignited, especially through engaging with her 13-year-old child in their educational pursuits. Her approach is student-centered, focusing on enhancing their academic performance and self-assurance. She employs a dynamic and encouraging teaching style, utilizing visual aids to meet the diverse needs of students. She is a staunch advocate for making learning both enlightening and enjoyable. Her classroom is a place of frequent celebratory “High Fives” as she believes in nurturing students’ confidence and motivation, which she considers fundamental for creating the optimal learning atmosphere.
Alicia Danielle
Nutrition and Cooking Workshops & From Ten to Zen Yoga & Meditation
Alicia is a holistic nutritionist who loves to work with kids and adults and teach them how to cook healthy meals. Here is her website: http://www.nourishedbyalicia.com
Kaeley Duarte
Art classes & Site Manager – Northridge
Kaeley loves art and science and has been making her own art for years. She has been working as a site manager & teacher at Learn Beyond The Book and is excited to share her love of art and science with the students now as well.
Erika F.
Santa Clarita and Northridge Site Manager
Erika has ten years of personalized experience in education with homeschooling and is continuing her support of alternative learning through her unique classes at Learn Beyond the Book. She completed a Writing Certificate Program through UCLA Extension and shared her love for writing as she mentored children in Los Angeles schools through the Young Storytellers Foundation. Erika demonstrates her passion for children and learning by developing a safe space in her classes for kids to open up their imaginations and CREATE, while also working to steadily build personal and academic confidence in their work.
Angela Goree
Site Manager – Newhall, Cheerleading, Let’s Build a Theme Park, Team Building, Playing through the Arts, and more
Angela is an experienced teacher and homeschool parent who believes that children learn best through the arts, hands-on experiences and play. A child’s social/emotional development is
the focus of her teaching style.
She graduated from UC Irvine with her B.A. in Drama with Honors and continued her education at Full Circle Academy. She has taught from a young age and has experience working with in-person and online students in the public and private education worlds. She is excited to join our team to share her gifts.
Jennifer Gunther
Critical Thinking, Public Speaking, Early Reading, Early Math
Born and raised in Richmond, Virginia Jennifer Gunther holds a B.A. in Rhetoric and Communication Studies from the University of Richmond. Jennifer also earned a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. She has been a speech consultant, teacher, and hospital chaplain. Jennifer has previously served a congregation as an ordained minister. She brings public speaking, writing, communication and leadership experience to Learn Beyond the Book. Jennifer is mom to two boys and homeschooled both of them for part of their educational journey. She loves spending time with her husband and sons and explores the world near and far at any chance.
Lynn Hayes
Shakespeare for Kids, Acting & Literary Analysis
Before becoming a mom, Lynn Hayes was a professional theatre director in Chicago and Los Angeles, and also directed youth at both the elementary grade and college level. Lynn started two play-school groups for when her son was younger and currently leads two nature clubs for her kids who are now 5 and 9. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Pittsburgh and in the process of obtainer her masters in Drama. Lynn uses her theatrical background to teach kids to learn with fun, hands-on, playful activities!
Victoria Hinkley
Photography, Rollerskating, & Woodland Hills site manager
Vicky is born and bred SFV, she embraced homeschooling since the age of 12, continuing the journey with her two kids for over a decade. Equipped with a Cal State Northridge degree in liberal studies and education, she steers the homeschool ship with humor and flair, turning the occasional chaos into teachable moments. Beyond the books, she’s a photography enthusiast, a retired roller derby girl, a road trip warrior and an avid lover of hiking and camping – because sometimes the classroom is best in nature. Navigating two decades of marriage, over a decade of homeschooling with a side of gardening and a strong cup of coffee because life’s an adventure! She’s is committed to leading the charge with laughter, self expression and her love of learning as her compass.
Nozomi Hirota
Japanese & Japanese Art & Architecture
Nozomi was born and raised in Fukuoka, Japan and is a native Japanese speaker. She currently teaches Japanese language and culture at the San Fernando Valley Japanese Language Institute in Pacoima. After graduating from the Kyushu Institute of Design, B.A. Environmental Design, she worked in the architectural and fashion trend forecasting fields in Los Angeles and Hong Kong. She has spent the past 25 years living in Los Angeles, Tokyo, Hong Kong and most recently Shanghai. This global travelling influenced the raising of her 3 children (currently 17, 15 and 12). Now she’d like to share her experiences to help her students think both creatively and with a broadened outlook on the world.
Noriko Hiruma
Japanese
Noriko was born in Tokyo and is a native Japanese speaker. She completed a 420-hour Japanese language teacher training course and passed the Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test. She has had various work experiences in Japan, including hotel business and trading and worked as head teacher at a Japanese language school in the USA for 9 years adding to her other teaching experience, totaling 15 years. She is also a JLPT Teaching Specialist N5-N1 level and enjoys tailoring her teaching skills for all students based on her extensive experience and training.
Jean Hong
Tutoring
Jean is a native Angeleno and worked for 30 years on and off as a math & vocabulary tutor and SAT test prep teacher in the La Cañada-Flintridge area. She worked as head camp counselor for her church for several years. She is also homeschooling her 3 children for 15 years and counting. She is a big believer in unschooling principles and project-based learning through field trips, experiences, and ongoing discussions with her children. “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” ~ William Butler Yeats
Shari Kenehan
Forensic Science, Finance (incl.crypto), Critical Thinking, and more
With a degree in psychology, over 10 years of private school teaching, and two decades of hands-on homeschool experience, Shari brings both professional expertise and a deep personal love for learning into every classroom she leads. She’s the kind of teacher who doesn’t just cover material—she makes it come alive.
Known for her fun, quirky style and contagious enthusiasm, Shari has a gift for connecting with kids of all personalities and learning styles. Whether she’s guiding deep discussions, leading interactive projects, or slipping in a little humor to keep things engaging, her classes are where curiosity is encouraged, critical thinking is sharpened, and kids genuinely enjoy learning.
Most recently, she worked as a community manager in the fast-paced world of crypto and Web3, combining her skills in communication, innovation, and leadership. At her core, Shari is passionate about two things: education and building meaningful communities—both in and out of the classroom
Laura Lanoil
Reader’s Theater, Public Speaking, and Acting Coaching
Laura Lanoil has worked in Film, TV and Commercials as well as Voice-overs and live theater. She worked with Robert Altman, Anthony Newley Jane Curtain, Jon Cryer, Tyne Daly, Annette Funicello, and Frankie Avalon to name a few. She has taught at the Canyon Theatre Guild for eight years. She has performed at the local theaters in the Santa Clarita Valley. Teaching kids and giving them tools for self-esteem is a great passion and she feels blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of SCV Theater Community.
Josh Mann
Writing tutoring & Screenwriting
Josh has extensive experience tutoring and teaching at many private schools in the Los Angeles area for the past six years, including, Campbell Hall, Windward, New Roads, New Community Jewish High School (de Toledo), Bridges Academy, Urban Homeschoolers and Westmark. He has also tutored students who attended Pierce College, CSUN, Harvard Westlake, Brentwood, and Crespi. He has taught literature, creative writing, life skills, drama, film, and Shakespeare classes to students of all ages. He specializes in helping students who have learning disabilities and behavior challenges, such as Dyslexia, Autism, ADD, and Aspergers syndrome. Josh also incorporates life coaching skills into his process of working with students, in order to assist with organization, scheduling, executive functioning, time management, social skill improvement, and motivation. He also has experience teaching young children how to read and improving the reading skills of all students. Additionally, he works with students on college essay writing and SAT Preparation. He has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College in writing and also studied at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and at Oxford University.
Michael Marchesan
Engineering, DIY Projects, Accelerated Math&Engineering, Cooking, Photography, Video Production & Math
Michael began tutoring math while studying Civil Engineering at Cal State Northridge. Upon graduating with his B.S. in the Fall of 2014, he founded Alyria Tutoring to further pursue his passion for teaching. His engineering coursework provided him with a strong background in critical-thinking & problem solving strategy with the math, physics and engineering classes he took. This gave him a practical perspective to effectively explain problems to his students in unique way. His experience as a martial arts instructor from 2008-2014 showed him the value of discipline & repetition when it comes to polishing one’s skills, and is vital to his teaching methods. Also an avid photographer, cinematographer, musician & cook, Michael’s passion in the arts as well as the sciences allows him to connect with almost any student.
Jennifer McEllis
Event Planning for Kids
As a mother, Jennifer loves working with children. She believes it is critical that we actively participate in our children’s personal, social and educational development. This type of parental support leads to well-socialized, confident, inquisitive and life-long learners. Educators play a crucial role as the first teachers, guiding children through the process of understanding and appreciating learning. She enjoys sparking curiosity in children and introducing them to the world of knowledge and learning.
She realized at an early age that she enjoyed arts and crafts and social activities at school. These types of activities require creativity, thought, careful planning and execution. Working with children to develop these skills has become her passion in life. For the past 7 years, she has been an active participant in her daughter’s education. She has worked with children as a classroom assistant and playground supervisor. During this time, she has also been actively involved with planning school events, class parties, and dances. This led her to develop a curriculum for children that focuses on planning social activities, arts and crafts and cooking. Her goal is to teach these skills while making it fun and exciting.
Jared Meeker
Ukulele, Guitar, Digital Music Recording, Songwriting, Music Theory, Jazz Improvisation, Basics of Drumming, Math & Music
Los Angeles-based guitarist, composer, producer, educator, and author Jared Meeker has performed throughout the world, playing blues, rock, Latin, reggae, metal, R&B, funk, hip- hop, and soul. Jared graduated from California Institute of the Arts and has taught workshops at USC, UCLA, Seattle Pacific University, SUNY, Los Angeles Music Academy, Crown of the Continent, and the National Guitar Workshop. The diverse roster of artists Jared has worked with include Nate Dogg, Snoop Dogg, Myka 9, N.A.S.A. / Squeak E. Clean, Karen O, Salvador Santana (son of Carlos Santana), and Hollie Cook (daughter of Paul Cook from the Sex Pistols). Jared has released several instrumental albums of original music, and his compositions were featured in the Sundance award-winning Fuel and in Sunken City, which won best music at the Dubuque International Film Festival. He has also composed original scores for films including Take Me To Tarzana, directed by Maceo Greenburg, and Interreflections, directed by Peter Joseph. His music can also be heard on the hit television shows Dexter and Smash, as well as on various programming on MTV, Showtime, NBC, VH1, CBS, and TNT. Jared has appeared in music production video courses for Producertech and appeared in dozens of guitar, bass, and mandolin videos for Alfred Music. Jared also worked as a sound designer with Loopmasters UK to create a few award-winning sound sample libraries as well as releasing his own plugin called DejaVu by Meeker FX. He has been featured in Guitar Player and Guitar World, has written columns for Premier Guitar, and authored several books on guitar styles for Alfred Music. Read more about Jared on his website.
Kevin Michael Jr.
Skateboarding & Plumbing Basics
Kevin Michael Jr. is a local Valley native who is a homeschool father to three kids, one of which attends Learn Beyond the Book. Kevin has been passionately skateboarding for over 20 years competitively and loves to teach his sons how to skate as well. Being a father to two young boys, he has learned about the importance of being patient and giving students space when needed. Every child is unique and learns differently, some may have apprehension from falling and getting hurt. With that said, pads and helmets are crucial tools in helping a child feel safe enough to attempt maneuvers that may intimidate them. This safety measure also ensures the confidence of parents. Kevin hopes to bring fun and curiosity to this skate class and inspire kids to continue pushing themselves to skate more.
Daniel Nah
Tae Kwon Do, Pokemon Academy, & Harry Potter Academy
Daniel is a passionate educator with a unique blend of academic and practical experience. Holding a Master’s degree in Tae Kwon Do, he brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in martial arts and physical fitness to his teaching. With a background in healthcare administration and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, he has honed his skills in creating engaging and supportive learning environments.
Daniel believes that “the first step you take is the best step you make.” He encourages his students to embrace challenges, step outside of their comfort zones, and pursue their passions. Whether it’s exploring the magical world of Harry Potter, the exciting realm of Pokémon, the disciplined world of Tae Kwon Do, or the rhythmic beats of hip-hop dance, Daniel is dedicated to fostering a love of learning and personal growth in his students.
Beyond the classroom, Daniel is an avid anime fan and enjoys immersing himself in the worlds of One Piece, Pokémon, and Naruto. He also spends his free time practicing Tae Kwon Do, exploring the outdoors, and dancing hip-hop. His diverse interests and experiences allow him to connect with students on a personal level and create a dynamic and enriching learning experience.
Rob Remedi
Outdoor & Survival Skills courses
Robert Remedi is a naturalist, outdoor guide, and facilitator with over 34 years’ experience in the “outdoor education” field, serving both children and adults.
For the past 25 years, Rob has been guiding mainly homeschoolers (a favorite!!), filling the homeschooling need for nature time and outdoor education via field outings. He has also enjoyed the opportunity to provide his services for numerous public and private schools, as well as for the National Parks Service, California State Parks, Earth Skills, Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority, Wilderness Outdoor Leadership Foundation, The Wilderness Institute, The Sierra Club, plus many other schools, scouts, camps, and private organizations.
Rob has received training and experience from renowned outdoor companies such as The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, CyberTracker International, Earth Skills, Outward Bound, Project Adventure, National Outdoor Leadership School, The School of Lost Borders, Wilderness Institute, Tom Brown Tracking School, Wilderness Awareness School, Project WILD, and Project Learning Tree, among others. He continues to upgrade his knowledge and skills through workshops and classes that focus on nature connection, ecology and naturalist studies, outdoor education, and wilderness skills.
“My favorite courses involve teaching nature connection, wilderness skills, and leadership. I believe it is vital to the health and well-being of children (as well as adults) to experience, understand, and feel kinship to nature directly and deeply. I sincerely enjoy guiding and inspiring others in this.”
Hosanna Rodriguez
Literature & Art
Hosanna majored in film production in college because of her love for engaging stories. After she began the journey of homeschooling her four children, she discovered the magic of engaging stories found in the children’s books she savored with her kids and shifted focus to the wonderful world of literature. She has since published seven children’s books and curriculum sold internationally, directed children’s educational programs, and coordinated educational events in her community. Hosanna currently leads regular book clubs, co-op classes, and online courses in literature, language arts, and painting, blending creativity with learning. She and her husband have now graduated their two eldest, who are high-achieving students with purpose and passion in spite of their drastically differing career pursuits (one double-majoring in physics and applied mathematics and the other in business management and film production). What has stayed consistent for these two is their love for literature, nurtured in their early days, nearly two decades ago. Hosanna’s mission is to continue inviting children into the exhilarating world of engaging stories and art.
Noel Rodriguez
Edifying Journeys, Social Studies, Latin American Literature, Art & Spanish Conversations & Guitar
One size doesn’t fit everybody. Why should learning be any different? This is the philosophy that Noel brings to education. When you learn with Noel, you end up engaging a subject you are struggling with differently. That’s because you will have an educator with over 5 years of experience providing you a personalized approach to learning. He holds two bachelor’s degrees, one in Spanish from the University of Houston and the other in Philosophy from the University of St. Thomas.
Angie Sanders
Growth Mindset-Tools to build confidence through emotional intelligence & self-regulation
Angie is a certified Parent Educator in Peaceful Parenting, specializing in emotional intelligence and peaceful parenting. She’s the founder of Evolving Parents, a community that offers support to parents. She is also co-founder of the Evolve On Community which hosts workshops for people seeking a more balanced life in mind, body and spirit. She co-leads monthly worldwide Zoom Connection Circles for members of We Are Brave Together, a group for moms with children of unique and special needs. She founded and ran the Adoptive Families Support group for over 10 years, the largest parent-led group of its kind in Los Angeles with over 350 members. She’s been a speaker at the Mixed Remix Festival in Los Angeles, various adoption agencies, at KPCC’s Crawford Family Forum, a guest on the radio show The Brood with Alex Cohen, and the podcasts AdoptTalk, Atomic Moms, and Not Your Average Lives. Before becoming a parent herself, Angie was an acting coach for children at Young Actors Space, ran her own acting studio for all ages, and worked as a casting director in film and TV. She’s a homeschooling mom to her spirited, awesome teenage son.
Mayra Santos
Spanish & American Sign Language (ASL)
Mayra received her formal American Sign Language Interpreter training at Pierce College. Her prior experience includes 16 years working at Los Angeles Unified School District as a Sign Language Interpreter for the “Deaf and Hard of Hearing” students who were mainstreamed into K – 6th grade classrooms. In her role, she provided academic support for students, and facilitated communication between students, parents and staff. Mayra also taught American Sign Language to hearing students and provided interpretation for teachers, campus staff and at school events. Mayra received the “Exceptional Children’s Certificate” which focused on “Early Childhood & Exceptional Children Development” from Los Angeles Mission College. In 2018 Mayra started her own business “Luvz2Sign” offering both in-person and on-line American Sign Language Instruction and Interpretation services. Mayra is very passionate and enjoys teaching Sign Language to students and she makes learning fun, easy, and unforgettable.
Paula Schmidt
Storytime Crafts
Paula Schmidt is a visual artist, set designer, and homeschool mom who loves sparking kids’ imagination through fun, hands-on projects and sensory crafts. She has a BA in Theater Set Design and have worked extensively with video editing, film production, and fashion photography editing, with experience throughout Brazil, the USA, and Europe. As the owner of Gooey Pop, she brings playful, messy fun to children’s events and inspires young makers to explore, experiment, and create.
Cameron Scott
Chess Adventures
Cameron Scott is an enthusiastic, knowledgeable teacher passionate about economics, wellness, and games. He holds a B.A. from UCSB in Economics with extensive coursework in Exercise and Nutritional Science and Entrepreneurship. He’s taken courses at LBB himself and loves to teach high-level concepts through games and interesting discussions. Cameron also is a certified personal trainer.
Lizzie Scott
Co-founder & Teacher for High School Literature & Composition (2 levels), Well-being 101 (different age levels), Psychology courses, and English 101, 103, Public Speaking, Cinema, and Health companion college courses
Dr. Lizzie Scott is an enthusiastic and experienced teacher who has expertise in language arts, psychology, math, and academic coaching. Her classes incorporate discussions, games, and activities tailored to each student’s personality, strengths, and challenges. Lizzie is a published author who holds a PhD in Positive Psychology, an M. S. in Counseling, and a B. A. in Psychology (with a minor in English). She is also a certified coach focusing on ADHD, personal organization, and wellness. With many years of experience in both the traditional classroom and small-group settings, Lizzie connects with her students as a group and as individuals, and works to build a supportive learning environment, and takes the educational experience to a deeper level. As a member of Mensa and a game enthusiast, Lizzie has strong mathematical and logical skills as well and uses games and fun activities to help students enjoy what they are learning and to bring out creativity and connection. Lizzie creates classes that are exciting for those who already enjoy the subjects she teaches, engaging for those who tend to find the topics challenging, and fun for all. You can learn more about her at DrElizabethScott.com.
Amanda Surette
Creative Writing, Movie Appreciation & Side Shows
Amanda is very enthusiastic about teaching at Learn Beyond The Book, where she spent seven years taking a wide range of classes that provided her with a strong academic foundation and a lifelong love of learning. She went on to graduate from University of California Irvine with a degree in Film Studies and has since worked in the media industry as a Production Assistant and Production Coordinator for creative agencies. Her most recent role was as an On-Air Promotion Coordinator for the Kelly Clarkson Show.
Amanda brings both enthusiasm and a breadth of knowledge to her teaching. She has experience with fiction and nonfiction writing, film, and a deep familiarity with Disneyland. She is also well-versed in Sideshow history. Additionally, she has built a respectful and successful online community in New Media that celebrates the talents of historic Sideshow performers, attracting over 7,000 subscribers.
Elizabeth Seward
Waldorf-inspired Handwork, Knitting & Quilting
Elizabeth Seward, PhD (Education), has been a teacher in private and public Waldorf schools for around 40 years. She delights in teaching handwork to homeschool groups, charter school students, parents, and teachers, and in sharing the enlivening and successful Waldorf curriculum. Elizabeth has been knitting and sewing for over 60 years, is the author of Teaching Through Stories: Jane and Jeremy Learn to Knit, available at www.ElizabethSewardAuthor.com. She is Executive Director of Waldorf Handwork Educators, offering online international handwork teacher training, conferences, and skills classes. See www.WaldorfHandwork.org
Jason Sheinkopf
Technology & Programming Tutoring
Jason is a science and technology teacher with a passion for STEAM education. He enjoys combining arts and engineering through creative projects.
Terri Stair
Accredited Instructor for the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW)
IEW Writing Classes, Grammar Classes, Food Science Classes, Etiquette Classes, and Tutoring
After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from California State University, Northridge and graduating with high honors from the UCLA Paralegal Program, Terri enjoyed a decade in the world of litigation. However, her desire to preserve her children’s love of learning lured her into an unexpected adventure, home schooling. While teaching a home school group class, she was surprised to discover it was a blast! As author and illustrator of “The STAIR WAY to My Secret Recipes for Making Grammar Fun and Easy,” Terri is reaching beyond the classroom to encourage parents, teachers, and students with the clever and whimsical posters and props she created to transform grammar from boring and bewildering to amusing and understandable! Visit www.thestairwaytogrammar.com to learn more. Terri is an Accredited Instructor for the Institute for Excellence in Writing (IEW), and she delights in equipping students to listen, speak, read, write, and think the IEW way. After a three day IEW summer camp, a shy student’s note exclaimed, “I am so glad I took this class…it made writing a lot more fun and ENJOYABLE! This class was EPIC!” (Emphasis added by student.) A busy mom wrote, “She (her daughter) has really come to love writing in just these three days. I am so thankful…!” Terri’s enthusiasm for teaching grows every time her students overcome their apprehensions about writing and become confident communicators.
Erin Sullivan
Math & Phonics
Erin is a homeschooling mom who has worked in education for 15 years. She has an associates degree in education and a love for teaching. Sharing her love of learning with children, so that learning is fun and we create lifelong learners together is her aim!
Kim Turney-Schmidt
Lego Robotics, Video Game Design, Minecraft Mods Programming & Social Studies through Minecraft
Kim received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Theater and Acting from Ohio State University. She has tons of teaching, theater, and acting experience. In recent years, she has enjoyed working with children learning computer programming and Lego Robotics. Minecraft is a personal favorite. Kim knows how to connect with students and bring out the best in them!
Gabriela Viramontes
Play-based Spanish, Social Studies, Literature, Wild Gardens & Art, Yarnwork & Mindful Mending, Sensory Play & Site Manager – Santa Clarita
Gabriela is a yoga teacher, early childhood educator, and a life-long student to the world that surrounds her. As a teacher who works with young children, she aims to provide her students with opportunities to learn and develop their own path of individualized growth. She does this by providing children with support, hands-on experiences, and allowing them to choose the courses of action they take through discovery-based education. She began studying Early Childhood Education in 2012 at Antelope Valley College and began her Yoga journey in 2013.
Suzanne Von Schaack
Modelling and Etiquette
Suzanne Von Schaack has worn many different hats within the fashion industry. She has graced the pages of Vogue, Bazaar, L’Official, and Cosmopolitan. After meeting Hubert Givenchy at a casting in New York her life changed. Much of her time after that was spent in Paris walking the runway for the Couture Collections in Paris and Milan as well as being photographed for the many publications in Paris.
Continuing on a path in the arts, Suzanne studied acting in NYC. Her first movie was “Tootsie.” She then moved to Los Angeles where she continued to work in both the Entertainment and Modeling Business. She has appeared in television series classics such as Dallas, Dynasty, Aley McBeal, The Young and the Restless, and cast in skits for the Jay Leno show. Working in acting roles with Dustin Hoffman, Woody Allen, Fred Williamson, Peter Marshal, Stacy Keach, Gary Busey, Don Wilson, and James Franco.
After all of this, Suzanne fell into the behind-the-scenes part of the business to wear the hat of producer –producing High End Fashion Shows for various Charity Foundations as well as fashion shows for several High School Fundraisers. She also produces a show twice a year for IPOP (International Presentation of Performers).
During the pandemic, she wrote a book on the modeling business titled Model Success.
Website: http://www.suzannevonschaack.com
Calliope Weisman
Theater & Shakespeare
Calliope Weisman is a theatre director, producer, and teaching artist in Los Angeles. She earned a BA in Theatre from SDSU with an emphasis in youth theatre and stage management. Currently, she works with the Santa Clarita Shakespeare Festival and Fountain Voices and previously taught at Will Geer’s Theatricum Botanicum. Most recently, she directed an award-winning solo show that toured the west coast and Edinburgh, and will tour New Zealand in 2025. Calliope is proud to have grown up in the community theaters of Santa Clarita, having worked on numerous productions at The MAIN Theater in Newhall and is one of the founders of the Santa Clarita Independent Theatre Alliance.
Manik Yervandyan
American Sign Language & Deaf Culture
Manik was born in Yerevan, Armenia and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She is a homeschool mom of two CODA (Child/ren of Deaf Adult/s). Her native language is American Sign Language and she speaks two other languages (Armenian and Armenian Sign Language). She received a Bachelor’s in Deaf Studies at California State University, Northridge. Her prior experience includes tutoring American Sign Language at Pierce College for five years, three years private ASL lessons working with families of Deaf/ HOH children, and two years of teaching American Sign Language 1 and 2 at Berlitz, Inc. Manik is very passionate about teaching Deaf Culture and American Sign Language to students and families.
Asia Zanders
Social Studies Tutoring
Asia Zanders is a wife and mother of three children, ages 10, 7, and 5. She has been homeschooling her oldest child, who is both gifted and has ADHD, on and off for over three years and began teaching her younger two towards the end of 2019. She holds Bachelor’s degrees in both Political Science and Philosophy from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs and is currently working on her Master’s degree in Transformative Learning Communities at Antioch University. Her interests surround Philosophy, US Politics and Government, American History, Economics and many topics surrounding human interaction.
