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Executive Director
Kara Kavka
Kara is a second generation homeschooler raising a family with her husband Adam in the vast countryside of Susquehanna county. Kara will be homeschooling her first son in the Fall of '22 using a combination of Charlotte Mason and classical methods. Kara believes that education is more than turning out the next generation of students simply to meet the demands of industry, but that each child is born a person with a voracious appetite for ideas and knowledge. Education at it's very core is an atmosphere, discipline and life and these tools have the ability to nurture the whole child, developing all faculties from moral to mental and physical to emotional in order to present the very best of manhood and womanhood.
Kara has served in child and youth ministries since her early teen years and currently runs the Children's Church program at her church. After graduating high school Kara lived at a missions hospital in Central America for over a year while completing her Associates in Early Childhood Education. During this time she assisted in tutoring several missionary kids and as a teacher's aide at a bilingual elementary school. Back in the states Kara continued her education by obtaining a B.S in ECE while working with a variety of age groups at an early childhood center in the Back Mountain area.
Despite over a decade in education, it wasn't until several years ago Kara was challenged with her beliefs on what education truly is. It was answering this question that led her to seriously consider her philosophy of education and ultimately led to being a founding member of Thrive Academy. Kara has served in the board of directors at Thrive Academy since it's start and currently fills the roll of executive director.
When Kara isn't working on Thrive related things you can find her (normally with a child or two in tow!) working in the garden, juggling too many projects, studying more about Charlotte Mason and classical education, biking or running country roads, crafting a quality cup of coffee or spending time together as a family. Kara loves being a part of Thrive Academy and looks forward to getting to know and serve your family!
Kara has served in child and youth ministries since her early teen years and currently runs the Children's Church program at her church. After graduating high school Kara lived at a missions hospital in Central America for over a year while completing her Associates in Early Childhood Education. During this time she assisted in tutoring several missionary kids and as a teacher's aide at a bilingual elementary school. Back in the states Kara continued her education by obtaining a B.S in ECE while working with a variety of age groups at an early childhood center in the Back Mountain area.
Despite over a decade in education, it wasn't until several years ago Kara was challenged with her beliefs on what education truly is. It was answering this question that led her to seriously consider her philosophy of education and ultimately led to being a founding member of Thrive Academy. Kara has served in the board of directors at Thrive Academy since it's start and currently fills the roll of executive director.
When Kara isn't working on Thrive related things you can find her (normally with a child or two in tow!) working in the garden, juggling too many projects, studying more about Charlotte Mason and classical education, biking or running country roads, crafting a quality cup of coffee or spending time together as a family. Kara loves being a part of Thrive Academy and looks forward to getting to know and serve your family!
Board Members
Cherith Sheridan
Cherith resides in Wyoming county, PA with her husband, Ryan, and their young daughters Claire and Willow. She has an Associates of Arts degree with a focus on Bible Studies and Administration. She also holds a Holistic Nutrition Certification. Cherith enjoys learning new things, spending time in nature through hiking, backpacking, camping, and travel. She is also passionate about playing the piano, cooking, and pursuing health through holistic ways. After discovering and learning the beauty of what education can and should be to a child, she was inspired and motivated to provide a ""feast of ideas" for not only her own children, but to help other families provide that for their children as well. She is currently homeschooling her oldest daughter and fulfills the role of Treasurer on the board of directors of Thrive Academy. Cherith feels that God has led her to being part of the startup of this hybrid school over the course of several years through His grace, His Word, and His Spirit's leading. She is grateful and humbled to have this opportunity to serve families in this capacity.
Liv Conroy
Liv and her husband, Mike, have four daughters and live in Wyoming County, PA. She has been homeschooling her children for over a decade using a combination of Classical and Charlotte Mason methods. She has an extensive home library and enjoys reading books, researching books, sharing books, collecting books, and buying books. She also enjoys travel and learning about different cultures. Understanding what true education ought to look like is a deep passion of hers. She strives to surround her own family with Truth, goodness and beauty and is excited to share this passion through her involvement with Thrive Academy.
Genevieve Boecker
Genevieve is a homeschooling mom of four girls since 2013. She loves to stay active & busy by leading a weekly hiking group with other homeschooling families and serving others in unique out-of-the-box ways. She has been married to her husband Bryan since 2006 and they live in Tunkhannock. Bryan and Genevieve love spending as much time together as possible and as a family. The Boeckers enjoy riding their golf cart around town; swimming in pools, rivers, and oceans alike; and attending concerts and other live events.
Teachers
Joni Seboe (5th-7th)
Joni is a veteran homeschooler, having homeschooled her four children for 20+ years. She considers her homeschooling years to be one of the great joys of her life and desires to see other homeschooling families find that same joy. Joni has worked in children’s ministries ever since she was a teen. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Calvary University in Kansas City, MO, and a teaching license in Iowa, where she previously lived. Joni serves in her church alongside her husband, who is a pastor. In her spare time, she enjoys her hobby of making and selling clay earrings, and visiting with family who are spread out across the US. Joni resides with her husband outside of Tunkhannock.
Helene Ross (3rd & 4th)
Helene and her husband, Frank, reside in Wyoming County. Married for thirty years, they have
been blessed with four children. She has homeschooled them from the very beginning and has graduated her three oldest. Their youngest is still being homeschooled and is going into 11th grade.
Helene has been very involved in children’s ministry over the years. She helped in the
nursery, taught Sunday School, was children’s church teacher and director for several years.
She also helped with Vacation Bible Schools.
From the beginning of her family’s homeschooling journey, Helene has been involved with the local SALT & LIGHT Homeschool Group. She has held the position of secretary, co-president, newsletter editor, treasurer and was a board member.
Now a new Grandma, Helene loves to spend time with her grandson.
As she begins to wind down her journey of educating her children, she looks forward to continuing to encourage and support other homeschooling families in their journey.
been blessed with four children. She has homeschooled them from the very beginning and has graduated her three oldest. Their youngest is still being homeschooled and is going into 11th grade.
Helene has been very involved in children’s ministry over the years. She helped in the
nursery, taught Sunday School, was children’s church teacher and director for several years.
She also helped with Vacation Bible Schools.
From the beginning of her family’s homeschooling journey, Helene has been involved with the local SALT & LIGHT Homeschool Group. She has held the position of secretary, co-president, newsletter editor, treasurer and was a board member.
Now a new Grandma, Helene loves to spend time with her grandson.
As she begins to wind down her journey of educating her children, she looks forward to continuing to encourage and support other homeschooling families in their journey.
Jessica Brown (1st & 2nd)
Jessica has had a passion for working with and teaching children for as long as she can remember. After pursuing a degree in elementary education and working as a teacher’s aide, Jessica recognized a pull toward teaching children in a smaller setting, hoping to foster greater connections and personalized learning opportunities. Not knowing where this would lead her, she continued to seek out opportunities through teaching children’s church, developing preschool curriculum in public libraries, volunteering at children’s camps and ministries, and teaching women’s Bible studies within her local church. When the opportunity to join and teach at Thrive Academy came up, Jessica and her husband Jacob felt overwhelming clarity in supporting their mission and becoming a part of the team. When she is not exploring the Back Mountain with her three young kids, Jessica can be found enjoying a chai tea while reading a book or writing children’s poems to keep track of her family’s milestones. She looks forward to encouraging the students’ natural delight in learning throughout the year!
Alyssa Johnson (K)
Alyssa and her husband James, reside in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania. She loves to travel and has been blessed to go many places in her life, including Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Honduras and Africa.
Alyssa has worked with kids most of her life and has grown to love the alternative approach to teaching. She believes that children are a joy. She has been involved in children’s ministry at her church including Seeds of Grace, Nursery, and Vacation Bible School. Being outside and seeing Gods creation is a passion of hers. She looks forward to serve the families at Thrive Academy.
Alyssa has worked with kids most of her life and has grown to love the alternative approach to teaching. She believes that children are a joy. She has been involved in children’s ministry at her church including Seeds of Grace, Nursery, and Vacation Bible School. Being outside and seeing Gods creation is a passion of hers. She looks forward to serve the families at Thrive Academy.
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