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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
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.
Jen Measley (1st)
Jen lives with her husband, Mike, and their 4 children in the beautiful countryside of Wyoming County, PA. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education with a minor in early childhood education. Jen was a teacher in a Christian school in PA, and then at Ethnos360's mission school in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Her soon-to-be husband was also in PNG serving as a church planter and bible translator in the remote tribe called Malumanda. After marriage, Jen joined her husband in the tribe and focused on language learning and relationship building, while raising their one-year-old son.
After returning stateside, Jen happily took on the challenge of teaching her own children. She counts it a privilege that she has been able to homeschool her children over the past 15 years.
Presently, her husband, Mike, is the senior pastor at Evangelical Free Bible Church in Clarks Summit. One of Jen's greatest joys is serving alongside Mike. They long to see everyone, from children to adults, growing in their faith in Jesus! Colossians 1:28
When they are not serving together at church, she and her family love to just be together. Whether it is entertaining friends and family, tending the garden, listening to Adventures in Odyssey, sitting around the campfire, playing a game, or just watching a movie.
Teaching has always been one of Jen's passions, and she is really looking forward to returning to the classroom. She is excited to serve the families and students at Thrive Academy. She is looking forward to seeing how God will use her and the opportunities it presents to herself and her children.
After returning stateside, Jen happily took on the challenge of teaching her own children. She counts it a privilege that she has been able to homeschool her children over the past 15 years.
Presently, her husband, Mike, is the senior pastor at Evangelical Free Bible Church in Clarks Summit. One of Jen's greatest joys is serving alongside Mike. They long to see everyone, from children to adults, growing in their faith in Jesus! Colossians 1:28
When they are not serving together at church, she and her family love to just be together. Whether it is entertaining friends and family, tending the garden, listening to Adventures in Odyssey, sitting around the campfire, playing a game, or just watching a movie.
Teaching has always been one of Jen's passions, and she is really looking forward to returning to the classroom. She is excited to serve the families and students at Thrive Academy. She is looking forward to seeing how God will use her and the opportunities it presents to herself and her children.
Richelle Kimmel (2nd & 3rd)
Richelle and her husband of 24 years have five children and live outside of Tunkhannock, PA. Having homeschooled using a combination of classical methods
since 2007, she has graduated the two oldest children, has two in high school and one in elementary. Passionate for teaching truth, goodness, and beauty, Richelle finds tremendous joy in homeschooling and teaching other children as a Sunday School teacher and Bible Quiz coach.
Currently, Richelle juggles her time learning alongside her children, trying out new recipes on her family, and making her household more efficient. Dedicated to learning more about our awesome God, Richelle is involved in several weekly women's Bible studies. Richelle loves to organize, although you would never know that by the number of books currently on her nightstand. On Sunday afternoons, family time is paramount.
Richelle looks forward to being a part of Thrive Academy to encourage and serve the homeschool community.
since 2007, she has graduated the two oldest children, has two in high school and one in elementary. Passionate for teaching truth, goodness, and beauty, Richelle finds tremendous joy in homeschooling and teaching other children as a Sunday School teacher and Bible Quiz coach.
Currently, Richelle juggles her time learning alongside her children, trying out new recipes on her family, and making her household more efficient. Dedicated to learning more about our awesome God, Richelle is involved in several weekly women's Bible studies. Richelle loves to organize, although you would never know that by the number of books currently on her nightstand. On Sunday afternoons, family time is paramount.
Richelle looks forward to being a part of Thrive Academy to encourage and serve the homeschool community.
Joni Seboe (4th & 5th)
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 making clay earrings, spending time with her granddaughter, and visiting with family who are spread out across the US. Joni resides with her husband outside of Tunkhannock.
Maria Christini (6th-8th)
Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education and a minor in Bible from Cedarville University. She has completed fieldwork in a number of diverse classrooms in multiple states, ranging from public to private to charter. Maria has experience as an elementary teacher and as a private tutor, working with students in preschool through upper elementary. She has also taught for online schools and created course curriculum. Maria values working with small groups of students and has always had an interest in unique schooling methods. She is excited to join the team at Thrive and learn alongside her students!
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