Board Members
Kara Kavka
After graduating highschool, Kara traveled to Honduras for overseas missions while completing her Associates in Early Childhood Education. During her time there she served at the children's center, the bilingual elementary school, and tutored several missionary children. A passion for education was sparked and led Kara back to the states to pursue her Bachelors in Early Childhood Education while working with a variety of age groups at an early learning center in the Back Mountain area. Reading Mere Motherhood by Cindy Rollins, For the Children's Sake by Susan Schaefer Macaulay, and being introduced to the methods of Charlotte Mason were instrumental in developing her view on education. Being a part of the founding of Thrive Academy and serving on the school board are an honor. Kara, her husband, and two boys reside deep in the country of Susquehanna county. Being outdoors and enjoying the beauty of creation through a variety of activites is a passion they share as a family. Kara looks forward to getting to know and serve the families of Thrive Academy.
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.
Teachers
Jessica Brown (K-2)
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 children, 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!
Maria Christini (3-5)
Maria holds a Bachelor of Arts degree 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!