Founding Beyond Funding
An initiative of the California
Microschool Collective
Every Founder Has a Story
Worth Sharing
There is no single path to building a learning community. Discover the experiences, challenges, and lessons of
founders creating learning enviroments in their own communities.
Every founder learns something the next founder should not have to learn alone.
Explore the journeys of founders, what challenged them, and the people, resources, and decisions that helped them move forward.
Andrea Patton
ANCHOR CO-OP
DURHAM, CA
Andrea Patton is the Director of Anchor Co-op, a homeschool cooperative in Durham, California, founded in 2012 to meet her family's educational and social needs. What began as a small group of homeschooling families grew significantly after the cooperative gained access to free church space in 2019, allowing it to welcome more children. According to Andrea's story, the community grew to approximately 150 children within three years. Anchor Co-op emphasizes collaborative learning, parent involvement, friendship, and accessible educational opportunities. Andrea's journey demonstrates how community partnerships, shared resources, and a family-driven vision can help a small homeschool initiative grow into a thriving learning community.
Elmarie Hyman
LEARN BEYOND THE BOOK
NEWHALL & NORTHRIDGE, CA | ONLINE
Elmarie Hyman is the Founder of Learn Beyond The Book, LLC, a homeschool enrichment organization serving families in California and online. As a homeschooling mother of four, she began organizing cooperative learning activities to provide children with meaningful educational experiences and opportunities to build friendships. This initiative grew into an organization offering small-group classes, arts, academic enrichment, hands-on activities, and field trips. Elmarie's story highlights how her desire to enrich her own children's education evolved into a broader learning community that supports homeschooling families and encourages curiosity, personalized learning, and a lifelong love of learning.
Gaurika Gupta
YG CLASSES (FORMELY YOUNG GATES)
FREMONT, CA
Gaurika Gupta is the Founder of YG Classes, formerly Young Gates, a STEM education organization based in Fremont, California. With a background in software engineering and a passion for teaching, she started by offering coding activities in her garage for her children and their friends. Recognizing the need for accessible technology education, she expanded her initiative into programs offering coding, robotics, and hands-on STEM learning. Through partnerships with schools, libraries, and community organizations, Gaurika helps children develop creativity, confidence, and problem-solving skills through practical, project-based experiences.
Karen Golden
CREATIVE LEARNING SPACE
LOS ANGELES, CA
Karen Golden is the Director of Creative Learning Place, a homeschool learning community based in Los Angeles, California. A professional storyteller and musician since 1988, Karen founded the organization in 2009 after her homeschooled daughter wanted to learn poetry from a poet. This inspired her to connect children with passionate experts in various fields, offering opportunities to explore subjects such as journalism, sculpture, music, and the arts. Creative Learning Place emphasizes hands-on learning, individualized interests, and an inclusive community where children can discover their passions, build meaningful relationships, and develop a lifelong love of learning.
Heather Chinchay
DAYBREAK ACADEMY
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA
Heather Chinchay is the Founder and Lead Administrator of Daybreak Academy, a learning community based in Rancho Cucamonga, California. Inspired by her desire to provide her daughter with a more holistic and personalized educational experience, Heather and her husband established the program in 2022 after exploring alternative education models. Daybreak Academy integrates academics with hands-on experiences such as gardening, baking, Spanish, and financial literacy, while emphasizing social-emotional development, creativity, and practical life skills. Heather's story highlights how a family's search for a more meaningful learning environment evolved into a growing educational community that nurtures children's curiosity, confidence, and love of learning.
Lyniette Wiebe
RISING HILL LEARNING
ALTADENA, CA
Lynette Wiebe is the Founder of Rising Hill Learning, a nature-based learning community in Altadena, California. With nearly 25 years of experience in education, including 11 years teaching kindergarten, Lynette was inspired by her professional experiences and her own son's struggles in traditional schools to create a more personalized and supportive learning environment. Her program emphasizes hands-on discovery, outdoor exploration, individualized instruction, and social-emotional well-being, particularly for neurodivergent learners and children with different learning needs. Through nature activities, gardening, literacy support, and experiential learning, Lynette aims to help children feel understood, develop confidence, and thrive at their own pace.
Rend Williams
PADRE PIO PREPARATORY ACADEMY
EL CAJON, CA
Rend Williams is the Head of School at Padre Pio Preparatory Academy. With a background in epidemiology, clinical research, and business consulting, Rend entered education after his family's homeschooling experience during the COVID-19 school closures. Together with his sister, he helped establish a learning community that grew into a school focused on classical education, Catholic faith, character development, and academic excellence. His story demonstrates how a family's educational needs can inspire a broader mission to nurture children's intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth.
Shannon Kulp
LEARNING 360
VALENCIA, CA
Shannon Kulp is the Founder and Executive Director of Learning360, a specialized learning center in Valencia, California. With over 20 years of experience supporting students with learning differences, particularly dyslexia, she founded Learning360 in 2023 to provide structured literacy instruction and individualized support. Starting with four students, the organization grew to approximately 75 learners, helping children strengthen their reading and writing skills, build confidence, and reach their full potential.
Tanya Sheckley
UP ACADEMY
SAN MATEO, CA
Tanya Sheckley is the Founder of UP Academy, a progressive elementary school in San Mateo, California. Inspired by her daughter Eliza, who had cerebral palsy, Tanya founded the school after struggling to find an educational environment that met her daughter's needs. In loving memory of Eliza, UP Academy was established to create an inclusive learning community where children with and without disabilities learn together through individualized instruction, project-based learning, and hands-on experiences. Tanya's story highlights her commitment to educational inclusion, personalized learning, and ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Your Experience Could
Help Another Founder
The lessons you’ve learned, the challenges you’ve navigated, and the support you’ve found may help someone else along their journey.
Founding Beyond
Funding
An initiative of the California
Microschool Collective
A community of practice supporting microschool founders & families in non-ESA states.
BUILDING STRONGER LEARNING COMMUNITIES, TOGETHER.
camicroschoolcollective.org
(562) 600-8406