Sylvia Caruvana

Sylvia is a veteran homeschool mom of 20+ years. In her life before kids, she was a Mechanical Engineer. She graduated from LeTourneau University with a BSME in 1996. While it might sound strange to some, she finds solving Algebra problems fun and relaxing and looks forward to sharing that joy with others. She has fallen love with history and grammar, too, since homeschooling her kids. Sylvia and her husband of 30 years have 7 children. 

Laura Henderson O’Rourke

I have lived in Georgia, just about all my life with the exception of four years while attending Auburn University in Alabama where I studied international business and French.

Having settled down as a stay at home mom, I began painting in my spare time. It was something I have always had a passion for and have been offered full scholarships to several notable art schools Eventually, friends were asking for custom artwork, and the word spread. I now do custom artwork for people across the country and have several businesses in Rome that carry and display my work.

I love to paint florals animals, anything in nature, homes and still life. I paint oil or watercolor originals on canvas, greeting cards, collections, and ornaments just to mention a few.

I am honored that OPC Rocky Mountain has one of my pieces rendered on their welcome card as part of the many things you will enjoy in Rome. You will find me on my Facebook page under “Laura‘s work” and “note cards .”

Kiesha Shoemaker

Kiesha Shoemaker is a Certified Teacher in both Arizona and Georgia.  She has enjoyed teaching for over 30 years. While she taught professionally at a school she Codeveloped and directed in Arizona called Sequoia School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, she has fabulously enjoyed the freedom of homeschooling. Kiesha has 20-plus years of experience developing and individualizing curricula to meet the needs of her own six children, and then for hundreds of children in the homeschooling community. 

Kiesha is fluent in American Sign Language and developed a school in Arizona for the Deaf in 1997.  There, she taught elementary, middle, and high school Deaf students. She developed her own curriculum based on Deaf Community input and appreciation. Kiesha taught among and hired Deaf leaders in the school and eventually her replacement before entering the world of motherhood. Kiesha thereafter taught classes in ASL communication and worked as an ASL Interpreter in Mesa, AZ. Her work among the Deaf there was dear to her heart and she is grateful for lasting friendships from her time there. 

In 2007, Kiesha and her family moved to her home state of Georgia and shortly thereafter began homeschooling most of her children from 12th grade down to 5th grade. She later birthed her last child and homeschooled him from a little to current grades, moving on up. Kiesha has continued to work with the Deaf Community in Georgia alongside her husband, Aaron, who is a professional Interpreter. They run a nonprofit together called All Hand On. All Hands On trains Deaf instructors to teach their community emergency preparedness and coordinates with hearing emergency professionals. 

Kiesha has experience working with children who have been adopted and the challenges they face, children with a variety of special needs like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. She is patient and kind and talking to children and parents comes easily to her. 

Kiesha runs Keystone Hybrid, a homeschool hybrid in Cobb County.  For the last 10 years, Kiesha has taught classes in the homeschool community.  She moved to Rome in 2021, where she and her family have developed their land into a farm and homesteading learning ground. They desire to share this learning and the educational journey they have been on with friends in Rome, GA.  Sharing years of experience with animals, maths, sciences, and so much more! While the farm is in many ways still in the beginning stages they welcome new ideas and friends to partner in learning gardening, animal husbandry, herbal and homesteading skills! Come learn and grow with us!

Lance Frazier

Lance is a stay at homeschool dad to daughters seven and ten. His work background began in the landscape industry, evolving into a 20 year career as an Arborist. After he exited Urban Tree, Inc, a tree service he founded in Chattanooga, he and his wife, Caitlin, moved to Lookout Mountain in 2014 to start a family. There he operated Feel Good Farmstand, a vegetable and flower market garden, serving the local area including farmers markets, a CSA and restaurants. The Fraziers now live in Mentone, where Lance helps Sadie and Harper garden, tend critters and develop a home scale vineyard and orchard.

Alongside his love for gardening and native ecology, he is interested in traditional southern food ways and home food preservation. He believes that a garden is a whole child classroom where knowledge can be gained, character developed and entrepreneurial thinking practiced. 

 When the work in the garden and the kitchen is done, he retires to his desk where he participates in online reading groups focused on the close study and discussion of ancient Greek poetry, drama and the dialogues of Plato. 

Hannah Aaron Whitmire

Hannah graduated from Berry College in 2019 with a double major in History and Creative Writing as well as a minor in German. She then secured her MFA in Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University in 2022 along with a Certificate for the Online Teaching of Writing. Her thesis was a novel-length historical fiction piece. While completing her MFA, she was introduced to many different modes and methods of teaching and learning. 

Hannah worked as a teaching assistant for a middle school American History class at Lundy Christian Academy in Cedartown, Georgia for a semester in 2015, and, after obtaining her MFA, became a Grader for Marco Learning in subjects including AP-level histories, language arts, and literature.

She currently works as a Marketing Consultant at Southern Seasons, the tea room on Broad Street in Rome, Georgia where she gets to indulge in the tradition and history of tea-making and Afternoon Tea with an added bonus: she gets to write about it. Hannah is eager to journey around the world with students through history and literature.

Karri Range

Karri is a dedicated lifelong learner with a continuous curiosity about the world and what it means to be a human Being. She holds a B.S in Earth and Atmospheric Science from Georgia Institute of Technology and has been exploring human consciousness and its many facets intentionally for decades. Her two children, ages 13 & 7, are among her greatest teachers. Living abroad & being a stay at home mother have provided endless opportunities for growth and new learning experiences. Food, where it comes from, and how it relates to the health of the body is a priority and source of joy for her. She feels blessed to be living in Georgia and the endless beauty of the Southeastern United States. 

Leah Shoemaker

Leah attended a charter school in Arizona where she learned the joys of small class sizes and community learning. When she moved to Georgia she inspired her mother to homeschool herself and her siblings. At high school age she encouraged her family to find a hybrid homeschool that supported her many interests and launched her into Southern Virginia University. Leah served a mission for her church in Washington State and enjoys service to others. She has a love for animals unmatched by most and delights in caring for them. Leah has a magically fun nature and loves to giggle. She appreciate every tiny living thing around her, protects, and values it. Her whimsical out look is a joy and a reminder to enjoy the little things and appreciate each day.

Harrison Vicknair

I was a homeschooling student myself!
I graduated from homeschool and studied mechanical engineering at Kennesaw State University where I learned about 3D printing and robotics. I now run a small 3D printing company and enjoy sharing my love for  3D printing and robotics with curious and motivated students!