Rose Kim earned a B.A. in Liberal Studies from CSUN and holds a multiple subject teaching credential, as well as a middle school English teaching certificate. She taught elementary grades for 13 years before deciding to homeschool her own children through the 5th grade. She prioritizes giving each child unique opportunities to grow through creative and hands on learning activities. She strives to create a nurturing and positive classroom climate where every child feels special and accomplished.

Lindsee Piercefield is a creative thinker with a life-long passion for the arts. Having attended an art school herself, she has always had a calling to guide young artists. Additionally, Lindsee has 7 years experience as a lead artist instructing painting tutorials to large groups of all ages. Lindsee is a fine artist having earned her BFA from The University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio. During her undergrad, she concentrated in Two-Dimensional Studies, such as drawing and painting, along with a minor in Art History. She and her family relocated to Thousand Oaks, California in 2022. Lindsee is currently a Stay-At-Home-Mom to her 3 and 6 year old girls and is finding her way in the homeschooling community. She still paints professionally and began offering homeschool art classes to young children as a way to merge her life as a mother and her career as an artist. Lindsee is kind, patient and engaging to all children and enthusiastic to share her love for art.

Amy Stewart has 25 years of experience as an LAUSD elementary classroom teacher, now retired. She also holds a Waldorf Practical Arts Training certificate (WPAT) through WISC, where the seed of handwork blossomed into knitting, wet-felting, plant-dyeing, and eco-printing while the love of teaching these crafts to people of all ages flourished. The magic of color and prints from plants is fascinating! Amy is an avid learner who enjoys taking workshops and independently exploring the hidden gems of color within plants and flowers while adorning clothes and useful items to share with friends and family. She loves reading, writing, crossword puzzles, dancing, art, and barefoot hiking in nature. Amy is excited to teach at The Bending Willow Academy!

Emily is a former preschool teacher and forest-school owner. She home-schooled her daughter to 5th grade. She has a BA in early childhood development, and is certified in CPR, first aid, and mental health first aid. She is a certified Indigenous culture instructor and also has vast knowledge of plants, bushcraft and caring for farm animals.

Cori Selim is a Southern California native and prides herself on being a hard core nature enthusiast with an endless curiosity about the world in which we live in. Finding mystery and magic in everyday, seemingly ordinary things and keeping high energy and fascination while doing so among the children are her specialties. This provides the opportunity for children to nourish their curiosity while developing a lifelong learning mentality. Cori has studied Child Development and Early Childhood Education for the last 15 years, earning credentials for Early Childhood Education, Preschool, Child Advocacy, and Child Psychology. She began this journey shortly after getting married and beginning to plan her own family. She now has two amazing Swedish/American boys and calls herself the Viking Mommy. Currently, Cori is the former Gardening Specialist at Bridges Charter School, teaching elementary age children the values and benefits of gardening. nearby. In her spare time, Cori enjoys adventuring through nature with her family and friends, as well as creating nature inspired art. She is also a published poet.

Jenny is a mother of six and has been a homeschool educator for the past 16 years, instructing her own children and others utilizing the Charlotte Mason (CM) educational philosophy.  In 2011, she started a CM Learning Discussion Group which involved other homeschool parents in the Simi Valley and Conejo Valley areas. The group blossomed into a weekly CM co-op community known as the “Large Room” from 2012-2020, which she helped facilitate, moderate and utilize for the teaching of classes. Currently you will find Jenny teaching CM inspired classes for a local homeschool group and teen center in the Conejo Valley. She also currently serves as a board member at IvyTech Charter School in Moorpark and is a Curriculum Development team member of the Alveary Program for the Charlotte Mason Institute, which provides educational curriculum and training. Jenny has a B.A. in Sociology from Cal Lutheran University and is in the process of earning her Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Grand Canyon University. During her free time, Jenny enjoys knitting, nature journaling, water-coloring and a nice book!

Stephanie has been an educator for nearly 2 decades, with experience in private, charter, and traditional public schools. She began her teaching career with the Teach For America program and has been dedicated to nurturing lifelong learners ever since. Most recently, Stephanie taught middle and high school English at many different academic levels at La Reina High School. When not working, Stephanie enjoys spending time with her family, which includes 3 young boys, ranging in age from 10 to 2. She loves hiking, cooking, crafting, and adventuring.

Adriana has been in education for over 15 years and has worked both in the public and private sectors of schools. She has taught students from TK all the way up to 8th grade. Adriana loves children and helping them grow. When not teaching, Adriana is a mommy to two adorable little boys. She also loves cooking/baking, sea glass hunting, and going on adventures with her boys.

Gina Diggs has a degree and 4 certifications in holistic nutrition and wellness. The chemistry of nutrients’ effects on our bodies and brains has always been fascinating to her and she began self-researching at age 20 moving into professional classes a few years later, earning her degree and adding certifications over the years. She is passionate about helping others reach their health goals. She’s been teaching homeschoolers for over 12 years, and homeschooled her own 4 children for over 23years. Gina has taught various styles of dance since she was 16 years old, from the very young to moms just looking for a fun night out. In her early twenties she began writing scripts and children’s books while continuing to perform, direct, teach and learn. She is also a Meisner trained actor. In 1998, she read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and became enthralled with the series, which led to her teaching Harry Potter to homeschoolers for the past 10 years. Her classes have included, but are not limited to, (science-based) health and wellness for teens, dance, musical theater, drama, the literature of Harry Potter, astronomy, Harry Potter as enrichment (a fan fave!), vegan cooking, and private tutoring in many subjects.

Bethany is a Simi Valley resident who loves the outdoors. She spends her free time hiking, crafting, and researching about plants and animals. She lives with her husband and two teenage boys, one of which is currently being homeschooled. She has a passion for learning and trying new experiences. Bethany has studied in the ECE field and has completed Preschool, Infant/Toddler, Child Psychology and Special Needs courses, among many others. Bethany taught Pre-K for 12 years, and she has also worked as a paraeducator in a classroom for middle school children with special needs. She is trained in First Aid and CPR. Bethany loves working with all children and really enjoys getting to know each child, celebrating their accomplishments and growth.