About Jennifer
An early interest in education…
From the time I was very young, I was an eager student, often impatient
with the slow pace of school and desperate for a real challenge. My life as
the daughter of an army officer had allowed me to experience the schools
in six different states by the time I graduated from high school, and while I
had some amazing experiences with passionate teachers in above average
schools, most of my educational experiences fell short of my admittedly
high expectations. By the time I was a sophomore in high school, I had
penned a research paper entitled, “Mediocrity in the U.S.Public Education
System”, and that began my search for the perfect education model and my
determination to become a teacher who would make a difference.
An epiphany..
After years of college, research and teaching experience in a variety of
settings, it was motherhood that finally helped me to understand that the
only perfect education is an individualized education. Faced with teaching
three children on the autism spectrum who all have completely unique
challenges and abilities, I was forced to concede that there is no single
educational approach that can meet the needs of every child. Since then,
my experience homeschooling and teaching within a classroom
environment has only sought to strengthen the assertion that children learn
best when they receive a tailored education.
Experience…
I have taught children at every grade level from preschool through high
school in home, child care, homeschool co-op, and charter and private
school environments. My husband and I also founded and operated a
Christian school in Sheridan, Oregon from 2016-2019 that served children
in kindergarten through twelfth grades. While I have taught every subject
at almost every grade level, my greatest passion has been in the areas of
history and literature. I have also had experience teaching children with a
variety of special needs, including autism spectrum disorders, learning
disabilities, and behavioral and mental health challenges.
About Julie
How I started thinking about alternative education. . .
I was a straight-A, follow the rules student in high school. One day, I remember looking around the classroom and realizing we had spent almost the entire class time passing back papers and grading ones from the person in front of us. The class period before had been spent watching others learn what I had learned years before, to write checks. The one before that had very little new material spread out in the form of a very long, very boring lecture.
I knew there had to be something better, and I’m not alone. In 2023 public dissatisfaction with public education was at an all time high at 63%.
Today, there is a whole new reason to be dissatisfied. Many times, our students are no longer physically or emotionally safe in schools.
My oldest “child” is now on a merit scholarship at BYU Law School. My second, graduated in three years with a merit scholarship from BYUI, and now works from home for a lobbyist company. My third, is in Peru on a mission for our church, with a year and a half college complete so far (also on a merit scholarship). My fourth, plays multiple instruments, graduated this year, and is now in Bolivia on a mission like his sister. My fifth, is the heart of our home and my forever baby. She is non-verbal and loves to be a part of everything that is going on.
They are all very different. They have all done things in their own way. I love that! The important thing is that they have kept their love of learning and curiosity through high school and college. They know how to set goals and make things happen in their lives.
23 years of experience
About 23 years ago, I put my money where my mouth was and started homeschooling my oldest child. Over the years, four more joined us, and we loved the chance to learn together, become curious, and have fun exploring the world around us.
We tried all sorts of high school and college programs. Some they loved, some they didn’t, most were just OK. What we learned, is that most kids want a balance of technology, in-person, personalized help, independence, and recognition that can be hard to get just right. What I’m creating here is what I always wished was around for my kids. Parents are the most important mentors, but often, older kids need more.
10 years of mentoring others
Ten years ago, in 2014 some friends and I decided to start a homeschool co-op in Pocatello. At the time there wasn’t one here. There had been one before, and others would be created afterwards, but at the time- making our own or driving to Shelly were the only options.
My focus for these past ten years has been mentoring the 12-18 year-olds. I have come to see that these kids have so much potential. They have so much ability and such great ideas. As we have had discussions, I have learned that 9 times out of 10 they will bring up all the best points I could think of and many that I didn’t. I have seen them write great songs, create amazing videos, write amazing papers, plan fun activities, memorize hundreds of Shakespeare lines, sew costumes, build realistic looking sets, and the list goes on. These kids deserve the chance to shine and to have fun while doing it. The past ten years have taught me how to best support them in their endeavors with just enough lift, reminders, and encouragement to help them do just that.
- I’ve mentored kids through:
- Mock-trial
- Local, state and national oratorical contests
- Historical simulations mine and student led
- Teaching and directing younger kids
- Vocal and instrumental musical numbers
- Math through trig and pre-calc
- Writing groups
- Student and mentor-led book discussions
- Chemistry, biology, and general science at a high school level
- Government including lobbying with senators
- Videography
- Website development
- Building their own computers
- Creating a business
- and more
Quick overview of qualifications
- 23-years of successful homeschooling
- 10 years of mentoring other people’s teens in education
- 6 Shakespeare plays directed
- 18 years of project based learning experience
- 20 years of loving teens and preteens.
“Fun!”
“Julie Lopez makes it fun!”
— 12 year old boy
“Do Hard Things”
I was really pushed and taught to do hard things. We were always doing hard things together and that helped us to have fun and also inspired us to do more and be more.
— Past student
“Loved me”
I have this love of Shakespeare because Miss Julie genuinely loved me and loved Shakespeare. And taught Shakespeare to me in a way I understood it and that I could love it and be excited about it and participate in it.
— Past Student