Kathleen Baker

Kathleen received her teaching credential in 1980 from San Diego State University. She has taught kindergarten through high school in Texas, Missouri, and Washington. In addition, Kathleen homeschooled both her son and daughter through high school. She describes it as a wonderful experience which includes so many precious moments...but also an incredible challenge and so her goal and mission became to help other parents through their homeschool journey. Thus, began Hope Learning Center (HLC) in September of 1995. Schooling in a modest home in Oceanside California, she enjoyed exploring, learning and growing with her students. The experience was so positive that by the fall of 1998, she opened a small learning center to a community of homeschooled children. "The students and I enjoyably explored all kinds of subjects: from rocketry to insects to plants to lasers."

In early 2001, a job change resulted in a move from suburbia California to rural Vancouver, Washington. " It was a rainy March day when we moved our one pet, a desert variety Rosie Boa appropriately named “Hiss”, into its new home. Within a year the family adopted two dogs, two llamas, two goats, two sheep, two ducks and ten chickens. With all the rain, perhaps we felt compelled to follow Noah’s example." In September 2003, the learning center again opened its doors to homeschooled students and by 2008 relocated to Hockinson Community Church. Eventually, the learning center expanded to a full-time schedule. What began with a few science classes continues today with a full offering of all different subjects, as well as consulting through Academy Northwest©.