North Puget Sound
Arlington Learning Center
The Arlington Learning Center, operated by Diana McAlister, serves students in grades 3–12 from the Arlington, Smokey Point, and Marysville regions. Diana provides both individual and small group instruction. Her areas of expertise include preparing students for high school work and helping parents find the curriculum that fits their children’s learning styles.
“I put parents in the driver’s seat of their children’s education and effectively keep them there.”ﾠ
Pacific Learning Center
Nola Smith operates the Pacific Learning Center in Marysville, where she teaches K–12 students. With expertise with learning disabilities, Nola works as a Cognitive and Processing Trainer. Monday through Friday, she tutors individuals and teaches small classes in English, math, social studies, and science. Her mission statement is:
“Working with the Holy Spirit to bring lives to fulfillment spiritually and academically.”
Firm Foundation Academy
In Mount Vernon, Deanna Van Notric runs Firm Foundation Academy, “a full-service learning center specializing in individual and small group instruction and tutoring for private, public, and homeschooled [K–12] students.” Her learning center opened in 2018, and she brings years of teaching experience to her students and their families.
Hill Creek Christian
Hill Creek Christian (HCC) in Mount Vernon has several Teacher Consultants led by Amorah Nelson. This center services approximately a hundred students in grades K–12 from north Snohomish County, Skagit County, and south Whatcom County.
“Founded in 1994, Hill Creek Christian, a satellite school of Academy Northwest, is a Christian preparatory liberal arts homeschool support program offering challenging academics in grades K–12 in the areas of writing, literature, classical studies, history, math, science and foreign language.”
Classes meet once or twice a week, and students are expected to complete assignments at home under parental guidance. Special needs students receive accommodation.
This year, HCC is offering a three-days-a-week K–3 option.
Once a month, the students run a chapel service for the school. Brandy Vizmanos-Garcia (teacher and principal of ANW) explains how older students take on leadership roles.
“Our older students are great role models to the younger students at our learning center. It is not uncommon to see the high schoolers playing games with the younger students, tutoring them, or even sitting with them during chapel and acting as a mentor to the younger generation.”
This school year, Brandy is teaching high school World History and Civics/CWP from a biblical worldview. Her classes contain a mix of lectures, open discussions, and small group activities.
“My goal as a history teacher is to teach my students how to think, not what to think. It is also important to me that they learn how to educate themselves on both sides of an issue.”
Bridges to Learning
Bridges to Learning in Marysville is currently ANW’s one learning center that provides a five-day, K–12 private school experience. They follow the Charlotte Mason Method. Parent/teacher conferences are held each quarter. This learning center also provides homeschool extension services.
Director Patti Hlava describes this school’s method:
“Students need to be responsible for and construct their own learning. The teacher/parent is only a companion in the learning, providing guidance and preparing the learning environment.”
Enrollment has reached capacity for the 2022–23 school year, but a waiting list is available.
Olympic Peninsula
Quimper Academy
Marcia Van Cleve runs the Quimper Academy for K–12 students in Port Townsend, Port Hadock, Port Ludlow, Quilcene, Chimacum, Irondale, and Nordland. Unlike many of the centers, it doesn’t have one physical location. Marcia tutors in various places to meet her students’ needs. She covers English, history, science, math, the arts, and Entrepreneur and Life Skills.
Marcia explains how she works:
“Currently, I conference, individually and collaboratively, with students and their parents on a regular basis as we explore each student’s academic needs and aspirations. The students I work with seek autonomy, mastery and purpose on their academic journey towards creating a future that supports their individual quests on multiple fronts.”
Puget Sound Academic Center
Unlike other learning centers, Puget Sound Academic Center has two locations a great distance apart, Burien and Sequim, and it’s run by a married couple, John and Tammie Elliott. They provide virtual instruction for K–12 students in the following subjects: high school core classes, Spanish 1 and 2, Photography, Bible Journaling, Beginning Art, and Writing and Publishing.
“What is unique about this learning center is that they work with students desiring entrepreneurial training. Enrolled students will also be taught Emergency Preparedness and First Aid/CPR in addition to a work skill so that if life throws them a curve ball, they have something to fall back on.”
Above all, the Elliotts state: “Two things are important to our learning center: The unswerving love of God and helping students be successful in education.”
Poulsbo Academics
Nestled in the woods, a refurbished grain silo with red French doors functions as the classroom for Robin Summerfelt’s learning center, Poulsbo Academics. Her 5–12 grade students attend classes at least once a week. In addition to traditional subjects, Robin includes “communication skills, establish team-building, collaboration, leadership skills, and to practice time management and the importance of deadlines” in her curriculum.
Robin uses her Industrial Technology degree to teach students hands-on skills in her on-site shop.
South Puget Sound
Home School Assistance of Auburn
Home School Assistance provides tutoring and small group instruction for K–12 students, including those with special needs and emotional behavior issues. Teacher Consultant Wendy Wenger has expertise in developing IEPs and learning style accommodations in addition to covering the core subjects. She teaches virtual math and language arts courses as well.
“Wendy believes all students are individuals and learn through their own learning styles and unique gifts. Students of all ages should be encouraged to participate in learning decisions along with their parents/guardians. Most of all, education should be an enjoyable learning experience but still challenge the learner to grow and reach their life goals.”
Puget Sound Academic Center (Burien)
See the description under “Olympic Peninsula.”
Central Puget Sound
Sno-Valley Learning Center
The Sno-Valley Learning Center works with students grades 6–12 in Snohomish County and north King County. Teacher Consultant Cheryl Perron teaches hands-on, interactive classes in social science, English, health, and science, plus tutors individuals. Additional teachers cover math, foreign language, and history. Cheryl can also provide learning styles assessments. Her mission statement:
“To create a learning environment that encourages a thirst and excitement for learning, reflecting and modeling Christ’s love and purpose in each of our lives.”
Arrow Academic Center
Arrow Academic Center, once located in Bothell and then in Woodinville, now operates virtually under the leadership of Jenny Crill. Students in grades 7–12 participate in individual tutoring in most subjects or in small group online classes. These include high school independent study classes, Biblical Worldview, Life Practicum, and Pre-Algebra taught by Jenny and Algebra 2, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Life Practicum, and Biblical Worldview by Denise Sumner.
“Our teachers partner with parents in the education of their students during weekly conferences. The teachers at Arrow have expertise in providing individualized instruction that best suits a student’s needs.”
Vancouver Area
Hope Learning Center
Kathleen Baker and Erika Sagert co-direct Hope Learning Center in Vancouver, Washington. This growing learning center of approximately 116 students has served students grades 6–12 for 15 years. This school year, they have opened an elementary program. They plan to move to a more spacious location next year, Bethel Community Church in Washougal.
The learning center’s eight teachers cover the core subjects at both the elementary and secondary levels. The class sizes average 10 to 15 students with a maximum of 20. Plus, they offer individual tutoring.
“At Hope Learning Center our mission is to provide a Christ-centered and truth based individualized educational experience by partnering with homeschool parents to discover the God-given talents of their students.”
Salmon Creek Learning Center
Salmon Creek Learning Center has served students in Clark County since 1993 and now has a second location in Cowlitz County. The Kelso learning center only offers instruction for high schoolers, while the Vancouver location teaches students in grades 5–12. The weekly classes cover several subjects, including ASL and occupational education. Online courses include Pre-Algebra, Algebra 1, and BJU Press courses. Teacher Consultant Carrie Patterson also provides a distance learning option.
Spokane
Education NW Resources
ANW’s only Eastern Washington learning center, Education NW Resources, provides in-person courses for grades 3–12 and virtual instruction for grades 7–12. Teacher Consultant Deborah Knutson has expertise in dyslexia and central processing disorders.
“My personal experience coping with central processing disorders, both visual and auditory, gives me the empathy and motivation needed to work with students requiring more effective learning strategies.”
Deborah offers the following virtual courses and services: STEM classes and miscellaneous subjects, Washington State History, English dual-credit for grades 7–12, health, SAT math, study skills, independent study classes, and tutoring for grades 6–12.
“My mission is to provide an alternative for parents and students while maintaining excellence in a caring, safe, and fun learning environment.”
Academy Northwest’s learning centers represent various teaching styles and experiences.
If you are considering homeschooling but find the task daunting, give one of these private school extension programs a try. If you’re interested in a particular learning center, don’t hesitate to contact the lead Teacher Consultant directly.
Lorinda K. F. Newton began homeschooling her children in 2004, and her family joined Academy Northwest in 2014. Her family lives on beautiful Whidbey Island north of Seattle, Washington. She writes about faith, culture, and governing from a biblical worldview at Lorinda’s Ponderings or her Substack newsletter. ©2022 by Lorinda K. F. Newton.
