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ABOUT US
CALIFORNIA HOMESCHOOL NETWORK is a volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to supporting homeschool families and to protecting homeschool rights in California.
Windi Eklund - President
I am a long-time homeschool mom with a passion for child-centered education, learning lifestyles, school choice, and family support. After trying the traditional education path through both public district and private schools, we found out that homeschooling is our school of choice.
We homeschooled very successfully for many years through the California public charter school system. In 2019 our oldest child left the homeschool charter school to enjoy more freedom in his education by homeschooling privately through a PSA. His two younger siblings have since joined him and all three are now enjoying the freedom of homeschool learning through a PSP.
Since starting our homeschool journey as a family over 12 years ago, I have dedicated myself to being an integral part of our unique and diverse community. I have worked to broaden educational choices and knowledge of the programs available to our families through:
Volunteering at Celebration Education, where I was able to help families from all over the world find alternative education options for their children
Organizing and leading field trips for homeschool families
Setting up new education programs and learning centers for homeschoolers
Organizing National School Choice Events and Charter School Choice Open Houses
Speaking on the homeschool options available to families at state and national homeschool and alternative education conventions
Running numerous homeschool and charter school social media groups, covering all of California with 1000s of members in each
Organizing our community to oppose anti-charter school and anti-homeschool legislation
Founding Homeschool Concierge, a non-profit to serve the diverse needs of homeschool families
Serving as the California Homeschool Network Board of Trustees President
Helping to pave the way for family choice at charters by founding multiple family-focused programs serving our community
I am honored to serve on the board of CHN helping to support families in finding their homeschool path.
We homeschooled very successfully for many years through the California public charter school system. In 2019 our oldest child left the homeschool charter school to enjoy more freedom in his education by homeschooling privately through a PSA. His two younger siblings have since joined him and all three are now enjoying the freedom of homeschool learning through a PSP.
Since starting our homeschool journey as a family over 12 years ago, I have dedicated myself to being an integral part of our unique and diverse community. I have worked to broaden educational choices and knowledge of the programs available to our families through:
Volunteering at Celebration Education, where I was able to help families from all over the world find alternative education options for their children
Organizing and leading field trips for homeschool families
Setting up new education programs and learning centers for homeschoolers
Organizing National School Choice Events and Charter School Choice Open Houses
Speaking on the homeschool options available to families at state and national homeschool and alternative education conventions
Running numerous homeschool and charter school social media groups, covering all of California with 1000s of members in each
Organizing our community to oppose anti-charter school and anti-homeschool legislation
Founding Homeschool Concierge, a non-profit to serve the diverse needs of homeschool families
Serving as the California Homeschool Network Board of Trustees President
Helping to pave the way for family choice at charters by founding multiple family-focused programs serving our community
I am honored to serve on the board of CHN helping to support families in finding their homeschool path.
Michai Freeman – Vice-President
Our family began homeschooling after a long protracted dispute with our local school district regarding providing appropriate support and services in the general education classroom for our son. Due to my strong advocacy, and a coerced settlement agreement, our family was ostracized from the district. However, what was a devastating situation resulted in our finding peace and support in a public charter school that has allowed my child to blossom. We have the freedom to not only provide instruction in a manner he learns best but also hold high expectations for his development. We are grateful not to be subjected to the soft bigotry of low expectations so endemic in traditional public schools against Black children. When I am not learning with my son, I advocate for disability and civil rights. Our family has homeschooled our son for five years through a public charter school and we are passionate about equity and social justice in education.
Laura Deatherage - Treasurer
I am a small business owner. I also am on hiatus from finishing a degree in psychology, but hope to be able to afford to return to finish my degree soon. I have a degree in Healthcare Administration and have worked for several local area hospitals and clinics as well as private doctor’s offices. My passion is helping people, especially kids and advocating for disenfranchised groups.
I have been homeschooling my son since 3rd grade. We left public school because he was being held back academically and socially and I wanted better for him. He is active in STEM, coding and video and video game development. He also enjoys making music on a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). He plays baseball for NOR during the summer. He is now in 8th grade and is ahead of where he would be in public school. He would not have these opportunities if he was in public school.
I joined this group to advocate for every child’s education and for parents to be able to choose which path would help their kids reach their goals.
I also wanted to join a group that would help create opportunities for kids to have fun, socialize and get some of the aspects that public schools have that homeschools are excluded from participating in, like school sports, field trips and competitions, dances, etc. I hope to participate in committees on advocacy, events and fundraising to meet my goals. I am truly excited and thankful for this opportunity to serve our community and look forward to meeting with all of you!
I have been homeschooling my son since 3rd grade. We left public school because he was being held back academically and socially and I wanted better for him. He is active in STEM, coding and video and video game development. He also enjoys making music on a DAW (Digital Audio Workstation). He plays baseball for NOR during the summer. He is now in 8th grade and is ahead of where he would be in public school. He would not have these opportunities if he was in public school.
I joined this group to advocate for every child’s education and for parents to be able to choose which path would help their kids reach their goals.
I also wanted to join a group that would help create opportunities for kids to have fun, socialize and get some of the aspects that public schools have that homeschools are excluded from participating in, like school sports, field trips and competitions, dances, etc. I hope to participate in committees on advocacy, events and fundraising to meet my goals. I am truly excited and thankful for this opportunity to serve our community and look forward to meeting with all of you!
Yedine Rodriguez - Secretary
My name is Yedine Rodriguez and I have made a home in Southern California after moving across the country and overseas for more than 20 years. I am a military spouse who has homeschooled in seven states. So I understand the challenges of finding a homeschool community and making connections. I homeschooled my two children independently for 13 years and issued diplomas to both. My oldest is a UC graduate and my youngest is currently attending a private art and design university. I have been an active participant in many homeschool groups and organizations through the years. I enjoy traveling, playing board games, and attending theatre performances. I have a passion for meeting and helping homeschoolers in their homeschooling journey and I hope to help many families through my volunteer work with the CHN Board.
Liss Aldana - Trustee
I am honored and very excited to be part of the CHN board of trustees. I am the lucky mom of two free spirited children and we have been in this homeschooling adventure for the last 8 years. We have tried three different methods of homeschooling such as traditional public school, PSA and now we are so happy being part of a public charter school that supports my children’s individualized education. I love the outdoors and exploring new places, I have a little obsession with books and love reading to my kids. My background is business administration and marketing.I am a homeschooling and school choices advocate. As a community organizer and leader I have created activities and programs to enrich children’s education. My passion is to teach Spanish and my Latino roots and traditions to my children and share these with our community. My vision is to bring the community together, embrace our diversity and make this a very inclusive community for all.
Pam Dowling - Emeritus Trustee
When I’m not busy with CHN or dabbling in bookkeeping, I’m teaching beginning sewing to homeschoolers! I find it very rewarding and at times very entertaining. The things kids say! I started my homeschooling journey in 2002 and now my son is a college graduate, has a driver’s license and is employed! They do make it. Homeschooling, like parenting isn’t something you do, it’s something you experience. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I’m grateful to have the opportunity to stay connected to this wonderful community through CHN. CHN provides me with speaking opportunities that I never thought would be something I would immensely enjoy. Given that public speaking is people’s number one fear. But, after I spoke for over two hours at the 2014 Expo and had a dad come up to me after and tell me that he didn’t think they could homeschool their child. They were afraid since they lived across the street from the school but, now they knew what their rights were and they knew they could do it! Then he asked if he could hug me. I’m hooked. It’s the most rewarding part of volunteering for me. Helping to produce Expo is also very rewarding. Expo brings so much to homeschooling families, new and experienced. I am very proud to serve the homeschool community and help CHN fulfill its mission statement.
Marty Forte - Emeritus Trustee
Martin Forte, along with his wife Carolyn, owns and operates EIE Academy and Excellence In Education Resource Center in Monrovia, California. Martin and his wife successfully homeschooled their two daughters for 14 years. Both girls are college graduates and married with children. Martin has been a homeschool spokesman and advocate for more than 20 years, appearing on numerous radio and television programs and speaking at homeschool conventions as well as one of the co-founders of the California Homeschool Network. He is also a certified Learning Style Coach with his wife Carolyn.
To contact the Board of Trustees please email: trustees@californiahomeschool.net
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