Hi! My name is Emily, mother of two wonderful children that I've chosen to lead down a homeschool track. After 22 years in sales & marketing, with deep experience in fintech and consumer finance, I've made the choice to slow down and raise my children on our tiny, 2.4 acre property in Carson City. My husband and I bought this property in 2018. Every day since brings new challenges, projects, joy, wonder, and exploration. Now, our goal is to build a rooted community with similar values, and welcome you to our tiny farm. 

 

My Educational Qualifications:
My qualifications as a children’s instructor are grounded in advanced study of human behavior, child-centered education, and curriculum design. I hold a Master of Science in Applied Psychology and am currently completing the University of Virginia’s M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, alongside the Sophia Institute’s Waldorf Teacher Certification program, with anticipated completion in 2027. I bring 22 years of professional experience and entrepreneurial leadership, including building and successfully exiting a company to a publicly traded corporation, demonstrating my ability to create thoughtful programs, lead effectively, and turn a strong educational vision into a well-managed learning environment.

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Our Co-Op Vision:
When we think about the community we seek to build, we want a healthy dose of wild freedom, of wonder, a little magic, lots of outdoor time, using technology as a tool, and raising our children as compassionate, imaginative, and deeply rooted in their humanity. It is ever more important that we learn what it means to be human in the vast cosmos of possibility, that we understand technology and use it purposefully, and that we can interact with other people in an effort to create unity over division. Our goal is to find like minded families to join us as we build what will ultimately be one of the most impactful foundational elements in our children's lives, their community.

PEAKS Values
Perhaps the most important thing to understand about PEAKS is the value structure beneath everything we do. If these principles resonate with your family, we would love to welcome you into our community and share more about the experience we are creating.
 

1. Developing the Whole Child

   
   We recognize that a child’s development is educational, emotional, social, physical, spiritual, soulful, and creative. Our goal is not simply to fill children with information, but to help bring forward their innate gifts, deepen their sense of wonder, and discover what truly speaks to them.
    

2. Freedom
   
   Children need freedom to explore, question, imagine, move, create, and develop their own ideas. Within a thoughtful and supportive structure, we make room for individual interests, different learning rhythms, and the natural unfolding of each child. You will often here me saying "yes" instead of no, especially outside. When you're here, embrace freedom. Let your child get dirty, I guarantee they will anyway, let them play with what they want, let them color what they want. Just, let them. I believe, if we let kids be kids, they're going to come out of childhood a lot healthier and happier for it. Often, what might stop us from saying "yes" is the mess we have to deal with after. That's why I am here (and anyone else who wants to volunteer). Consider me your clean up crew. The joy your child will have from the freedom you give them is worth it in droves. 
    

3. Risk Taking
   
   Growth often begins just beyond what feels comfortable. We encourage children to take healthy physical, creative, social, and intellectual risks—to try something unfamiliar, make mistakes, solve problems, and build genuine confidence through experience.
    

4. Experiential Learning
   
   Children learn deeply when they can touch, build, cook, grow, care for, observe, explore, and participate. Learning at PEAKS is rooted in meaningful, hands-on experiences that connect academic ideas to the natural world and everyday life.
    

5. Respecting Childhood & The Child
   
   Childhood, true childhood, is a magical and important season of life in its own right. We honor each child as an individual, protect time for play and imagination, and offer learning that is developmentally appropriate, purposeful, and respectful. In a world that is pushing our children to grow up fast, we fight to slow down, unwind, and embrace the incredible time of life when wonder, amazement, possibility, imagination, and pure magic is overflowing.
    

6. Unhurried
   
   Children deserve the time to become absorbed in their play or work, follow their curiosity, and fully experience the world around them. We value depth over speed and create space for questions, open-ended play, conversation, and learning without unnecessary pressure. Becoming unhurried is another opportunity to simply be. 
    

7. Community Bonds
   
   Studies regularly show that strong community connections foster happier, more well adjusted humans. We are meant to have a tribe! The people and families you connect with and build relationships during your children's upbringing will have a lasting impact on you and your family. We are here with open arms to foster a tribe, our community, our people. This is among the most foundational goals of PEAKS, not just a value. We are building our families community. We'd love for you to join.