Hi, and welcome to Parent-Teacher Conference! We are Meaghan and Christine, two friends and homeschooling moms who are also the Founders and Program Directors of South Branch Cooperative in Central NJ. Parent-Teacher Conference is our space to encourage dialogue around homeschooling-particularly secular homeschooling, parenting, and all of the other fun aspects that are connected to those things! We hope you will enjoy engaging with us and find some useful recommendations, encouragement in your homeschool journey, and a community that feels welcoming to you!
A bit about us:
- Christine has a background in Early Childhood Education, which influenced her desire to homeschool her two younger boys. She also has a teenager, who attends a lovely, holistic private school. She, her husband Rob, and their three kids live in “rural-ish” NJ, along with their elderly dog and a small flock of chickens. (And yes, in true homeschool fashion, we hatched some of them ourselves! 😜) When not educating her children or handling the running of a co-op, she enjoys finding adventures to go on, reading alllll the books, tabletop games, and attempting to find a moment to breathe.
- Meaghan has a degree in Secondary Education, English, Communications, and experience in English as a Second Language. Her previous experience as a public middle school and high school teacher has greatly influenced her decision to homeschool her two children, as she attempts to follow them on their learning journeys, letting them lead the way as much as possible. She's been educating herself in all things Montessori, from primary, lower elementary, and beyond, to help her children lead the way. She, her husband Chris, and their two kids also live in a "rural-ish" area of Central New Jersey that's slightly more suburban, with their dog and rabbit. Her days are filled with homeschool life and co-op goodness, but she also fills her time with physically active movement (paddleboarding, pilates, rock climbing), art (watercolor painting, crafts, etc.), and time with friends playing games, taking hikes, cooking new foods, and more.
We have an incredible board of directors and instructional team that helps us with various things at SBC!
Fia, our Board Secretary, has many years experience in office management and working for community non-profit organizations. Her favorite job by far (and best career move) was to become a community garden manager and a Master Gardener, teaching children and adults about plants, insects, and gardening. Fia is the mother of three grown children and a granddaughter that she spends as much time with as possible. She shares her home with her two young grandsons (and their parents).
Courtney, the Assistant Secretary of our Board of Directors, a member of our Enrichment Coordinator Team, a member of our Social Media Specialist team, and a member of our Instructional Team, has a degree in Early Childhood Education (K-8) and History. She was a former public middle school teacher who stepped aside in order to homeschool her two children. Courtney is passionate about children’s education and all things books, which (as luck would have it) go hand and hand.
Sarah, our Sprouts and Saplings Lead Guide and a member of our Enrichment Coordinator Team, has a degree in liberal arts with certifications in elementary education and teacher of students with disabilities. She previously taught special education in public school focusing on students who are multiply disabled, as well as in ABA instruction. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking with her husband Steve while carrying a child or two, listening to music, playing with her three pups, baking sourdough, making beeswax candles and all things “crunchy” in her “tiny” home in the woods. She has three young boys whose need for movement and the great outdoors has influenced her move to homeschool.
Erika, our Membership Coordinator, a member of our Social Media Specialist team, our Tween/Teen Director, and a member of our Instructional Team, has spent most of her life involved in music, starting with her very first instrument, the recorder, in 2nd grade. Music was always an important part of her childhood and studying the flute led her to realize her interest in pursuing music as a career. Erika went on to achieve a BM in Music Therapy from Marywood University, a NJ Music Teacher Certification through the NJ alternate route program, and MA in Music Therapy from Montclair State University. After completing her music therapy education, Erika has had the privilege of working in various unique settings as both a music therapist and a music educator over the past twenty-three years in the field. She was also the flute specialist for the Jersey City Public Schools Performing Arts High School, directed music performances for the Special Olympics Project Unify rallies, acted as general music teacher for a homeschool co-op, ran Sprouting Melodies family music classes, and directed handbell choirs, too. Erika has been homeschooling their 10-year-old, Melody, since 2021 and has loved learning alongside her kiddo.
Emily, a member of our Enrichment Coordinator Team and our Instructional Team, has a Ph.D. in History and Culture. In addition to educating her own two children, she teaches college History courses and tutors K-12 English/Language Arts. She loves the flexibility homeschooling gives her to go on adventures and spend lots of time outdoors with her kids. She also enjoys baking, hiking, crocheting, and reading.