Board of Directors List
Amanda Coate, Chairperson/Officer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-coate-0814a612/
https://www.instagram.com/amanda.coate/
A Boilermaker at heart, Amanda graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. Her professional background includes corporate sales and leadership training, as well as workshop facilitation, and consulting. Amanda has spent the last two decades in educational volunteerism with the majority of time concentrated in mainstream, alternative, and micro-schools, also serving as Vice President, President, and Advisor of a nonprofit education foundation. As a happily married homeschool veteran of eight years to their three children, two homeschooling teens still under their roof, she currently consults on homeschooling and worldschooling. Within the same timeframe, Amanda gained her certification and practices as a Master Life Coach, is presently pursuing a specialization in Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, and is considering the Master’s degree - the teachings of which she incorporates in her 1:1 coaching and workshops for teens and adults. Her areas of focus are on Brain & Behavior, Nervous System Regulation, Non-Violent Communication, Family Connection, Flourishing, and of course Homeschooling/Worldschooling.
Her future ambitions include Social-Emotional awareness workshops for college aged adults, Positive Education and Green Education consulting for global educational organizations, Herbalism & Forest Therapy, as well as blending worldschooling and life coaching and the above in the form of retreats for teens and adults. She is passionate about family connection, personal & social leadership, lifelong learning, cultural immersion, and global volunteerism. Amanda grew up as a musical thespian spending 17 years on stage and taking classes with the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. She attributes ‘being raised on the stage’ to her love for group facilitation and leadership. She incorporates improv. into her workshops, playing with the practice of having humility and the ability to laugh at yourself. You can find Amanda active in nature or traveling, volunteering & learning with her family- and simply seeking the essence from the famous quote of Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Daniel Miyares, Officer
Daniel Miyares is a critically acclaimed picture book author and illustrator. Daniel has illustrated and written over 20 children’s books that are in the homes of families everywhere. Some of his books include: Float, Night Out, That is My Dream, and Bring Me A Rock!. Daniel has been called “…a master of visual storytelling.” (Jody Hewston, Kinderlit) and “…enchanting, versatile” (The New York Times). He believes that our stories have the power to connect us all. Some of his other partners have included: Schwartz & Wade Books, Chronicle Books, Candlewick Press, Simon & Schuster BFYR, Nancy Paulsen Books, FSG (BYR), North/South Books, Charlesbridge Publishing, The NY Times.
Daniel’s story currently takes place in Lenexa, KS with his wife, their two wonderful children, and a dog named Violet that gives them all a run for their money. Both of Daniel’s children attend traditional public school, and Daniel often visits classrooms to show his craft and engage children in out-of-the-box creative exercises. He has done this in the Kansas City Metro area for homeschooling families who gather to learn from him as well, and Daniel seems to have a special understanding of what families need. When children sit in front of him, he holds their attention with rapture, has them giggling, and speaks with a gentleness like Mister Rogers.
Antia Taylor, CMDR, Officer
https://www.linkedin.com/in/antiataylor/
A military veteran of the U.S. Army and homeschooling parent, Antia is a Dispute Resolution Professional adept at creating, implementing, evaluating, and managing professional and administrative community development policies, procedures, and political structures. Antia is currently Management Development Specialist II for the City of New Orleans. She is currently implementing the Healthy Homes program by creating a registry of all rental property in the City and require landlords to meet certain standards to rent a home in New Orleans. She has professional experience working in advocacy in military, hospital, and corporate settings.
Antia has extensive education and experience in community relations, project management, conflict management/criminal justice/justice studies fields. She holds a Master of Arts in Conflict Management & Dispute Resolution: Mediation & Negotiation and a Bachelor of Science in Justice Studies with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. Her ability to make sound decisions under such pressures drew the attention of the State of Kansas Corrections Department, where I was chosen one of four to create and implement a statewide supervision plan which is currently being used as a vital measuring source for validating evidence-based practices by ways of cultural and ethical treatment, knowledge, and mediation for felony probationers and the community.
As a homeschooler, Antia brings her experience as a Black mother with three beautiful children spanning ages from a launching child in college to elementary age, and her homeschooling experience is extensive! She has participated in promoting legislation that advocates for school choice and educational freedom.
Heather Stark, Officer
https://heatherstark.substack.com/
Heather Stark is the founder of Grace & Grit. Grace & Grit, her girl empowerment company, helps girls discover their worth and potential through the stories of historical women. With a master’s in school counseling from Dallas Baptist University and a bachelor’s in psychology from the University of North Texas, Heather has dedicated her career to inspiring confidence in girls of all ages. She is trained in crisis management and has won awards and grants during her time serving school districts, including the Girl Scouts 2018 Women of Distinction Discovery Award and the Knights of Columbus Humanitarian Award in 2019. As a former educator and school counselor, Heather understands the challenges facing teachers and counselors: not enough time, not enough resources and a growing body of young girls who need to be supported so they may overcome negative pressures and self-doubt. As a young girl, Heather believed she needed to conform to culture’s standards of what and who a girl should be: perfect body, perfect emotions, perfect face. This thought process ultimately left her empty, leading to destructive habits that held far too much control over her life. It wasn’t until she was an adult that she felt empowered enough to embrace her authentic self and charge forward into a life of helping girls.That’s why she developed Grace & Grit Curriculum and individual gift boxes. Grace & Grit’s aim is to enable counselors, parents and group leaders by providing a turnkey tool that helps them reach girls in a fun, engaging and meaningful way. Grace is the name of Heather’s grandmother, who she remembers with affection. Heather Stark is also a podcast host, public speaker and feminist writer. She is the author of "Her Story: A Hilarious and Heartfelt Conversation About Why Beauty Milestones Should Be Options And Not Expectations." She lives on Padre Island with her family, and her child attends a nontraditional “beach school”! Heather wrote this viral Huff Post article, “I've Been To Over 20 Homeschool Conferences. The Things I've Witnessed At Them Shocked Me.”
Vanessa Knight, LCPC, NCC, NCMHC, Founder/Executive Director
www.securecounselingclinic.org/vanessa
With the help of friend Heidi Holycross-Lui, Vanessa founded AnySchoolers after experiences in the homeschool world and seeing a need for a completely open community with no membership dues, physical, emotional and relational safety standards, and no requirements (only encouragement!) of parents to volunteer in order for kids to have access to opportunities.
Vanessa began homechooling with her four children (17-7) in 2015, after 4 years in the public school system with the oldest two kids, who are now thriving in community college and have dreams of their own. Their family travels the world regularly and enjoys the freedom of not receiving truancy warning letters or coming back to piles of make-up work.
Vanessa is a professional counselor and owner of a clinical mental health and marriage/family practice.
An advocate for safety and security of all levels of Maslow's Heirarchy, Vanessa enjoys learning and teaching sustainable living, life skills, and attachment neuroscience.
