OUR MISSION
Upcountry Academy was created for families seeking a different path for their children's education. Built on the core values of freedom, fellowship and innovation, we offer homeschool enrichment classes for families who want to opt-out of the conventional system, but may have thought homeschool was out of reach (or even impossible).
Whether you’ve been homeschooling for a while or are simply beginning to re-evaluate your options, we’re here to help you take the lead in your child’s education.
MEET THE FOUNDERS
Upcountry Academy is the story of a small group of moms, just like you, who knew they didn't want their kids to be in conventional schooling — but weren't quite sure how they were going to pull off homeschooling, either.
Lauren Zummo, Programs Director & Lead Instructor
“I’m grateful that Amador County is home to a thriving and growing homeschool community.
I feel called to help bring more resources and community-building opportunities to homeschooling families in our local area. ”
Born and raised in Northern California, Lauren is a wife and mother of two young boys, ages 6 and 8. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Development from the University of California, Riverside, and spent several years tutoring and substitute teaching before exploring other career paths in music, customer service and recruitment.
After fifteen years of visiting family and spending holidays in Amador County, she and her husband moved their family to Pine Grove with hopes of finding a community of other likeminded, freedom-loving parents and an overall better place to raise their kids.
Shortly after their move to Amador, Lauren became co-owner and Guide at Acton Academy Amador (a program for homeschool families), where her oldest was attending.
In 2023, Lauren co-founded Upcountry Academy, and has worn many hats since day one — from building renovations to lesson planning, to onboarding new class instructors and working with the local charters. She currently serves as the board Secretary, as well as Programs Director and a lead instructor for several classes in a variety of subject areas.
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“I have learned and grown so much over the past few years, and I am truly grateful to have discovered a world, often fondly referred to as ‘disruptive education’, that is outside of the traditional schooling model. I am also grateful that Amador County is home to a thriving and growing homeschool community. I feel called to bring more resources and community-building opportunities to homeschooling families in our local area.”
Sara Nino, Business Director & Lead Instructor
Working with children has always been a part of Sara’s life — she started a babysitting business as a teenager, took child development courses in college, ran a small in-home daycare, and started a homeschool co-op while living in the Bay Area. For the past six years, Sara has homeschooled her two sons, watching them flourish outside the traditional school system. She is also a mom of two grown daughters and two grandsons who light up her life.
Sara and her husband were born and raised in the Bay Area, but decided in 2020 to sell their home and “road-school” their boys as a family before settling in Amador County in 2022.
Sara originally joined Upcountry Academy during the Spring 2024 semester when she brought the Entrepreneurship class to our program lineup. She quickly became an instrumental member of our small-but-mighty team, and is now our Business Director, Treasurer, and a lead instructor for several classes in a variety of subjects this year.
With her background in business and accounting, she jumped in to take over the financial side of our non-profit to help ensure our future sustainability. She earned her BA in Communications and a Masters in Accounting from Santa Clara University, and spent 15 years at a CPA firm where she enjoyed helping clients set up their businesses and accounting systems.
Sara believes in making learning fun and engaging for children while helping them develop skills they will carry into adulthood. In her spare time, you’ll probably find her floating on her paddle board on one of our nearby lakes.
Kelly Barr, Development Director
“We no longer wanted what traditional school had to offer, but the idea of being home with kids, all day every day?
That was... a lot. I think the hybrid model is what we’ve been wanting all along.”
Kelly grew up in a suburb of Sacramento and is a wife and mom to three kids, ages 6, 9 and 21. Her background is in design and branding, and after getting her start at an educational video company for teachers, she later moved into print publishing and worked as the Art Director for Comstock’s magazine for a little over a decade. Later, as her family grew, she opted for self-employment as a photographer and web designer.
Kelly describes herself as an “accidental homeschooler,” because, until recently, her kids had all spent at least some of their time in conventional schools.
Then, like for so many families, along came 2020 — the year that changed everything. From shifting priorities in the public school system, to lockdowns and policy changes at the Montessori preschool where her younger kids attended, the school systems she once loved had become unrecognizable. Not to mention, rising crime in their small town also meant it was time for a big change.
After seriously considering an out-of-state move, instead, she and husband Matt packed up their family and found their new home in Pioneer, the same California town where Kelly had spent many years visiting her grandparents as a child after they’d retired and built their cabin here.
Living in upcountry Pioneer also meant that homeschooling was back on the table, so Kelly began researching and talking to other parents in the community. She decided if she was going to homeschool, she wanted some of the amazing resources and classes here that were only available “down the hill,” more than an hour away.
In 2023, she and Lauren started Upcountry Academy and got to work planning out the first year of enrichment classes. Kelly continues to enjoy her role working “behind the scenes” on class planning, marketing, and anything else that can help grow the mission and reach of our non-profit. She currently serves as the Development Director.
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“We knew we no longer wanted what traditional school had to offer, but the idea of being home with kids, all day every day? That was... a LOT. I think the hybrid model is what we’ve been wanting for our family all along — more involvement with our kids, but with the social benefits and community that comes from learning with peers.”
CORE VALUES
At Upcountry Academy, we believe in…
Freedom
The right to make educational decisions that align with your family values and support your child’s individual learning style.
Fellowship
Bringing our community together in support of each other and a common vision.
Innovation
Identifying ways we can move beyond the status quo and provide a rich learning experience for children in our community.
In other news…
We’re now officially a 501c3 nonprofit.
What does that mean? If you’d like to support our mission of empowering parents to take the lead in their children’s education, your contributions or donations may be tax-deductible.