Our Team
The Cottage Teaching Team is a group of educators with over 35 years of teaching and homeschooling experience, who are passionate about walking beside parents to nurture, engage, guide, and challenge students to thrive, not only in the classroom, but in all areas of life!
Creative Explorers Class (6-8 yrs)
Cynthia Vaccaro
Cynthia Vaccaro homeschooled for 8 years and taught in homeschool co-ops, as well as teaching at The Cottage, in all she has been educating for 25 years. She is married to a wonderful husband and is a parent of 3 creative adult children, in successful careers. She is also a grandmother of three. She loves being creative whether it's painting in the visual arts, needle crafts, decorating her home, or gardening; anything inspiring! She has taught Sunday school, and Bible studies, and works with at-risk teens in Lincoln. She was a licensed childcare provider, a published photographer and writer, an editor, an administrator, and a business owner as well. Cynthia loves helping children discover their learning potential in creative, engaging, and fun ways while also working on educational standards.
Learning Adventures Class (8-10 yrs)
Laura Ashmun
Laura has been a home educator of her children as well as children of others for the past 30 years. Laura is a never married adoptive mother of four, a former foster parent of many, and a grandmother of four. Ms. Ashmun completed a course of study at Western Governor’s University working towards a teaching credential in special education. She has a scope of knowledge addressing reading and spelling challenges. She seeks to uncover the genius that resides in every person.
The Story of Us (10-13 yrs)
April Brennan
April has been part of the homeschool community for over 20 years. She has enjoyed homeschooling her own 2 children, now graduated lovely adults. While homeschooling, April enjoyed participating in and teaching in numerous homeschool cooperatives throughout the greater Sacramento area. She has seen homeschooling grow from a grass roots alternative to the powerful nationwide movement it is today. April is a retired Practical Nurse and thus, loves all things human. She is exited to share her passion for understanding both the human body and the world around us with her students! Her strong desire is to equip this beautiful generation with the knowledge, understanding, and skills they will need to become great people and do great things!