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Mindy White-4th-8th

Hi!  My name is Mindy White.  I am so excited to be partnering in the education of your 4th - 8th graders!  I have homeschooled my own children for many years, as well as taught at a public charter school, and another homeschool co-op.  I have four children, the oldest of which just graduated from Grand Canyon University and got married this summer.  My middle daughter just graduated from high school and is headed to study engineering with a focus in aviation at University of North Dakota, and my youngest daughter is a junior in high school and is attending RCC beginning in September.  My husband and I have been married for 22 years and have lived in many states as well as overseas.  We served as missionaries for 2 1/2 years in Paraguay, South America and are now settled here, in the Rogue Valley, where my husband is originally from.  I enjoy school as well as the challenge to make learning fun!


Laurie Claffey-2nd-3rd

Hello! My name is Laurie Claffey. At heart, I have been a nurturer and an educator nearly my whole life. My teaching career began at eight years of age, when I set up school on my front porch and taught my neighborhood playmates what I had learned in 2nd grade. Sixteen years later, after earning my Bachelor of Arts in Education, I spent one year as a substitute teacher in Washington before moving to Alaska to teach 1st and 2nd grade in a Christian school. In recent years, I have worked at a Christian preschool, tutored at a local charter school, and assisted in 2nd and 5th grade classrooms in the Grants Pass school district. I have also privately tutored children of various ages and abilities and am proud to have been co-founder of the Grants Pass Homeschool Co-op. I have also worked with the Big Sisters program, taught Sunday school, mentored single mothers, foster parented, and provided respite for friends with special needs children.

Educating my four children at home has been a rewarding challenge. Two of my kids were honors students, one of whom was awarded a $40,000 scholarship. My other two children struggled to learn in traditional ways and motivated me to spend many hours researching alternate, effective approaches to their education. All graduated with a home school diploma. I love the homeschooling lifestyle and am eager to come alongside younger parents as they live out their own home school journey.


ABBY SHEETS-1ST 

Hello families. My name is Abby Sheets. When I don't have my nose in a book, you'll find me drinking black tea, playing in the garden or acting  ridiculous over my newest baby farm animal. As far back as I can remember, I have loved learning and helping people. I didn't always know I wanted to be a teacher, but am profoundly glad that God kept nudging and leading me until I took the leap to go back to school and get my teaching license about seventeen years ago. Since making that decision, I met and married my husband of sixteen years, have instructed at RCC, worked as a teacher's aide in public school, substitute taught for public and private schools for grades K-12, become a mother of four, helped in my older children's schools, home schooled my children for five years and taught in a local homeschool group.  I am now looking forward to the best of both worlds as I plan and prepare to teach first grade at Arrows this coming year while still homeschooling my two youngest kids the other days of the week.  I love the flexibility and opportunity to be a bigger part of my kids' lives through homeschooling, but I also love the energy, learning and friendships that come from being involved in a small classroom setting. I am truly grateful to be given this opportunity to teach and to encourage other families as they embark on their own homeschool journeys.  

Jeanne Van Buskirk-Kinder

Hello friends!  I’m Jeanne Van Buskirk or Mrs. Jeanne to the kiddos.  I’ve been married to my husband, Mike for 29 years!  Together, we have five children who are all grown.  The last five years, we have been caring for my 94-year-old grandfather who served in the Navy for 22 years.  We also have a dog, Princess Reia who truly IS a princess.    I have spent many years in Administration and even worked at Disneyland before the Lord helped me find my passion for teaching.  Since moving back to Oregon, God has put all the right people and opportunities in my path.   I have been at Grace preschool the last two school years working with Preschool-Kindergarten a couple days a week.  I discovered my love for working with children is colossal.  To be a part of the beginning of Grants Pass Arrows this fall, is an honor and a privilege and I can’t wait to meet your kindergartners this fall!



Kathy Mikels-Aftercare

Hi! My name Kathy Mikels. I feel so blessed to be a part of this wonderful group of ladies and amazing kids at Arrows! I’m the mother of 10 children and 23 grandchildren so it’s no wonder I love working with kids!

My children are all grown, graduated, and well into their careers so I now have the opportunity to impact another generation! I’ve been married to my husband, Ted, for 41 years. We enjoy living out in the country in the Illinois Valley. I’ve been in the homeschool world for 33 years as I have educated many of my children from home. I have a passion for seeing kids flourish academically, emotionally, and spiritually. Character formation and fun are important to me. I’m truly honored to spend time with your children and look forward to seeing all that God has in store for Arrows this year!


Amie Blore-Grants Pass Campus Director

Hello! I am Amie Blore. I am excited to be helping to bring Arrows to Grants Pass! After a year of commuting to the Central Point campus with our daughter, we are happy to have Arrows in our own community. I have been married for 18 years and we have three children. Annabelle will be in fourth grade, Breanne in first, and Jonathan in kindergarten. We attend Edgewater Christian Fellowship and I have been privileged to help in the children’s wing and be involved on the MOPS leadership team the last five years. I have a Business Administration degree and have always enjoyed administrative work. I have assisted in my children’s classrooms in public school and private preschool and kindergarten. Each year we have prayed concerning what the Lord has for our children’s education. Last year we strongly felt lead to move to homeschooling. Arrows Academy has been a perfect fit for our family in providing the classroom environment along with the flexibility of homeschooling. I love schooling together in a community and I am excited for this coming school year!


Becky Sanislo-bookkeper

My name is Becky Sanislo. I am excited to serve the families at Arrows through admin, billing, tuition, etc... I have had many years of experience in bookkeeping and other administrative duties during the 26 years of helping my husband run his own business in Southern California. We moved to Southern Oregon almost 6 years ago to live near our daughter and her family and have a slower pace of life. I am married with 2 daughters and 6 grandkids. We enjoy camping, boating, bike riding and hiking. 

Becky works out of our Central Point campus managing finances and processing tuition for both campuses.


becky Abrams-Academy Executive Director

Hello! I am blessed to be beginning my 8th year with Arrows this fall (2022)! I am nothing special...just a mom and wife who likes excel spreadsheets and tacos. Stephan and I have been married since 2008 and I have 5 kiddos ranging from ages 7 to 22! We currently attend church in Grants Pass and spend our family time together bowling, trying hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and playing Wii sports and Mario Kart. :) The Lord has been gracious in taking my hodge-podge of experience and using it for His glory. I grew up a pastor's kid learning to do all things church and event related at an early age. In high school, I worked at a local preschool and spent summers on staff at JH Ranch in Etna working with horses, cleaning, and kitchen crew. After high school, I became a mom and did in home daycare for a while and eventually took a job at a local church as the Early Childhood Coordinator. I also directed events including VBS and taught Saturday night kids church. A few years later, I took a job at Grace Christian School as an aide and substitute lunch lady but after our 4th child joined us, I ventured into the homeschool world. Quickly realizing our need for connection, I started a field trip group that ended up becoming Arrows the next year (2015). I served as the Co-op Director for four years and the last three years as the Academy Director. As the Academy has grown, my role recently shifted to Academy Executive Director where I can mentor our campus directors, work on curriculum, and work on the large-scale oversight tasks.  I love seeing what the Lord has for us each year and can only image what the future holds for Arrows!


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