Our Mission

The Vine Academy comes alongside families who desire to educate their children through a Christ-centered, Gospel-saturated, biblical worldview. Meeting weekly from September to May, students are trained in subjects like science, geography, creative writing, art, music, physical education, and more, fostering academic growth and spiritual formation. The goal is to see Christ formed in the mind and heart of each child. Education is discipleship, and we understand the weighty, but joyful task of raising little souls to the glory of God. The stewardship has been entrusted to parents, but the Academy desires to walk with you, serving you to the best of our abilities! We seek to achieve this by:

  • Teaching and modeling Biblical truths to the children.
  • Teaching each subject through a Biblical worldview.
  • Praying for one another's children, families, and The Academy as a whole.
  • Providing resources and experience, especially for moms newer to home education.
  • Encouraging and supporting one another as we seek to train our children in the way they should go.

Since the Academy does not seek to replace parents, but come alongside them, it is not a drop-off program. It is a collaborative effort designed to support parents as the primary educators. As a result, we encourage families to actively participate in a shared learning community. Together, our desire is to pursue excellence, cultivate meaningful relationships, and help students grow in knowledge, wisdom, virtue, and conviction shaped by the Word of God.

2026 - 2027 Academy Schedule

The Vine Academy meets weekly on Thursdays, beginning September 17, 2026 through May 20, 2027.

9:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

Fall Semester

             
September: 17, 24

October: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

November: 5, 12, 19

December: 3


Spring Semester

       
January: 28

February: 4, 11, 18, 25

March: 4, 11, 18

April: 8, 15, 22, 29

May: 6, 13

** May 20th - Open House and Curriculum Preview Day!

How to Get Started: Register!

Enrollment: Now through August 28, 2026.

Cost: $40 per child (with a cap of $200 per family).

Childcare: Available for younger siblings ages 1-3.

Register: Complete this Registration Form to sign up!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the expectations for parents involved with The Academy?
Parent participation is a necessary part of The Vine Academy. Parents will be asked to volunteer in some capacity, whether as a teacher, teacher's assistant, or childcare provider.  Background checks will be required for all adults participating in The Academy.
Is The Vine Academy a school or replacement for individual family homeschooling?
No. The Vine Academy exists as a supplemental opportunity for families, not as a replacement for traditional homeschooling. Some of the benefits of joining The Academy include:

Social activities for kids and parents, including outings, field trips and other events.
Access to teachers who are passionate about a subject.
A support system of other like-minded parents.
Kids learn to take direction from different teachers and teaching styles, learning, as well, to work in group settings.
Some things are just more fun with friends!

Is there a core curriculum needed to be a part of The Academy?
The curriculum you use in your daily homeschooling is completely up to you. The Vine Academy is designed to supplement your homeschool, not replace it.

All curriculum and materials for Thursday classes will be supplied by The Academy.  Homework, if any, will be minimal and optional at the discretion of each individual family. The intent is The Academy support families in their homeschooling, not add extra stress or burden. 
What is the cost of participating in The Academy?
The Vine Academy requires a registration of $40 per student with a cap of $200 per family. This fee is only for students, not for younger siblings who do not participate in the regular classes. If the cost is prohibitive for your family, please reach out to the Academy Coordinator.

Besides the registration fee, there is no cost for families. The Vine Academy provides all curricula and supplies used during our Thursday classes.

Meet Our Teachers

Lydia Miller

TVA Lead, Physical Education

My husband, Matt, and I have been married for over 15 years, and have been blessed with four precious children. I had the wonderful privilege of serving alongside my husband as The Vine was planted in 2018. It has been a joy to watch the Lord richly bless and provide for our church. As a second-generation homeschooler, I am passionate about homeschooling and encouraging moms as they educate their children and care for their homes. I am currently teaching a fourth grader, a second grader, and a preschooler! I also have a love for physical education. I spent much of my youth playing sports-perhaps a little too much and not nearly enough time learning how to braid hair or do makeup like many of the other girls my age. Thankfully, all those years on the field are finally paying off! I now have the opportunity to teach physical education and help children develop a love for physical activity.

Nichole Severino

TVA Lead, Children's Systematic Theology

My husband Luke and I have been attending The Vine since it planted in 2018. I am second generation homeschooler currently teaching a third grader and a kindergartener with two toddlers and a fifth baby on the way! I’m so honored to co-lead The Vine Academy with Lydia and teach Adventure Club, which is an age-based theology curriculum. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from UW-Parkside. Before I left the workforce to raise my girls, I worked at ManpowerGroup as the Sr. Manager over Abbott’s Global Nonemployee Labor Program. My hobbies include reading, making cards and journals, and struggling with sourdough.

Debbie Miller

Music

My husband Larry and I have been married for almost 44 years.  We have been richly blessed with two sons and seven precious grandchildren.  We have been members of The Vine since 2025.  I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Piano Performance from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s Degree in Piano Performance from Indiana University.  The Lord has graciously allowed me to teach piano out of my home for the past 30 plus years.  My journey with homeschooling began with teaching music enrichment to my grandchildren as part of their homeschool curriculum.  When the co-op formed, it was a natural transition for me to teach the children in our church family.  

In addition to giving piano lessons, I spend many hours during the week practicing the piano for both solo work and accompanying soloists and ensembles.

In my free time, I enjoy cooking, spending time with my husband, carrying on the Italian family traditions, judging piano competitions and of course being a Nonna to my sweet grandchildren.

I am excited to continue teaching at The Vine Academy and to see how the Lord will bless and grow our children as they learn about music and develop a love for and appreciation of it.

Brittany Cady

Literature Enrichment & Crafts

Working with children to build a lifelong love of curiosity, imagination, and learning has been my dream since I was a girl myself. I have vivid memories of setting up “school” in our basement and coercing my younger brother to be the student. The Lord has been kind to allow me to use the gifts He’s given me in many different ways in the 20+ years since I graduated from Carthage College with a BA in Elementary Education and a minor in German. I taught second grade at the Milwaukee German Immersion school for 3 years, taught a semester of German at Heritage Christian School, worked as a German correspondent for a holocaust era restitution project, taught swim lessons for many years, and have also subbed at many different schools.  Most recently, I piloted a new 4K program at a Racine private school, where I wrote and developed curriculum and taught for 4 years. This year, I am returning to the stay-at-home mom world, and homeschooling our youngest who is entering 4th grade.

My husband Tim and I have 5 children (though three of them are now well into the teen years) and are excited to return to homeschooling. With only one older child schooling at home now (the others attend private school) I look forward to attempting to learn Spanish with my daughter and am hoping to have more time to putz in my gardens and enjoy some good books.

Abbie Stillone

Creative Writing

In the fall of 2023, my husband, Marcus, and I joyfully became members of The Vine Community Church. After a couple years of teaching 3rd grade within the Elmbrook School District, we welcomed our first baby girl, which brought me home to be with her full time. We now have 2 under 2, and it is my joy and delight to be in this high calling! I always dreamed of being a stay-at-home mom and eventually homeschooling my own kids, but I dearly miss teaching, as our daughters are not quite school-aged yet. I was ecstatic for the opportunity to teach in children's Sunday School, and now The Vine Academy, to scratch that itch!

I have a Bachelor's Degree with a major in Elementary Education and minor in Special Education from UW-Whitewater. It is my passion to share the love and knowledge of Christ to children of all ages and abilities.

Emily Rivera

Geography

My husband, Manuel, and I have been members of the Vine since 2020. We have a son and one child on the way due in February, Lord-willing. I am excited to be a part of the Vine Academy this year as the geography teacher.

I hold a Master's of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and have experience teaching in public schools in the United States and abroad in Bulgaria through the Fulbright program. My love for geography started as a young child. While most children growing up received Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels cars for Christmas and birthdays, I asked for a globe, an Atlas or a geography game. I loved hearing stories from missionaries from my church who shared how God was working around the world. That love for geography and cultures led me to study English as a Second Language Education in college with minors in Bible and Intercultural Studies. Through my studies and the time afterward, I had the opportunity to travel to 23 countries. I hope to use the knowledge gained during those travels to teach the Academy students about the world God created.

In my free time, I enjoy reading and gardening. My favorite thing to do on a Saturday is go on a little day trip adventure with my husband and son. 

Judy Love

Science

Hello! My name is Judy Love and I have been given the privilege of teaching Science to the older children at The Vine Academy.

My husband, Tom and I homeschooled our children (Tom III, Elisabeth and Caleb) from 1995 to 2009. Our curriculum was very self-directed and encouraged curiosity and learning to love to learn. I have an associate degree in nursing from Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wisconsin, but I only worked as a registered nurse for a short time, instead choosing to be a stay at home mother while my husband worked in a job that requires much traveling. I recently retired after serving 23 years as a church secretary at Missio Dei Fellowship church in Kenosha. This has allowed me to spend more time with my grandchildren (Rory and Magnolia) and given me the opportunity to teach Science here at The Vine Academy.

I enjoy doing all kinds of crafts and experiments and look forward to having lots of fun learning and discovering God’s creation through our Noeo Science curriculum.

Esthefanie Lupo

Art

To Come.

Carrie Palmer

Nature Study & Journaling 

I am delighted to join The Vine Academy and teach Nature Study. I have been homeschooling my two wonderful daughters for eight years and it has greatly shaped our family culture and brought a new love of learning into my life. I have been involved in starting nature groups, homeschool book clubs, and co-ops. I also taught Literature in a homeschool co-op and helped students read and perform Shakespeare plays.

My husband, Aaron, and I started attending The Vine in 2025 and it is a joy to be members of such a loving church. In my leisure time I like to read, collect books, and hike with my family. I have a bachelor’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University in Multidisciplinary Studies, and I enjoy studying and taking classes on languages, literature, education, and all things Tolkien and Lewis.

Amanda Anderson

Physical Education

My husband Phil and I have been attending The Vine since 2022. We have two boys, Bradley and Peyton, and decided to start homeschooling this year.  Previously, I worked for TheraDynamics Physical Therapy for 8 years (4 years as a Rehab Aide / Front Desk Admin, and 4 years as a Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant). I obtained my Associate’s Degree as a Physical Therapy Assistant from Bryant and Stratton College in Wauwatosa, WI. I also have a Bachelor’s in Physical Education from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN.  

I am looking forward to teaching Physical Education at The Vine Academy! My hobbies include hiking, running, crocheting, reading, baking, and spending time with family.

Jill Healy

Academy Coordinator

I am so excited and honored to be the coordinator of The Vine Academy! My husband Justin and I have been married for 24 years and have five children. We have been members of The Vine since 2020 and have been homeschooling since 2012. Currently, we have two children in school (grades nine and eleven). In addition to growing my family, I worked for nearly two decades in a large Milwaukee-area law firm. In my free time, I enjoy reading, baking, and playing outside.