 Our Story
Learning, Growth, & Connection for More Than Three Decades
Uplifting Education grew from a longtime passion for helping young people develop not only knowledge, but also character, confidence, compassion, responsibility, and a desire to contribute to others.
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For more than three decades, I’ve worked alongside homeschooling families, creating educational resources and exploring how meaningful learning and thoughtful conversations can help young people grow into capable, caring, and hopeful adults.
Learning Has Always Been a Family Journey
My husband and I homeschooled our four children, an experience that shaped much of the way I think about young people, learning, independence, and family connection.
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After our children completed their homeschooling years, I returned to college and earned my degree in Human Development. In a fitting continuation of our family's educational journey, at different times I even found myself taking college courses alongside three of our four children.
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Today, we're fortunate to have our four adult children and their growing families living in the same community we do. Our family has grown to include grandchildren, and family connection continues to be an important part of our lives.
I've been involved with the homeschool community since the 1990s. Over the years, my work has included creating curriculum and educational resources and supporting parents and young people in their learning and growth.
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While academics matter, I've always been especially interested in the parts of education that reach beyond academics: character, relationships, responsibility, service, purpose, and the choices that shape a life.
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I believe young people benefit from opportunities to consider not only what they know, but also who they are becoming and how they can use their abilities to contribute to their families, communities, and the wider world.
Growing Alongside the Homeschool Community
Uplifting Education's Earlier Chapter
Before today's Connected Learning Series, Uplifting Education offered a K-12 online curriculum for homeschool families.
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That earlier Uplifting Education curriculum received recognition from homeschool organizations, including the Homeschool.com 2016 Seal of Approval and the HOME Educators Resource Directory Seal of Approval.
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Those years of developing curriculum and working with homeschool families became another part of the foundation for Uplifting Education today.
Education Is About More Than Completing Assignments
Throughout my work, one question has continued to interest me:
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How can education prepare young people not only for the next test or course, but for life?
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That means helping teens learn to think carefully, make sound decisions, take responsibility, develop strong relationships, serve others, recognize their own potential, and approach the future with hope.
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Those concerns eventually led me to focus more deeply on the relationship between parents and teens as young people move toward adulthood.
Listen Softly
My work with parents and teens eventually led me to write Listen Softly: A Parent's Guide to Teen Potential, Heartfelt Interactions, and Social Contribution.
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The book explores ways parents can better understand their teens, recognize their potential, and build stronger relationships through meaningful connection.
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Writing Listen Softly reinforced something that has become increasingly important in my educational work: as young people grow in independence, parents don't have to become disconnected from their growth.
The Next Chapter: Connected Learning
The Connected Learning Series brings together many of the ideas that have shaped my work over the years.
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Teens need opportunities to take increasing responsibility for substantial high school learning. They also benefit from opportunities to think about ideas, character, choices, responsibility, and how what they're learning connects to real life.
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And parents don't have to choose between teaching every lesson and being completely removed from their teen's education.
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Connected Learning is designed to create another possibility: students complete their regular coursework independently, while guided parent-teen discussions give parents simple, meaningful ways to remain part of the journey.
Independent learning.
Meaningful conversations.
Stronger connections.
Learning that connects ideas to everyday life and keeps parents connected to their teens.
I'm Glad You're Here
After more than three decades in the homeschool community, I'm excited to begin this next chapter of Uplifting Education.
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My hope is that these courses help teens become increasingly capable and confident learners while creating opportunities for parents and teens to have the kinds of conversations that are easy to lose in the busyness of everyday life.
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Kathleen Sabo
Founder, Uplifting Education
