WHAT WE BELIEVE.....
We believe that all children not only can learn, they want to learn.  We believe that learning should be self-directed. We believe that democracy is something that we need to practice from a very early age. We believe that with freedom comes personal responsibility, and that we best learn how they are interrelated by practicing both.  We believe that children's opinions and feelings matter - a lot.  We believe that a noisy room usually means that a lot of kids are engaged and learning.  We believe that the world is our classroom. We believe that knowledge - of art and emotions, of our bodies and geometry, of the natural world and the social world - is interconnected. We believe kids love exploring that interconnectivity.  We believe in encouraging imagination and creativity - and that sometimes this is messy.  We believe we learn best when we are allowed to have "Aha!" moments on our own.  We also believe in encouraging (not forcing!) others to expand themselves and try new things.  We believe that physical movement is good for us. We believe children should be outside as much as possible. 
Most of all, We believe having it all is possible!
Teri: Founder & Lead Teacher
My name is Teri Cole-Smith.  I am currently a certified teacher here in Athens.  I have been involved with both public and progressive education for the last twenty years and have spent 7 years in a formal classroom.  Prior to that I unschooled my older son (now 19) with great joy.  (He happily entered college, two years ahead of his peers and is pursuing his love: art!)  My younger son (13) will likely be joining FTGU part-time in the fall 2011 so he can have the freedom to pursue his own interests - music, working and??!  I graduated with honors from Rollins College and have a masters degree from the University of Chicago in English literature.  Before my first child, I pursued graduate studies in education at the University of Illinois, where I was also involved with the public education reform movement.  I also attended an experiential Environmental Education Center (Meadowcreek) for six months in the Ozarks.   I have extensive training and experience in how best to compassionately deal with behavior issues, and as a special ed teacher, have spent a great deal of time working with children who don't fit the traditional classroom mold.  I have worked with groups of kids ranging in age from preschool to college freshman.  I also have a wide range of personal interests, from reading, to arts and crafts, to gardening, to just daydreaming  in my (very rustic!) cabin in the Ozark mountains.

And...We believe in living and learning outside the box.
freedom to growUNschool
Lora: Assistant Teacher
Greetings from your new assistant teacher! A little info about me that might help you to get to know me better. My name is Lora Smothers. This spring I graduated from UGA with a master's degree in educational psychology with a focus in gifted education.  And before that, I got my bachelor's degree in neuroscience and played basketball at Emory University in Atlanta. All of that may sound really hoity-toity, but I'm really just a good ole southern girl from Alabama who likes playing in the woods and eating foods that are high in cholesterol. :)  I have worked in lots of different arenas with kids--as a tutor, a nanny, a basketball coach, a debate coach, a summer camp counselor, a youth minister, and as a gifted ed teacher here in Clarke county.  But I think that the environment Teri has set up at the freedom to grow UNschool is wonderfully different from anything I've ever done before. I am thrilled to be able to work with kids in an environment where they are given the respect they deserve as thoughtful and dynamic human beings. It's going to be such a blast living and learning together this upcoming year! What a fun adventure we are all embarking on together!