Feature Family

Meet the Schiffler Family

In the Schiffler home, the rhythm of the day might include ballet slippers by the door, a volleyball bag ready for travel, and a stack of well-loved books on the kitchen table. It’s an active, creative household where passions are pursued wholeheartedly, and home education makes space for all of it.

Whitney and her husband made the move to home education three years ago after previously teaching and learning in a small private school setting, where Whitney served as a high school English teacher. With her husband working as a Wildland Firefighter and often gone during the summer months, the family longed for more flexibility and time together. “We have been so grateful for the move,” Whitney shared.

Their school week typically runs Monday through Thursday, with Fridays reserved for field trips, ski days, or volleyball tournaments. They start their mornings around 9:00, gathering to watch World Watch before the girls move into language arts and math. Later, they come back together for science and history, leaving afternoons open for extracurriculars and personal interests.

Both girls are deeply invested in their passions. Emme recently landed the role of Alice in Alice in Wonderland and fills her schedule with musical theater, ballet, acrobatics, and voice lessons. Tupper plays competitive club volleyball with an intense travel schedule and practices daily on her own. She’s also taken up the bass guitar. Both girls are avid readers, devouring everything from The Ranger’s Apprentice and Percy Jackson to The Hunger Games and beyond.

Whitney is especially grateful for the support they’ve received through Venture Upward. “We’ve been very thankful for Lisa’s expertise,” she said, noting that weekly math tutoring from their TOR has helped strengthen challenging concepts. Beyond academics, she values the freedom to travel, explore hands-on learning, like their recent marine biology course complete with dissections, and build a lifestyle that fits their family.

As a Mentor Teacher in Idaho, Whitney now encourages other families walking a similar path. For the Schiffler family, the greatest gift of home education is freedom—freedom to grow, to rest, to travel, and to chase the passions that make learning come alive.