Jon Funes
Founder & CEO

The story of how Venture Upward began is one of adversity turned into beauty and resilience. It is a story born of a community coming together with a heart of service. It is a story that begins with Jon Funes.

In 2019, Jon Funes was given a diagnosis that no one wants to hear–brain cancer. During this time of fighting the disease and recovery, Jon experienced community and genuine love and support from others in a way that changed his life forever. He came through to the other side of this adversity on a mission knowing that his new-found health and life needed to be dedicated to one thing: What can he do to help people?

When Jon was a little boy, he did not love school and learning of any kind. It wasn’t until a teacher took an interest in him and showed him what learning can inspire, that he truly began to fall in love with learning. Throughout Jon’s life, he has held many leadership roles in both engineering and education. He has used his love of learning to lead and influence others to do the same including his wonderful wife and seven awesome children.

Taking the mission to help and serve people combined with his passion for learning and education, Jon started Venture Upward with the goal to help families cultivate and embrace a culture of lifelong learning and success. Jon says, “Whatever we do, if we try to stay positive and try to do what’s right, then daily we’ll have that joy.” Venture Upward’s story is one of serving people that brings joy and happiness.

Jessica Breuer
President

Jessica Breuer is the mother of seven amazing children. Her family’s mission statement embraces various values, including faith, family, leadership, education, charity, empathy, joy, and living on purpose. It was upon embracing that family mission statement that Jessica put her own doctoral pursuits, distinguished academic awards, publications, and nationally presented research on hold to dive into homeschooling!

Several years into her homeschooling journey, an opportunity presented itself to pursue a career in the home education world that she had fallen in love with; again, she dove in. Along the way, Jessica realized her passion for helping other women grow professionally while continuing to home-educate. She has helped many women grow into their roles as both professionals and home-educating moms.

With a deeply rooted belief in the power of encouragement and community, Jessica hopes to inspire others to live on purpose, thus allowing productivity, light, and joy to flood their lives and the lives of others.

Courtney Schloss
VP Program Development

Courtney is a dedicated educator, leader, and homeschooling mom of 18 years who has graduated three students and is still homeschooling her last four children. With an Associate’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor’s in Elementary Education, she spent five years teaching at Headstart preschool and three years in elementary classrooms before transitioning to virtual teaching.

As a training manager, program director, and now Vice President of Program Development at Venture Upward, Courtney excels in curriculum development and enhancing student-teacher relationships in online settings. A sought-after speaker at home education conferences, she continues to inspire educators with her insights on homeschooling, virtual teaching, and effective curriculum design.

Gary L. Adams
Chief Financial Officer

Gary is a Certified Public Accountant with 40 years of experience in accounting, auditing, tax, and business management. He has been a partner in local CPA firms and the chief financial officer for several businesses over the years.

He and Gini, his wife of 45 years, have four children and eight grandchildren. Gary believes strongly in parental choice and personalized education, recognizing that children learn in different ways and excel through varying abilities and interests. His outside passions are family, travel, puzzles, and legal fiction.

Dakota Lawrence
Regional Program Director

Dakota Lawrence has spent his career in education as a high school teacher, teacher coach, principal, and now Regional Program Director. Alongside his professional journey, he has also experienced the joys and challenges of homeschooling, which deepened his appreciation for the flexibility and personalization it offers families.

At home, Dakota and his wife enjoy raising their three children, with another little one on the way. He loves spending time with his family, continuing to learn and grow, and being part of Venture’s mission to create lifelong learners in every student.

Sarah Robbins
Regional Program Director

Sarah Robbins is the Regional Program Director for Venture Upward, overseeing programs in Arizona and Idaho. Since 2022, she has served in various roles within Venture and is passionate about cultivating a love of learning while supporting and encouraging families. With degrees in Special Education and Curriculum and Instruction, Sarah has over ten years of teaching experience in diverse educational settings.

Her greatest joy is her family, her husband and their seven energetic children. Together, they have embraced a unique and evolving educational journey, cherishing the time spent learning and growing alongside one another.

Jill Flink
Human Resources Director

Jill Fink serves as HR Director at Venture Upward, bringing 17 years of professional experience and a personal passion for supporting both the team and families with care and insight.

As a mother of four and grandmother to twelve, she has a deep appreciation for strong educational opportunities and nurturing environments. Jill loves Venture’s mission to foster a true love of learning and positively impact families’ lives. She is grateful to be part of a team that values people, invests in their success, and creates meaningful opportunities for children and families to thrive.

Nancie Pratt
Curriculum Director

Nancie Pratt is a veteran homeschool mom who homeschooled her six children for nearly 20 years. She loved discovering creative resources and opportunities to enrich their learning and has continued that passion in her work with Venture Upward.

With 13 years of experience in virtual education, Nancie values the chance to help families access innovative and engaging learning experiences. A lifelong learner herself, she holds degrees in English, Humanities, and Management. In her free time, Nancie enjoys reading, watercolor painting, hiking, exploring national parks, and spending time with her family. She is grateful to be part of such a dedicated team.

Rebekah Clark-Benavides
AZ Venture Schools Regional Manager

Rebekah Benavides is the mother of five and has homeschooled for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, is a certified Montessori teacher, and has an Arizona teaching certificate. Her teaching experience spans private and public schools, co-ops, and afterschool programs.

Beyond the classroom, Rebekah volunteers with Scouts, church, and choir. A book collector, seamstress, and traveler, she also loves sharing her homeschooling journey with others. As Regional Manager of Venture Schools in Arizona, Rebekah works alongside her team to support families with care, creativity, and compassion.

Kelley McGinnis
Regional Manager for Minnesota Venture Schools

Kelley McGinnis is the Regional Manager for Minnesota Venture Schools. She and her husband, Justin, have three children and have been homeschooling for nine years. Their homeschooling journey began out of a desire to spend more time together as a family, personalize their children’s education, and create space for creativity and play.

The McGinnis family enjoys an active lifestyle filled with sports and travel. They love the flexibility that homeschooling and remote work provide, allowing them to explore both the U.S. and international destinations, occasionally escaping the cold Minnesota winters. Kelley appreciates Venture Schools for the friendships, hands-on learning, and the refreshing break it offers from their normal routine.

Beth Burrus
Communications Manager

Beth Burrus was drawn to Venture Upward because of its shared commitment to tailoring education, fostering curiosity, and encouraging families in their unique journeys. As Communications Manager, she loves connecting with families, hearing their stories, and supporting them along the way. With a background in Cross-Cultural Studies and Administrative Management, Beth brings both creativity and organization to her work.

She began homeschooling over sixteen years ago, realizing she had been teaching her child since birth through everyday lessons like healthy habits, colors, and numbers. Influenced by the Classical model, she values freedom, flexibility, and the joy of seeing children’s love for learning grow.

Amanda Webb
Student Success Team Director

Amanda Webb has spent 17 years in education and 9 years homeschooling her seven children, giving her a unique perspective as both an educator and a parent. She holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education Cross-Categorical K–12 and an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education K–8 and Special Education Cross-Categorical K–12.

Amanda values the flexibility, creativity, and growth that come with homeschooling and enjoys tailoring learning to her children’s needs while fostering a love of learning. She loves being part of Venture, as it provides opportunities for her as a mom, as an educator, and for families nationwide seeking the best for their children.