Ohio

Girls in Grades 8 – 12

This dynamic course is led by Venture Upward President Jessica Breuer and Senior Development Director Courtney Schloss, two inspired women committed to raising the next generation of female leaders. Through lively weekly sessions, guest speakers, and book studies, students will dive into leadership principles, personal growth, communication skills, and goal setting. This is a high-energy, highly interactive course that builds real-world confidence and purpose.

Each student will receive a custom toolkit (books, journals, leadership exercises) and will complete a personal growth project over the semester. Expect bold conversations, hands-on learning, and life-changing mentorship.

This track includes but is not limited to the following:

• Weekly live virtual sessions with small-group mentorship
• Leadership Toolkit mailed to each student (books, journals, and project materials)
• Inspiring guest speakers and live Q&A opportunities
• Guided book studies focused on leadership, mindset, and confidence
• Personal growth and goal-setting activities
• Interactive group discussions and leadership challenges
• A semester-long project to apply leadership principles in real life
• 1:1 check-ins and ongoing mentor support
• Access to a supportive online community of like-minded girls
• Certificate of completion and a celebration event at the end of the semester

Outcome: Empowered young women ready to lead in their homes, communities, and future careers.

Meet Your Mentors (Get a picture of Jessica and Courtney)
Jessica and Courtney bring a combined 30+ years of experience as educators, homeschoolers, leaders, and mentors.

Jessica is a homeschooling mom of eight and one of the original visionaries behind Venture Upward. She stepped away from her academic career, including doctoral work, national presentations, and published research to dedicate herself to her children and to empower other women to lead with purpose, clarity, and intention. She graduated summa cum laude from a major university and was selected as a Presidential Scholar, the highest honor reserved for students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and leadership. Jessica is passionate about helping women grow personally and professionally while living with intention. Her work now focuses on developing high-quality educational programs, empowering women, and leading with intention and vision. Her leadership and deep sense of purpose are at the heart of everything Venture Upward offers.

Courtney, a mother of seven and veteran homeschooler of 18 years, has successfully graduated three children and continues to home-educate her remaining four. With degrees in Early Childhood and Elementary Education, she began her career in public education, teaching Head Start and elementary classrooms before transitioning to virtual education and leadership. As Venture Upward’s Senior Vice President of Program Development, Courtney has led curriculum design initiatives, supported hundreds of educators, and helped shape the future of home-based learning. Known for her unmatched work ethic, innovative mindset, and unwavering commitment to excellence, Courtney also reads more than 100 books annually to fuel her knowledge and creativity. A respected speaker at home education conferences, she inspires both seasoned and new educators with her insight, humility, and dedication to helping families thrive.

Together, they offer not just instruction but a living example of what it means to lead with strength, vision, and heart.

Grades 4–12 (Grouped by Age Cohort)

Whether your student is just beginning to explore their strengths or has long been drawn to a particular field, this course bridges the gap between curiosity and career. Students will engage in age-appropriate personality and skills assessments, guided exploration, and intentional planning. Older students will take it a step further with support for internships and job shadowing, gaining real-world exposure to careers they’ve dreamed of for years.

But this track is more than just picking a profession. It’s about cultivating the habits and mindsets that lead to long-term success in any field. Students will reflect on what it means to thrive in a workplace, how to carry themselves with professionalism, and how to set meaningful goals that align with their gifts and passions.

Most importantly, we want students to grow up excited about their future, not just ready to name a job, but ready to say, “I want to be happy, fulfilled, and proud of the life I’ve built.”

This exciting journey will include:

• Career assessments and planning tools
• Weekly mentor sessions with age-specific groups
• Exploration of workplace success habits and mindset
• Internship and job shadowing support (for older students)
• A mailed Career Exploration Toolkit with workbooks and resources

Outcome: Real-life career experience, meaningful personal growth, and a clear, confident next step toward a fulfilling future.

Grades 4–12 (Grouped by Age & Level)

This inspiring track helps students plan, write, and prepare a polished book or short story for publication, guided by experienced mentors, including a published author. Students will learn story structure, revision strategies, and publishing basics, and they’ll also meet with guest authors, illustrators, and editors to gain insight into the writing world.

Each student will be supported based on their age and experience level, with younger writers working toward short stories and older or more advanced writers completing full-length manuscripts.

This track will include:

• Weekly writing workshops
• Guest sessions with publishing professionals
• Personalized feedback throughout the process
• A mailed Writing Toolkit (journals, planning guides, and creative tools)

Outcome: A completed and polished short story or book, ready to be published and proudly shared.