Mission: To develop parents through coaching, advocacy skills, community partnerships, and networking opportunities that make their homeschool journey individualized based on the needs of the children.
Christian Thornton
Parent Coach
When Bernita approached me about becoming a coach, I had to think long
and hard about it. With the anticipation of the incoming administration, I
started to get a LOT of questions from friends and families….way more than
usual: Can I homeschool my children while working a full-time job? What
curriculum should I use? How can my child still have a “school” experience
while homeschooling? What happens if the Department of Education is
eliminated? Would the school still have to follow my child’s IEP? I had
answers for most of those questions. But for the ones I didn’t, I always said,
“I
don’t know, but we can figure it out together.
” That’s when I knew I needed to
become a coach. I have one child in college and two children that I am
currently homeschooling. We have been a homeschooling family for over
seven years. Our only regret is that we didn’t do it sooner. Whether it’s
looking for specific curriculum, finding social groups for play dates, or
searching for classes of interest, I can aid in educating elementary and middle
school children.
Rhonda J. Smith
Parent Coach
I have been homeschooling nearly 20 years. Even with my many years of
experience, I believe my greatest strengths in coaching are listening and
assessing parents’ homeschooling support needs then giving counsel based
on my own experience, making referrals or guiding them to research for
resources. As a strong advocate for helping parents to recognize how
homeschooling is different from traditional schooling and is even different for
each child, I am passionate about helping parents find out what
homeschooling approach and rhythm work best for their family structure. For
most of my homeschooling years, I have served on the leadership teams of
local homeschool co-ops, taught homeschooling workshops and coached
homeschooling families. I am honored to support Engaged Detroit parents on
their homeschool journey.
Marla Wellborn
Coaching Facilitator
Parent Coach
An entrepreneur disappointed with the education system, Marla decided to
homeschool her two children 30 years ago—just after it became fully legal to
do so in Michigan. Now serving as an Engaged Detroit coach, Marla shares
her passion to help parents to understand the breadth and depth of the
possibilities within their homeschooling practice.
Contact us now for an Introductory Coaching Session
bbradley@engageddetroithsc.com
Learning Is Everywhere,
All The Time
What Makes Engaged Detroit Different?
Every parent deserves a great coach. We invest in the people who influence children the most—their parents. During the pandemic, Detroit families, like millions across the world, searched for support in educating their children. We began by hosting Facebook Live conversations to share homeschooling information. What emerged was something much bigger: a movement where parents, community partners, and educators came together to reimagine learning.
Today, Engaged Detroit is more than a homeschool support network. We help parents become confident advocates, community leaders, and learning coaches who can navigate education systems, design individualized learning experiences, and create better outcomes for children and families. We believe learning happens everywhere, all the time, and that parents are builders of thriving communities—not just participants in them.
Engaged Detroit Provides FREE:
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Weekly/biweekly parent coaching & leadership support
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Homeschool, public school, charter school & educational choice navigation
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Guidance on Michigan homeschool laws & educational options
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Parent-led learning opportunities based on each child’s needs
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Parent advocacy training & leadership development
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Connections to 20+ community partners & learning opportunities
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College, career & postsecondary transition support
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Local & national advocacy opportunities through partners
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Resources that equip parents to become teachers, advocates, designers, and builders within their own communities
We are honored to continuing Doing The Work
