top of page
Our History
The Homeschool Association of California is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that began in 1988 when a small group of Bay Area homeschooling moms got together to start what was then called the Northern California Homeschool Association. Since then we've grown to a statewide organization. Those original families have moved on to new life stages and passed their vision on to new members, that vision being an inclusive homeschooling organization dedicated to supporting homeschooling families in all their many flavors. We hold to the belief that homeschooling families are the ones best able to make their own educational choices
Meet the Board
Erika Davis-Pitre (She/Her) - President
Erika and her husband Michael have 4 adult children - 1 daughter and 3 sons. They also have two sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law and two grandsons. She and her husband live in San Francisco full-time after living bi-coastally between there and Connecticut for many years. Erika and her family had been un/homeschoolers for many years and with her unschoolers grown, she wants to work to make sure that all Californians have this educational choice now and in the future. Erika became co-president of the HSC Board in 2018, after years of volunteering as a legislative liaison for un/homeschoolers, as a speaker, workshops coordinator and panelist at many un/homeschooling conferences all over the US and Canada, and as a moderator of several online un/homeschooling groups. Erika has stayed on as president for longer than she had originally planned, to guide HSC through the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is always keen to increase the participation of young families in the organization.
Emily Tonkin (She/Her) - Treasurer & Secretary
Emily has 20+ years experience homeschooling with her always self-directed kid on the California Central Coast. Over the past decade, her family has been on the road as much as possible to take part in homeschooling gatherings around California and other Western states. Homeschooling, particularly unschooling, has been the key to stress-free learning in her neurodiverse family, and she is committed to helping all families feel included and supported in their homeschooling journeys. Emily has previously volunteered with HSC as well as attending many conferences and campouts and is enthusiastic about supporting and empowering HSC volunteers.
Linda Maepa (They/Them) - Special Initiatives Director
Linda is a scientist, inventor, serial entrepreneur, and small-scale farmer. Professionally, they focus on renewable energy and electric transportation, cyber-physical security, and pre-K through Ph.D. education, especially in the sciences. Informally, they work on pregnancy, childbirth, and maternal-child health issues; peer breastfeeding support; and mental health and wellness. They grew up in Kansas and Saudi Arabia and is a dual citizen of the United States & South Africa. Linda is the gifted/2e homeschool mom of three gifted/2e children. They began their homeschool journey as a Navy spouse stationed in Hawaii before relocating to San Diego and eventually the Bay Area where they and their children started a new family. Over their 10+ years of homeschooling, they've mostly been an unschooler but have incorporated Waldorf and Oak Meadow curricula; online schooling in elementary and high school; used a daily schedule and none at all; schooled under a PSA and under a homeschool charter. A life-long learner themself, they practice experiential and project-based learning alongside learners. Their previous board experiences have been with LGBTQI, women's, academic, and youth development organizations.
HSC Board
Synetra Nunsuch - Volunteer Director
Synetra is a Bay Area native that was born in San Francisco, and then moved to the East Bay (Richmond) at a young age. As a kid with ADHD and dyslexia, she had issues in school, but participated in traditional schooling because homeschooling wasn’t possible for her family at the time. Although she “made it through” she felt as if schooling had failed her. When it started to fail her little sisters, they decided to pull them out and homeschool. They worked with tutors and charters, and landed on Unschooling. She has participated in Unschooling her younger siblings for almost 10 years. In recent years, she has been volunteering at homeschool conferences, campouts, and park days. She believes that individualized learning is the best way to ensure the success of our future, and works to ensure that everyone feels welcome, and that they have a place in this wonderful, diverse community..
Jayn Coburn - Inclusion Director
Jayn is a twenty-something grown Unschooler from Los Angeles who has found in her adult life a passion for enriching the lives of homeschoolers. Previously, Jayn has spoken at conferences such as LIFE Is Good, Free To Be, and GameSchoolCon, primarily on the topic of video games as a tool for learning and education. She received an AFA in Game Design from the New York Film Academy in Burbank, CA, and she has experience working on film sets and in retail, all places where she constantly uses her self-guided learning principles to problem solve, and to advocate for herself and others. Jayn’s main goal as a member of the HSC Board of Directors is to ensure that all Homeschoolers, parents and children alike, are having their voices heard and respected.
Franchesca Guillen - Outreach Director
Franchesca Guillen has been an HSC community member since 2017, attending many conferences and campouts since then. In addition to participating, Franchesca has distinguished herself as a leader, hosting a ball python panel in 2022 and working as conference staff in 2023. Originally from the Bay Area, Franchesca started her homeschooling journey at age 13, and at 15, she transitioned to unschooling. Recently, Franchesca has relocated to Long Beach, where she studies psychology at Long Beach City College. She has personal experience with autism, ADHD, and disability, all of which she is enjoying learning about from an academic perspective. Francesca is excited to be a board member and is looking forward to continuing to connect with California homeschooling families and serving her community.
bottom of page