Meet Your Mentors

Mr. Salch

MENTOR

Mr. Salch is a retired tech executive and experienced teacher who has successfully taught over 10,000 students across several platforms, schools, and approaches. Mr. Salch has perfected the art of online teaching with hands-on activities in an exciting and inviting environment.

Check out Mr. Salch's Spring ‘25 Video Game Creator and 3D Video Game Creator.

Ms. Jackson

MENTOR

Ms. Jackson has been teaching theatre for 26 years and was also a children's performer for ten of those years. She owns a theatre program and puts on a show after every 20 hours of instruction (almost 60 shows in six years!). Ms. Jackson teaches children ages 3-20.

Check out Ms. Jackson’s Spring ‘25 Theatre, Creative Writing, Homeroom Social Club and Parent Social Club Courses

Amy Bechtol

MENTOR

Amy loves getting to work with her students, who often share a neurology similar to her own, connecting them to curriculum in a way that is meaningful, novel, and fun. Utilizing a strength-based model, Amy seeks to engage learners by allowing them to connect their best, most authentic selves to the material.

Check out Amy’s Spring ‘25 Digital Art , Anime, Technical Drawing, Creating College Admissions Portfolio and Visual Storytelling Courses

Astrid Schilder

Astrid is a dedicated and creative educator from the United Kingdom with a wealth of experience in teaching gaming classes to young people. With over 18 years working with young people and a strong academic background, Astrid brings a unique combination of expertise and enthusiasm to the online teaching world.

Check out Ms Astrid’s Spring ‘25 Roblox Club, Roblox Gameplay, Roblox Horror and Among Us Courses

Megan Hardy

MENTOR

Megan Hardy is a Professional DM and Mother to neurodivergent kids. She loves role playing games, science fiction, comics and just about anything geeky. She is an expert at building D&D campaigns around individual needs and has taught over 4000 students!

Check out Megan’s Spring ‘25 Dungeons & Dragons Quests​, Dungeons & Dragons Campaign Creator, and Becoming a DM Courses

Nelson Dean

MENTOR

Nelson Dean has been an educator for the last twenty years, working with students of all ages and backgrounds teaching music, history, art history, and English. He has been a STAR teacher award recipient and teacher of the year semi-finalist.

Check out Nelson's Spring ‘25 Tools of War Course

Mr. Z

MENTOR

Mr. Z is a highly experienced and actively certified educator with a Master of Science: Curriculum and Instruction VI degree and multiple active teaching certifications including School Library Media Technology Specialist (PreK-12th grade), English Language Arts (multiple certifications across multiple grade ranges), and more.

Check out Mr. Z’s Spring ‘25 Math 4 Life, Cryptography, Python Programming, AP Crash Course Calculus and Game Theory Courses

Nicole Pauling

MENTOR

Nicole Pauling, M. Ed is an educator, foster parent, mom, serial entrepreneur, artist, case worker, and author with degrees in education, sociology, psychology, philosophy, and more! Nicole believes in bringing students together through story
and games.

Check out Nicole's Spring ‘25 History Detectives and Internet Safety Courses

Ms. Jolene

MENTOR

Ms. Jolene is a neurodivergent educator and a homeschooling parent in the neurodivergent and twice-exceptional community, She understands firsthand the transformative power of the right learning environment. With an M.S. in Curriculum & Instruction, a B.S. in Psychology, active academic certifications, a Minecraft Education certification, and 20 years of experience, she offers enriching Minecraft courses where learners can connect with other Minecrafters and share their ideas, builds, experiences, and knowledge.

Check out Ms. Jolene’s Spring ‘25 Minecraft All Editions, Minecraft Rollercoaster, Minecraft Survival Courses

Mr. Tidman

MENTOR

Mr. Tidman is a father to active, Neurodivergent boys. He believes that neurodivergent students have the highest level of intelligence, yet they are under-served in almost every classroom. His main takeaway as a teacher is that we are all passionate and excited about learning. We are all born with a growth mindset, especially Neurodivergent learners.

Check out Mr. Tidman’s Spring ‘25 Science Explorers Course

Katie Barnwell

MENTOR

Katie has also been teaching in a variety of settings for over 5 years, from virtual school, to one-on-one music lessons. As a former 2e student, and lifelong learner, she understands the complexity in all people, and the importance of not forcing anyone into a box. Her teaching style is one of adaptability and innovation, allowing each student's unique strengths to flourish.

Check out Miss Katie’s Spring ‘25 Advocacy, Feminism, GSA/LGBTQ+ Club and Songwriting 101 Courses

Miss Alex

MENTOR

Miss Alex has been a STEAM and art educator for 8 years, as well as a homeschool parent, teacher, and advisor for nearly a decade. She applies an eclectic approach to teaching, seeing herself as more of a facilitator and fellow life-long learner than lecturer.

Check out Miss Alex’ Spring ‘25 STEM-ology, STEAM Inventors Creative Engineering, Cryptid Club, Dinosaur Collectors and STEAM Science Lab Courses

Jennifer Hughes

MENTOR

Professor Jennifer Hughes is a retired criminal, international and family court attorney. She has taught both in person and online middle and high school for over fifteen years and was the History Department Chair at a non-traditional charter school. She also was an Associate Criminal Justice Professor and has over thirty years of experience.

Check out Coach Hughes’ Spring ‘25 AP Crash Course US Gov, Criminal Justice, Speech & Debate and Mock Trial Courses

Malikai Bass

MENTOR

Malikai Bass is a twice exceptional (profoundly gifted/ autistic adhder with dyspraxia/dysgraphia) life-long learner who has been teaching twice-exceptional students virtually for the past four years. He has worked with over a thousand students in classrooms that center, celebrate, and affirm neurodiversity.

Check out Mr. Malikai’s Spring ‘25 Cubing Club, Boardgames, and Chess: Applied Executive Function Courses

Miriam Patrick

MENTOR

Miriam has been teaching Latin for 14 years and ESOL for three years. She has a Bachelor's in Latin and a Master's in Latin and in Special Education. Miriam also has varying levels of proficiency in a few languages: English, Latin, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, American Sign Language, and Arabic. To say that language is a passion, is probably an understatement.

Check out Ms. Patrick’s Spring ‘25 Latin Novice, Mythology, Book Club, Ancient Technology, Western Civilization and Spanish Novice Courses

Sean Troy

MENTOR

Sean has been a Digital Educator for over 4 years now! He can’t believe how much fun he’s been having teaching thousands of kids from around the world about our beautiful planet and the amazing wonders that stretch to each and every corner of our world! I've also had the incredible opportunity to run Dungeons and Dragons adventures for my students for the last 2 years.

Check out Teacher Sean’s Spring ‘25 Dungeons & Dragons and Wonders of the World Courses

Mr. Fish

MENTOR

Mr. Fish is a computer programmer and hobbyist from Minnesota with a love for math, physics, coding games, and (of course) waffles! Known for his engaging teaching style and problem-solving focus, Mr. Fish is dedicated to helping students not only learn but develop the skills to tackle challenges independently.

Check out Mr. Fish's Spring ‘25 Video Game Creator, Python Programming and Arduino Robotics.