Parent Executive Board

Mike Davis

Mike is a CPA with 15 years accounting experience, having worked with a broad range of businesses from small to large and for-profit and not-for profit. He understands the financial tools necessary for an organization to operate efficiently and effectively. "My family has been associated with Village Home since 2005 when my children started attending classes. My wife and I felt that one of the most important lessons we could offer our young boys was that learning is life long and should be cherished, a philosophy exemplified at Village and by its families. I wish the opportunity to contribute my time and experience in a way that will benefit Village Home and its Board."

Missy Meskell

Missy Meskell graduated with honors from Santa Clara University in 1993, and then returned to her North Pole, Alaska, hometown to teach, coach basketball, and facilitate retreats at a Jr/Sr high school college prepatory program in nearby Fairbanks. After her own children were born, she chose to homeschool them and, since 1997, has homeschooled her four children in Alaska, Colorado, Texas, and, for the past 5 years, Oregon. Missy has been an active community member in each of these locales: she has done volunteer counseling for teens and young adults; been a Treasurer and board member for a nonprofit; volunteered with Heifer International in three states; been involved in various homeschool groups and support groups as a writer, educator, and facilitator; and has been an active supporter of local book stores wherever she goes. Her favorite homeschooling adventures, thus far, have been supporting her children's businesses, Cards for Cows and Freedom Blocks, coaching and observing her kids' championship DI teams, figuring out how to backpack with multiple children under age 10, and, it goes without saying, finding a home within Village Home. Missy firmly believes that Village Home is the greatest learning environment, ever, for kids of all interests across the learning spectrum, because Village Home appreciates the power of choice-based education to enable kids of all abilities and backgrounds to creatively develop their best selves, and creates an environment which genuinely celebrates those developments at all levels. She occasionally daydreams of - someday - having her children's children be part of a community like Village Home.

Sarah Miner

Originally from California, she declined to return to the corporate life in Silicon Valley after motherhood. These days, when not homeschooling her children and knitting, she is running her online business publishing e-books, and moonlights as the co-director of the LLL Breastfeeding Helpline-US, La Leche League's national breastfeeding help call center.

Ute Mitchell

Ute Mitchell is a mother of three children and has been a member of Village Home for six years. Over the years she has taught a variety of classes, held positions such as volunteer coordinator, board member, and special events coordinator. She and her family consider Village Home their home away from home. It's where they come to meet friends, who have become family, and take classes with their fantastic teachers. After taking a two year break from the board to write and publish a book, Ute is ready to jump back in, working on internal fundraising and special events. In the past, Ute has been a member of the MOMS Club as president, special events coordinator, helping hands coordinator, and fundraising coordinator. She has also served as a "Big Sis" coordinator to help new chapters form. She worked for a national charity as volunteer- and fundraising coordinator. Her skills will make her a great asset to the Village Home board.

Deborah Mueller

Deborah Mueller, originally from Pennsylvania, has lived in Oregon since 2009, with her husband and four children, all of whom attend and love Village Home. After three years of study at Penn State University, Deborah moved to Hawaii, where she obtained her B.A. and M.A. in French Language and Literature, and then her law degree, from the University of Hawaii. Until she made the decision to become a stay-at-home Mom and homeschool educator, Deborah worked as an associate attorney, practicing commercial litigation, in Honolulu. Her family’s homeschooling journey began eight years ago in Hawaii, and continued in Washington, D.C., where the Muellers lived for several years before relocating to Oregon. At Village Home, Deborah has found a sense of community that she had not found anywhere else. An assistant teacher during her kids' first year at Village Home, Deborah now teaches four of her own classes and thoroughly enjoys every aspect of being a parent and instructor in such a wonderful community. "Village Home redefined homeschooling for our family. In this unique and special environment, we've found other parents who share and encourage our learning goals. The children at Village Home are inspiring. They're inquisitive, diligent, respectful, and happy! I look forward to raising my children in this community and would love to support this educational treasure as a member of the Board."

Loriann Schmidt

Loriann Schmidt is the homeschooling parent of James and an adult child, Danielle, who was also homeschooled. Currently, James attends Village Home where Loriann also teaches science classes. A self-proclaimed geek, Loriann has had stints in corporate America working as a business analyst, computer programmer, IT manager; in academia as a professional research assistant; and in self-employment as a real estate agent, database administrator, musician and a host of other positions. These positions have given her exposure to a wide variety of settings and leadership opportunities. Loriann says, “My son and our whole family has found a warm and welcoming home here at Village Home, and I hope to serve Village Home more fully as a member of the board. I look forward to the opportunity to serve you, my Village Home family, in this capacity.�