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Kathryn Kelly- Founder
Dr. Kelly’s passion is to apply evidence-based research in neuroscience to help students reach their full academic potential. A toxicologist by training, she serendipitously fell into the world of learning and technology while in remote Kazakhstan doing homework with her oldest son, Kolya, then a fourth-grader, in 2007. Fascinated by the effectiveness with which technology could increasingly be used to adapt to a learner’s specific needs at all parts of the learning spectrum, she returned home to discover these new technologies were not being carefully screened for effectiveness or readily adopted by most schools.
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She decided instead to start her own school to closely investigate the increasing number of technology-based resources becoming available to facilitate teaching rigorous academic content, and adapt the best practices to individual student needs facilitated by excellent teachers. The eLearning Cafe, which started as a community learning resource in 2011, soon morphed into I·School, a WASC-accredited program which has helped over 400 students (to date) in grades 3-12, as well as college students and adults. Her job gets more exciting every day with the wealth of new, evidence-based tools becoming available to help the most important component of a child’s successful education: a great teacher. Her degrees include a BA in Human Biology — Stanford University; MEd in Learning and Technology — Western Governors University; MPH and DrPH — Columbia University. She is licensed to teach secondary school Biology, Environmental Science, and Health.
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Elizabeth Brown
UK B.Ed., English – University of Gloucester, College of St. Paul & St. Mary. Educated at the University of Gloucester, Mrs. Brown brought a diverse and successful wealth of teaching experience with her when she left her British homeland and settled in America. In the UK, she spent seven years at the middle school as a Level 2 teacher with responsibilities for English, PE, and science departments. In the US, her passion and pleasure in teaching was poured into homeschooling her four children through the elementary and middle school years, preparing them for entry into the local high school as 9th graders, and then launching them into their college careers — all at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.
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Her contagious enthusiasm and good reputation spread word-of-mouth amongst the homeschool community and filtered into the different education establishments in Truckee. For over 15 years, a steady stream of students in literature and writing has carved a well-established path to her door. After a decade of working as a specialist classroom teacher for the Twin Ridges Charter School and becoming a certified instructor for the Institute of Excellence in Writing, she came to work part time at the I∙School where she continues to be a popular and instrumental English and writing teacher for a number of students.
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Eric Ayrault
Mr. Ayrault is nationally certified in English and Social Studies. Based at Mercer High School in Seattle for the past twenty years and now at Summit Denali in Sunnyvale, Mr. Ayrault works with our remotely-located students, such as those studying overseas.
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Diane Housken
Ms. Housken has been enthusiastically involved in classroom and distance math education as well as internet development since 1980, most recently as Mentor/Instructor for Distance Mathematics Education Association, working with pre-calculus and calculus and computer science students. She served as Adjunct Professor Math and Computer Science, Suffolk University, 2004-2009, and now teaches part-time at Western Nevada College. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics from The University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA., a M.A. in Mathematics Education from WGU, and a California CBEST Certificate.
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Naudis Gaudriela Soto MarchenaProfesora Naudis Gaudriela Soto Marchena is a native of Costa Rica and lives in the province of Guanacaste from which she works remotely with our students. Since getting her university degree in history from the University of Costa Rica and a certificate in business informatics, she has been pursuing her passion to teach Spanish, first at the Paramericano Language Center (ICC), then at the well-known Wayra Institute in Tamarindo. She is proud to have taught Spanish to students from all over the world.
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Monika Bharti, M.Sc., M.Ed.Our chemistry instructor, Monica Bharti, holds M.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Delhi, India, and an M.Ed. in Elementary Education & Teaching from UNR. She is a doctoral student in the education program with an emphasis in STEM Education & Literacy Studies at UNR and is also a Graduate Assistant for the UNR Center for Learning & Literacy, where she plans and implements small group and individual instruction and supervises tutoring sessions.
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Meet Our Committed I∙School Board of Directors
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Joseph Sweeney III
Board Chair
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He is very comfortable in a wide range of business and charitable environments, and is noted for his ability to build positive relationships and establish high levels of credibility with a wide range of stakeholders, including clients, employees, senior managements, Boards of Directors, regulators and investors. His professional and personal networks comprise many close relationships with C-suite executives, board members of public corporations, government officials and philanthropists across the Bay Area. He has served as Managing Director for Cornerstone Financial Partners’ West Coast practice since 2014.
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Diane Brown
As California native, Diane graduated from California State University Sacramento while working as a Police Officer at the Sacramento Police Department (SPD). By working in all areas of the department during her career, she honed her people, management and negotiation skills. Committee (2013-current) |
After a fulfilling career in Sacramento and retiring as a lieutenant, Dale persuaded her to move to Incline Village Nevada to raise their family. Always having a love for the outdoors and Lake Tahoe, it was an easy decision. It didn’t take long to get involved in the local community, serving on several boards from education to scouting.
In 2010, Diane attended the Nevada Association of REALTORS® Leadership program. This led to the following designations & achievements:
In 2010, Diane attended the Nevada Association of REALTORS® Leadership program. This led to the following designations & achievements:
- Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS), Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS),
- e-Pro and Graduate Real Estate Institute (GRI).
- Incline Village Board of REALTORS® President, 2012- 13
- Nevada Association of REALTORS® (NVAR) Board of Directors 2012-13, 2015-2017
- Incline Village REALTOR® of the Year, 2013
- 2014 NVAR Global Business Committee Chair (2016 Vice chair).
- 2015-17 National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Board of Directors
- 2015 NAR Global Alliance Committee
- 2016 NAR Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) Advisory Board
- Marin County Boy Scouts of America Executive
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Mike Flynn
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Mike Flynn retired in 2006 after 24 years as publisher of Puget Sound Business Journal building the publication into one of the nation’s most successful and creating the events that are now part of PSBJ’s image in this state. He then moved to what he refers to as his “entrepreneurial encore” of consulting, counseling and advising businesses, business people and business organizations, mostly in Washington State and Southern California.
In 2007 he received a special award from Gov. Christine Gregoire for lifetime contribution to economic development. In 2012 he was selected as Washingtonian of the Year and2013 he was selected as a laureate of the Puget Sound Business Hall of Fame.
For the past eight years, Flynn has written a weekly column called Flynn’s Harp, which is emailed to 1,500 business leaders and elected officials,
He and his wife, Betsy, have three children (the oldest, Meagan, is now an appellate court judge in Oregon) and eight grandchildren. Mike enthusiastically competes annually in the 100-meter race in the World Senior Games in St. George, Utah, last year finishing second in the 75-79 age group.
In 2007 he received a special award from Gov. Christine Gregoire for lifetime contribution to economic development. In 2012 he was selected as Washingtonian of the Year and2013 he was selected as a laureate of the Puget Sound Business Hall of Fame.
For the past eight years, Flynn has written a weekly column called Flynn’s Harp, which is emailed to 1,500 business leaders and elected officials,
He and his wife, Betsy, have three children (the oldest, Meagan, is now an appellate court judge in Oregon) and eight grandchildren. Mike enthusiastically competes annually in the 100-meter race in the World Senior Games in St. George, Utah, last year finishing second in the 75-79 age group.
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Petra Plajbes
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Petra is married to Kevin Holm, and they make their home in Incline Village. They are raising two high-school-aged daughters, one a student I·School and one a graduate of I·School. With her husband, she co-owns Holm Electric, an Incline Village-based electrical contracting company specializing in custom homes, and Holm Electric LV, a Las Vegas-based firm specializing in commercial electrical applications.
Engaging her passion for the sport of Alpine Ski Racing, Petra holds a Level 200 USSA Ski Coach certification and is currently a coach for U16 athletes on Diamond Peak Ski Team. Her younger daughter, Julia, is graduate of I∙School and is now studying commercial aviation at Rocky Mountian University in Montana; her older daughter, Sophia, also an I∙School graduate, is now studying International Business and Japanese at Temple University's campus in Tokyo. Sophia is also a successful, competitive equestrian dressage rider.
Being an active partner in both daughters’ education, Petra has first-hand experience with homeschooling, blended learning, online schooling, as well as private and public school systems. She travels extensively with her daughters, which was the original reason and inspiration for homeschooling. In addition to English, she is fluent in Slovenian and Serbo-Croatian, while also possessing a conversational level of proficiency in German, Italian, and Spanish. As a self-described “citizen-of-the-world,” Petra has an avid interest in history, geography, and international politics. She is passionate about education and life-long learning, and actively supports innovative, customized education geared toward elite athletes.
Engaging her passion for the sport of Alpine Ski Racing, Petra holds a Level 200 USSA Ski Coach certification and is currently a coach for U16 athletes on Diamond Peak Ski Team. Her younger daughter, Julia, is graduate of I∙School and is now studying commercial aviation at Rocky Mountian University in Montana; her older daughter, Sophia, also an I∙School graduate, is now studying International Business and Japanese at Temple University's campus in Tokyo. Sophia is also a successful, competitive equestrian dressage rider.
Being an active partner in both daughters’ education, Petra has first-hand experience with homeschooling, blended learning, online schooling, as well as private and public school systems. She travels extensively with her daughters, which was the original reason and inspiration for homeschooling. In addition to English, she is fluent in Slovenian and Serbo-Croatian, while also possessing a conversational level of proficiency in German, Italian, and Spanish. As a self-described “citizen-of-the-world,” Petra has an avid interest in history, geography, and international politics. She is passionate about education and life-long learning, and actively supports innovative, customized education geared toward elite athletes.
I∙School Advisory Board
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Joseph Bania, PhD
Science Education |
Brian Eilders
Finance |
Russ Wiles
Law |
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Robert Siegel , MD, PhD
Science Education |
Sam Smith, PhD
Higher Education |
