Team and Board of Directors

WEST began in 2009 and is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization offering tutor-based weekly classes for home-educated students in Grades 5-12.

Our class schedule allows parents and students to choose from a variety of tutorial courses taught by skilled and passionate tutors.

WEST allows for 90-minute academic sessions on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays in Maple Grove, MN.

WEST is led by a Team and Board of Directors

WEST Team

Robin Fraser, Executive Director

Robin desires to support homeschoolers as they seek to teach and influence as well as love and empower their children. As a homeschooler herself, Robin sees the need for homeschooling families to have educational options. Opening the doors of WEST has been a long time vision of Robin’s. She enjoys using her leadership experience and skill set at WEST.

Robin holds a degree in education – has taught in the inner-city public schools at the middle/junior high level. In 1993, Robin won the Sallie Mae First Class Teacher of the Year Award for Wisconsin. She has also served as an inner-city youth director, worked in the corporate world and has served in church: council member/teacher/event planner/ministry lead and more.

Robin is a home educator of 16 years. She is the founder of the homeschool co-op Fellowship In Christian Homeschool Education (FICHE), co-founder of WEST and has earned certification as a Spiritual Director.

She and her family live in Maple Grove where they serve in their church, neighborhood and wider community.

Robin’s heart is to engage, encourage and empower parents and students in a variety of ways – one being WEST.

Julie Jones, WEST Office Assistant

Julie Jones has been home-educating her six children since 2002. She and her husband, Dave, have been happily married for 27 years and make their home in Crystal. She enjoys reading, movie watching, games, live theater, cooking, and being with her family and friends.

Over the years, Julie has been involved with various children and teen ministries, parenting small groups, premarital mentoring, worship band, and women’s ministries. Her heart is to encourage and support moms in their home life and home-educating. She believes food is a love language. So whether it’s bringing someone a meal or sitting at her kitchen counter - love and connection happen over food!

Joining the WEST team is a great blessing to her; she is excited to work with such an awesome group of godly women and be a support to the WEST co-op community.

Jessica Johnson, WEST Onsite Coordinator

Jessica Johnson is a homeschool mom to four children ages seventeen, fifteen, thirteen, and seven and has been homeschooling since 2011. Her three oldest have been WEST students for the past five years and love it! She is a second generation homeschooler and has five homeschooled siblings.

Jessica loves a variety of hobbies that include sewing, gardening, reading, hosting friends, baking, piano, and dancing. She is a musician and has two years of college education in piano pedagogy and performance with a minor in speech.

Jessica is excited to be a part of the WEST team and community. Her love for encouraging teenagers along with a desire to see them grow mentally and spiritually is the best part of her role at WEST.

WEST Onsite Assistants

Catherine Arredondo: Catherine began homeschooling her three kids in 2012, and began sending her oldest to WEST in 2020. She is excited that all of her children will be at WEST starting in 2023 and that she will be serving as an onsite assistant for WEST.

Catherine and her husband Candelario both grew up in California, moved to Minnesota in 2005. Catherine graduated from Fresno Pacific University with a degree in English Literature, and she taught high school English for a few years before she began having her own children. Catherine and her children also attend another co-op where Catherine has continued to use her teaching skills.

She and her family live in Robbinsdale and attend Faith Baptist Church in North Minneapolis where they serve in youth and children's ministry.

Lisa Compton: Lisa's family has been part of homeschool communities in Maryland and Minnesota since 2007. For the past ten years, she and her five children have very much appreciated the WEST community, and she is excited to now be joining the team as an on-site assistant where she looks forward to helping students and parents feel welcome and connected to the community.

Lisa has a degree in International Studies from Miami University in Ohio. She loves to travel and meet new friends from all over the world. She and her husband, Rob, and five kiddos landed in Greenfield, MN in 2013 after following God's leading from Ohio to Minnesota and then to Maryland and back again. She has held several volunteer positions including director of Thrive Homeschool Coop, youth group helper, cross-country team photographer, and WEST prom late-night cleaner-upper.

Dacia Olson, Registrar

Dacia Olson has been homeschooling since 2009 and has been a part of the WEST community since 2016. She and her husband, Andrew have five children and live in Otsego. Their oldest three students are current WESTies.

Dacia graduated from Northwestern College (now University of Northwestern - St. Paul) and worked at New Life Family Services before becoming a mom. Now she works as a part-time independent Labor Doula and has a passion for helping women through the process of labor and birth.

In the homeschool community, Dacia has served in different leadership roles in a co-op that meets in Anoka. She most recently served on the board for five years as Treasurer. Though it was a smaller group, it gave her some experience using the same website set up that WEST uses.

In her church, she has served on the worship team for 18 years and has encouraged other moms in marriage, parenting, and homeschooling.

She is excited to join the WEST team to serve as the Registrar.

Julie Burkstrand, Accounting Admin

Julie Burkstrand has been a part of the homeschooling community since the year 2000. She is pleased to join the WEST team and hopes to encourage fellow homeschoolers in their journey.

After graduating from Bemidji State University, Julie worked as an exercise consultant for 5 years at a local health club, before leaving that position to be a stay at home mom. She and her husband, Todd, have four children and have made their home in Osseo, MN for the past 27 years.

Julie has served in a variety of roles in her community, church, and homeschool co-op, the latest of which has been on the leadership board as treasurer for the past 9 years.

Tiffany Pavlish, Website Communications

Tiffany Pavlish has been a part of the homeschooling community since 2005. She is thrilled to be a part of the WEST team and continue supporting the homeschool community by maintaining WEST's website and encouraging families on their homeschool journey.

Tiffany graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities Campus with a degree in Business Education. Currently, Tiffany tutors one Fall semester class at WEST: Study Skills. Tiffany and her husband, Andy, have four children and have made their home in Rogers, MN since 1996.

Tiffany has served in a variety of roles in the homeschool community and church encouraging women to forge ahead even when life seems bleak.

Board of Directors

Robin Fraser, President

She and her family live in Maple Grove where they serve in their church, neighborhood and wider community.

Robin’s heart is to engage, encourage and empower parents and students in a variety of ways – one being WEST.

Sheri Simmer, Treasurer

Sheri Simmer is pleased to serve on the WEST Board of Directors. She has been part of the homeschool community for over 20+ years and appreciates WEST and its mission to come alongside parents in their homeschool journey.

After her time at Northwestern College in Roseville, MN, Sheri spent many years in administrative and executive assistant work in Minneapolis. She and her husband started a home business in which Sheri has helped in various roles over 25+ years.

Sheri has served in a variety of teaching roles with homeschool groups. Her and her husband, Jack, live in Buffalo and have five children.

Gail Gray, Secretary

Gail Gray watched other families around her start homeschooling and witnessed good character qualities in the children and a lifestyle that supported a desire to build a strong Christian foundation in children. She jumped into homeschooling in 2007 when her oldest started Kindergarten and has been homeschooling ever since. Her 4 kids have enjoyed being involved at both Wings and WEST for many years.

Gail graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Stout with a degree in Retail Marketing and Management. Her and her husband and 4 children have lived in Maple Grove since 1999. Their family actively serves in the homeschool community, and in their church.

She enjoys encouraging homeschooling families and is excited to be a part of the WEST board.