Unite Leadership Interview: Kirstin

Kirstin Davis

Kirstin Davis, Administrator of the Jasper homeschool group & Event Coordinator for Unite Homeschool Network, Inc.

How did you begin homeschooling?

One day while shopping with my first toddler at a thrift store in the middle of the afternoon, I noticed a couple of teenage girls shopping and having fun and giggling at their findings when one of them mentioned that being able to shop for fun things in the middle of the day was the beauty of homeschooling! I remember right then in that moment thinking, “well they don't look Amish and they’re homeschooling?” In fact, those girls looked cool! I went home and started researching what homeschooling looked like and I got a completely different answer than what I thought.

There wasn't a whole lot of resources, but there was enough for me to gain the confidence that I was going to be able to take this on and at least do the Early Elementary years, instead of putting my child through daycare and Pre-K.

Fast forward a few more years when we moved into a new home and my son was now of grade school age. My husband happened to stop at a yard sale up the street (which he never does) and it just happened to be the home of the curriculum advisor for our local elementary, and she homeschools her children! She was looking for someone to take on the lessons she planned and so that's how we started first grade. That's how I knew I was for sure going to homeschool through the lower grade school years!

What is your favorite part of homeschooling?

Right now, I'm in total enjoyment of all this extra time I get to spend with my kids that most people in our society don't even consider. I know one day they will be men and this is my time with them. This is my time to build memories and we're definitely doing that!

When did you begin/take over Jasper Homeschoolers?

I remember being pregnant with my third baby (who is now four) so maybe 2017... and my oldest was having a really hard time with why we weren't going anywhere (I was way pregnant and just getting by) - why we just read books and did our work and what was the point? He just wanted to go have fun. But he wasn't much of a sports guy so I needed to find a different way to connect with other people who were like-minded. I was already a member of Jasper Homeschoolers, and they had a few activities going on but not much was really happening. Unfortunately, many of the things that were happening often ended up getting cancelled.

I promised him that I was going to find him something to start doing as soon as the baby came. It was very shortly after that the admins of the Jasper Homeschoolers said they were too busy and couldn't keep up with the group. They asked if anybody wanted to take over the Facebook group of about 84 members...so, I did! And I believe we're now almost reaching 900 members!

We know you love planning events; Is it the planning process, the joy it brings others or something else that drives that passion?

I’ve always been into creating parties, decorating and setting the mood for things. I was in a theater group in high school, and I think setting the stage was always a fun part for me. I loved getting a big reaction from the crowd, people knowing that it took time and effort, and that somebody did that for them to enjoy. I love building these memories with my children and I love that other people are wanting to have those same memories and share that time with me also.

As homeschoolers I think it’s important to remember that we’re more than “just homeschool moms” – what's something fun that tells us a little more about Kirstin?

I enjoy hosting step by step tutorial acrylic paintings for fun and I will be taking on the Tater Patch players as well which is a local theater group - I will be managing the homeschool program beginning this July!

Lastly, is there anything else you would like to tell our members?

I look forward to making many more events with Unite! I'm so grateful for finding this group or rather the group finding me! Once I finish up the formal and prom event my next venture is taking on the Tater Patch players homeschool productions as well as bringing some speech elements to the table for them! So, keep an eye out for opportunities there. We've also partnered with Keep Pickens Beautiful to create a homeschool community garden that we will be tending to - so if anybody has a green thumb or would like to learn how, come join us!