One of a Kind Team, One of a Kind Campus,
One of a Kind Team, One of a Kind Campus,
One of a Kind Team, One of a Kind Campus, One of a Kind Team, One of a Kind Campus,
The Hope Academy is blessed to reside in Carson City’s Historic Leport-Toupin house. The unique Empire-style home built in 1879, is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Nestled in the heart of Carson City, our proximity to the State Capitol gives our learners unique insights into the city’s community and history.
Nikki Godard
Director
Nikki Godard, wife and homeschool mom of six, has a uniquely driven passion for education, literature, and curating curricula for her children and students. Nikki holds a large span of expertise due to her experience educating in many classrooms ranging in ages from preschool to the 12th grade. While pursuing degrees in Early Childhood Education and K-12 Education, Nikki worked in private preschools and for the Carson City School District. Afterwards, Nikki began homeschooling her youngest children. In 2021, she started at I-School and shared her distinctive teaching philosophy, which is characterized by the belief that each student will achieve academic excellence if they are given the tools they need as an individual.
Nikki’s teaching pedagogy does not stop at academic excellence, she also strives to nurture each child’s spirit and watch them grow in their relationship with Christ.
Emma Turner
Assistant Director
A woman of faith and a lifelong learner, I have always been passionate about child development, education, and the unique way each child learns.
After working with children throughout my teenage years, I went on to pursue more than 90 credit hours in Child Development and Education and earn several Early Childhood Education certifications. Though the education I value most has extended far beyond college classrooms, it has come through my years working as a lead teacher in preschools, four years at The Hope Academy, attending conferences, and completing 20 hours of training in Charlotte Mason education.
As Charlotte Mason once wrote, “Education is an atmosphere, a discipline, a life.” I continue to study child development, literacy, literature, and the art of teaching because I believe a good educator should always remain a student.
Now, a homeschooling mom of two, I have been blessed to see education from another perspective as well. My experiences as both an educator and a mother have shaped the way I think about learning and have deepened my desire to create educational experiences that nurture the whole child.
Above all, I want The Hope Academy to be a place where children are known, families are supported, and learning is something to be loved. My hope is that everything we do points children toward Jesus and helps them develop a lifelong relationship with Him.
Jackie Scalzi
Instructor
Wife, homeschool mom of two, and passionate lifelong learner, I’ve been homeschooling since my oldest child turned five. What drew me to homeschooling—and continues to inspire me—is the freedom and flexibility it offers: the freedom to honor our family’s values, the flexibility to let each child learn in a way that’s unique to them, and the space to nurture a genuine love of learning rather than checking boxes.
I believe that every child is different, and that learning shouldn't be one-size-fits-all. My goal is to create an environment where curiosity thrives and where children can explore their passions, ask questions, and grow into thoughtful, capable individuals.
I hold a degree in Social Work from Humboldt State University, and before fully diving into the homeschooling life, I knew I wanted to dedicate myself to raising my children with the same meaningful values I was raised with. Outside of our learning adventures, I enjoy spending time with my family, baking sourdough, experimenting with fermenting foods, raising chickens, doing arts and crafts, and preparing homemade meals. We share our home with two dogs, two cats, and lots of love.