MEET OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

AMY UPDIKE

President

Amy loves to laugh, make new friends, dance, sing, sew and read. More than anything, she always wanted to be a mom, so she has always been a very involved parent with her four kids. Amy has taught 7 scholar classes, been a PTO President, Chairman and Secretary of Liber Leadership Academy and mentored lots of Junior projects. But her favorite mentoring experiences are curling up on the couch reading books and feeling that spark of joy learning with her kids. She has a BS in Business from BYU, is LEMI certified to teach QUEST, Key of Liberty and Pyramid, has completed Oliver Demille's "How to Mentor" program and dived deep into classic books during 10 years of Mentoring in the Classics.

VANESSA SALATINO

Administrative VP

Vanessa loves to sew clothes and quilts, create art, do DIY projects and hang out with friends. She got her dream job of being a stay at home mom to 5 great kids. She was inspired to homeschool 9 years ago. She loves homeschooling because she gets to learn right along with her kids. She has learned to trust the TJED process and is grateful for the homeschooling community their family has been a part of. Vanessa is California born and raised, but moved to Oregon 15 years ago and loves the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Vanessa has had the opportunity to mentor junior classes and scholar classes at Hero Education Commonwealth and Liber Leadership Academy as well as served on the Board for Hero Education Commonwealth as Secretary. She has participated in the DeMille's MIC program for 5 years and has completed their "How to Mentor" program. She is a big advocate of "You, Not Them."

SARAH CLUFF

Education VP

Sarah has loved every moment of being a mom to her three children and wife to her husband of 25+ years. Sarah has previously been a Junior Program director, taught many Junior classes, mentored a Shakespeare Conquest scholar class, taught as an elementary teacher in public school and run her own preschool. But her biggest joy and accomplishment has been teaching and learning alongside her own children.

She served an 18 month mission in Brazil for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, has a BS in Early Childhood Education from BYU, has several additional Reading Instruction certifications, is LEMI certified in Shakespeare Conquest, Pyramid, Sword of Freedom/Hero Project and Family Foundations and has completed six years of Mentoring In the Classics.

KRISTEN BRADY

Secretary

Kristen loves too many things to list, but top contenders are family history, writing, being out in nature, and donuts with sprinkles. And, the hobby occupying her time today will likely scoot over for a new love tomorrow. With the plan to put her kids in public school, she nearly missed her homeschool calling. Luckily all things pandemic debuted the same year her oldest was to enter kinder—-making homeschooling her new normal. Homeschooling has brought her life unexpected vibrance and intentionality. Before deciding to stay home with her four children, Kristen graduated with a BS in Dental Hygiene from Utah College of Dental Hygiene and worked as a registered dental hygienist. She’s now excited to serve as secretary at Inspire!

BRITNY FERY

Treasurer

Britny was homeschooled from 1st grade on. She met her now husband during her high school years at a local homeschool private school. They have been together 17 years and are now parents to 3 rowdy boys who keep them laughing. Britny enjoys wrestling with her boys and DJ’ing spontaneous raves for them. She loves to create, bake, 3d print, and DIY everything! Her favorite part of homeschooling is watching her kids explore learning and seeing their excitement in discovering new things. Before staying at home full time to educate her kids, she managed a dental office for 10 years which gave her lots of experience with billing and accounts receivable. Her love of all things math and attention to detail make serving as treasurer something she really enjoys!

VANESSA SALATINO

Scholar Director

BROOKE CODINA

Junior Program Director

Brooke was born and raised in Oregon and has always dreamed of devoting her time towards benefitting youth. She loves to spend time curating her home for her husband and seven beautiful children and search for new and fun resources to promote play and exploration for her kids. She has a strong testimony of how the Lord can play a role in guiding the path of education. She has seen first hand the magic that comes from letting kids explore their God given talents and gifts throughout their educational journey. Brooke cherishes seeing her kids grow and explore the world through the lens of creation. The homeschool program has provided the perfect opportunity for her kids to do just that. Watching her kids learn and practice life long skills and continue to show excitement and self motivation for learning has been an invaluable blessing. She feels so honored to help foster an environment for other children to experience the same here at Inspire!

ANNE HEMMERT

Inspirations Program Director

Anne's passions are family, art, creating fun projects, animals, and organization. The benefits of homeschooling have risen to the top, as it has added more connections for her family.
Anne has lived in various areas of Oregon and is now settled in Deer Island, where the hills and fields provide peace, comfort, and fun. She thoroughly enjoys her new space with her husband, two children, and several animals.
After completing training to be a medical assistant, she worked as an MA for three years before transitioning to the much more fun field of veterinary medicine. She then continued in that field for ten years, becoming a Certified Veterinary Technician and Practice Manager of two veterinary hospitals. While working with animals was fun, motherhood became a stronger calling.
Anne has homeschooled her girls from the beginning, except for a two-year stint in public schools. Seeing the changes and treasured values reassured their family that homeschooling was vital for their core purpose. Throughout the ever changing flow of homeschooling, as children grow, their family has enjoyed 4H projects, trips to explore, and discovering new talents and passions.
With their experience at Inspire Family Academy, the introduction to dive deeper into personal development and education has been instrumental and life changing.
She is LEMI certified to mentor Shakespeare Conquest and enjoys mentoring children and youth of any age. Anne loves finding unique ways to get children and youth excited about learning.

KATIE MARLEY

Registrar

Katie is passionate about all things creative. She loves painting, drawing, digital design, printmaking, decorating, building, and bringing the ideas in her mind to life. She’s equally devoted to her three amazing children. Early on, the Lord placed it on her heart to homeschool. After working through plenty of self-doubt, she stepped into that calling and has never looked back. She loves learning alongside her kids and discovering the world together.
Katie has taught five Scholar classes, served as the Junior Director of Liber Leadership Academy, and mentored numerous Junior projects. She is LEMI certified to teach Key of Liberty and Shakespeare Conquest. Katie helped start Inspire Family Academy, alongside Amy Updike and Sarah Cluff, with abundant direction and inspiration from Heavenly Father. She also designed the Inspire Family Academy logo and helped build the website.
In addition, Katie has completed seven years of the Mentoring in the Classics book club and holds a B.A. in Fine Art from Portland State University.