"Academy of Wonder is a student engagement centered learning environment." 

Our classes are: 
*Created for all learners including diverse learners
*Not typically found in other school settings
*Crafted around student needs and interests
*Engaging
*Inclusive
*Crafted to teach how to think critically rather than how to do well on tests (exception being Math Tutoring)

Our primary focuses are: 

Unique History Classes: History Mysteries, The Red Class, Dark History
Gaming Classes: Minecraft, FNAF, D&D 
Internet and Gaming Safety and Addiction
Video Game Creation
Film Making, Script Writing, Book Writing
Art: Theater and Improv, Drawing Cute Animals, Balloon Twisting
1:1 Tutoring: Math for gifted learners

About Our Teachers: 

Nicole Pauling, M. Ed. 
I specialize in fun and sometimes scary history. I love to tell a good story. I love to create a tale in such a way that you are drawn in and you don't necessarily realize that you are sitting in a classroom. I also love to laugh. I love to be creative and design opportunities for students to connect to other students. I am a foster parent, mom, serial entrepreneur, artist, case worker, author, mom, and teacher. I love history and all things related to history topics. I have passed my history praxis. 

Educationally, I have degrees in Sociology, Psychology, philosophy, and criminal justice and I recently completed my Master's in Education. I have run a domestic violence shelter, worked on mental health in a hospital, and did drop out prevention. I worked in the "field" for over a decade before going into business for myself. 
A lot of my work with children has involved teaching them how to evaluate, plan, and use logic to understand the world, events, and consequences. Critical thinking is a skill that I encourage and like to build into my classes as well as flexible thinking as both are essential life skills. 

Dr. Brooke Nelson holds a doctorate in Religion from Claremont Graduate University and a Master of Arts in History from the University of California, Irvine. She taught for over 12 years at the university level, predominantly at large research focused institutions. In addition to serving as a lead author on OpenStax’s most recent World History to 1500 textbook, she has published award winning peer-reviewed publications on gender in the Roman world. She enjoys working with students who have an interest in the humanities who are looking for a “guide on the side” to help them new ways to explore educational questions.

Les Pauling, MA: I love helping students learn how to connect with one another and live their best lives. 
I have lived an adventurous life. I love to kayak, scuba dive, wreck dive, white water raft, and really do anything that just brings joy and fun into life. I balloon twist as a side gig, moonlight at festivals as "The Bad Advice Fairy," and generally think I'm funny.

I am a counselor by trade with a Master's Degree in Community Counseling and High School Guidance counseling and a bachelor's in psychology. I got my initial training as a guidance counselor and then went into 1:1 therapeutic work in schools and homes. I also have over a decade working with youth who have intellectual or developmental disabilities. 
Some things I love to do are teach students logical thinking, decision making, goal setting, and life skills.

Renee Yedidsion
My name is Renee! I live in CA and I currently work at Steel Wool Studios. My credits while working for the studio include "Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach," "Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach RUIN," "Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted 2," and "Hello Neighbor VR: Search and Rescue." I currently work as a QA Tester and Social Media Specialist, but have recently contributed as a 2D Artist for  "Five Nights at Freddy's: Help Wanted 2." My greatest passions are 2D Character Design and Animation. Besides art, my other passions in life are playing video games, going to escape rooms, collecting retro virtual pets, and my cat Maia! I love art, gaming, and animation and look forward to bringing these passions to the Academy of Wonder. 

Kristi Myers:
Above all, I am a mom. I absolutely love my daughter, who is a musician, writer and artist. It has been my greatest joy to raise her and educate her. I have always loved working with kids, and I am the "cool aunt" in my family. I have tutored college students for 12 years across many subjects, and I am used to learning new material quickly and finding creative ways to teach it to students of all ages. Kids bring me immense joy, and watching them learn and have fun is the greatest feeling. I teach intuitively and meet students where they are. I am guided by the training I received in graduate school. I have a Master of Arts in Education with an additional 15 graduate credits in child and adolescent development. In my free time, I am a musician and artist and aspiring writer. I love to spend hours online learning random things, just for fun. I also love my cats.

Elizabeth Sanchez: 
I like to go by Liz or Miss Liz. I'm a teacher, an actress, and an entrepreneur. I love history and the crazier the story the better I like it. I love to tell a good story and to really bring history to life through interaction. Hello, young historians! I'm Ms. Liz, a mystery lover and sleuth enthusiast! I’m so excited to share my fascination with history and the darker side of storytelling. Drawing from my studies in sociology and film, I aim to delve into the depths of the past, unraveling the mysteries of the human mind and exploring its impact on society. Merging my passion for people and up beat personality, my teaching style is approachable, interactive, and fun! Join me as we journey through the shadows of history and uncover its hidden truths together!

Anna Scanlon: 
I am a reader, writer, filmmaker, and lover of history! I teach in an interactive manner that allows you to learn hands on: even in a virtual environment. I love to teach using videos and puzzles/activities. I feel this is the best way to keep students engaged and learn (while not realizing they’re learning). I love making each class something new and exciting for each individual student I work with. 

I love reading and book collecting (I own 568 as of this moment). I’m also a fiction writer and will be starting my masters in creative writing soon! I love cooking and baking and feeding the things I make to my loved ones. When I find time to I also like to paint (specifically watercolor, more specifically watercolor of plants and landscapes). This last one may seem weird, but I love organizing things and making spreadsheets of my life. 

Allison Kisielis:
Hello, my name is Allison and I am excited to begin exploring History with you all! I have a Bachelors Degree in European History and a Masters Degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. I studied in Europe and spent over 10 years becoming an expert in Holocaust and Genocide Studies. I worked in a Holocaust museum and one of the things I did was educational lectures for the general public. I have sat and had dinner with holocaust survivors and can share their personal tales from places like Auschwitz. I also have a background in: American History, European History, The Middle Ages, and Chinese Studies. I also love to decorate cakes, create pottery, water paint, go to the beach and go fishing. 

LLoren Zeigler:
While my teaching experience has predominantly been in traditional classroom settings, my background in film and television production has equipped me with valuable skills for seamless adaptation to online instruction. In my classes, students consistently emerge feeling empowered to inquire, engage in meaningful discourse with peers, and critically examine societal conventions. My ultimate aspiration is for students to depart with the capacity not only to absorb knowledge but also to effectively impart it to others.

In my approach to online teaching, I place a strong emphasis on merging education with cultural relevance. Drawing from my background in acting and performance, I bring a dynamic energy to the virtual classroom. I firmly believe that learning extends far beyond the confines of traditional settings. My objective is to create an interactive learning environment where robust discussions thrive and critical thinking skills are honed. Through the strategic integration of engaging content delivery methods, I aim to address the individual learning needs of each student, even in the absence of external support systems.

Areas I love to teach: Drama/ Theater, Queer and Gender Theory, Film Making, Clubs, Social Studies, Creative Writing, Screenwriting, Music History, World History, African American Studies

Eric Zeltmann, MA:
is a father, a dungeon master, a gamer, and a teacher.  After leaving college, he wound up as a math teacher in North Carolina, and hasn't been able to shake the habit since.  After working as a teacher, he worked in IT as a programmer and manager, but would never waste an opportunity teaching his peers about a new technology, or the mathematics behind it.  After many years in IT, he quit to become a stay at home dad and teach math to his children, both home-schooled and not.  Always ready with an example of how to complete the problem, and always complaining about his children not showing enough work, he saw an opportunity to spread his love of math again, and joined the Academy of Wonder as a math teacher.  Whether it be algebra, calculus, or his favorite geometry, Eric is ready to draw the line, solve for x, or just get down and derive.

Eric Segar: 

My name is Eric and I have been an avid player of Dungeons and Dragons since 1986 when my grandfather bought me the red box from Kay B Toys.  Shortly after that I started running games for my friends and creating fantastic adventures for all.  In 2010 I was asked by a local gaming store if I would like to be in charge of their Dungeons and Dragons and run events and coordinate tables.  I have run several epics, set up events at several conventions, and have even coordinated with several other gaming stores for cross promotions.

Katrina Pauling(Minty):
I live a lot of my life at the ice rink and playing video games. I am a twitch streamer, a college student specializing in engineering and mathematics, and I have been making balloon animals, face painting, and professionally entertaining since I was 7. 

I also am a trained and certified youth chaplain and peer mentor. I was one of 25 youth in the United States to be chosen as a Luminary Award winner. I  spoke at General Assembly in 2019 and wrote the Chalice lighting and spoke before a crowd of almost 5000. I volunteered for years with Special Olympics and Special needs hockey. I enjoy writing, digital art, drawing, puzzles, and engineering and electrical systems. I have multiple certifications in welding and mechatronics including Siemens I certification. 
I will be teaching animal classes, Minecraft, Anime, and art as well as some basic engineering classes on Outschool.

Talon Pauling: 
I've been unofficially helping create all the games and content for our FNAF classes for over 3 years. I am a recent graduate from a technical school with a focus in programming and internet technology. I love gaming including Five Nights at Freddy's, Terraria, and more. I'm extremely versed in the lore and look forward in adding more gaming content to the Academy of Wonder. I am also the Executive Director of the LGBTQ Homeschool Association.