We are excited to welcome you to Rooted & Rising Homeschool Hybrid!
Rooted & Rising grew out of a prayer to join God at work to bring community and support to more homeschoolers in Central Kansas.
We pray God uses this endeavor to bless many children and families on their journey of homeschooling and discipleship.
Our mission is to foster a love of learning in your children!
About Us
We hope to equip parents to homeschool, by helping them grow in confidence and assurance that they truly are the best teachers for their children.
Things to love about Rooted & Rising Hybrid:
Compassionate learning environment!
More freedom in childhood (more free time to play!)
Accountability for families to get the core subjects accomplished!
Refreshing Community!
Gentle equipping and encouragement for parents!
Mothers gain support and the gift of time-to catch up, breathe, rest, or observe Sabbath. On hybrid days, moms can attend appointments, run errands, or even contribute financially to their family if they choose, all without compromising their calling to homeschool.
"Continue to live your lives in him rooted, and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught." Colossians 2:6-7
"Continue to live your lives in him rooted, and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught." Colossians 2:6-7
Meet our Staff!
Abby Hinman-Founder & Director of Academics
Abby Hinman is a mother of four, wife to a college professor, and an educator with a passion for hands-on, innovative learning. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, with a particular love for curriculum design and development. Abby also served as an adjunct professor in the Education Department at Central Christian College, where she worked with future teachers and deepened her commitment to strong instructional practice.
She spent five years teaching 5th grade at a Christian school, during which time she also presented at teacher conferences. After starting a family, Abby transitioned to homeschooling and has taught her own children for the past four years. She volunteered on the board of a local homeschool co-op and helped launch a thriving nature-school co-op that quickly grew as families sought meaningful outdoor learning experiences. With a long-held dream of opening an innovative, experiential school, Abby was thrilled to help launch this new hybrid program that brings that vision to life.
Emily Wuest-Founder
Emily Wuest is married to her best friend with 3 wonderful children. She has her Masters degree in Transformative Education. Her BA is in Elementary Education with a minor in Psychology. She is a certified K-5, 6-8 ELA, and K-12 ELL teacher. Her background includes teaching middle school English, 4th grade in China, online english classes, and is currently an adjunct English Professor at Central Christian College. While teaching, Emily helped with new teacher on- boarding and helping new teachers problem solve classroom issues.
She never imagined homeschooling, but after her son started to struggle in school, she felt God’s calling, through her husband’s prompting, on their family to begin homeschooling. When Kari began sharing her dream about the hybrid it felt like the very best of both worlds, to give her children the school peer experience, a school community, but also the ability to continue having the intentional learning time at home that is working so well to benefit her family. She is passionate about hands on creative learning and supporting and encouraging teachers and students both in the classroom and supporting families at home educating their children.
Kari Bower - Founder, Website Design, Program Support Specialist, Board President
Kari is married to an awesome guy who happens to be a Pastor and retired Army Chaplain. Her greatest joy and honor is to be called mom by NINE amazing kids! Kari began homeschooling 17 years ago, when she felt called to home educate, desiring to be home with her babies, teaching them about Jesus and pouring into them as much as she could. She views homeschooling as a privilege and calling, (even on the hard days!)
Kari has a BA in Psychology, and is a Certified Birth Doula of 14 years, she is also an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). She is the owner and founder of Journey Well LLC (2022), which provides support to women prenatally, during pregnancy, birth, postpartum as well as providing adoption support services. Journey Well functions as a Lactation Private Practice with Doula care and support, and has a free monthly support group for women in McPherson, KS. Journey Well also has helped in the support process from beginning to finalization of FOUR adoptions in Central Kansas! Kari began a Homeschool Community that grew to capacity in Rochester, MN in 2014-2015. She served as a board member for a homeschool co-op and that same year began a thriving homeschool moms and kids life group that kept on growing. She helped launch Gather Moms in McPherson in 2025 which supports women in many seasons of mothering!
Kari kept up praying how she and her family could be used to continue to help meet needs in her community. As she discerned the Lord’s leading she felt led to research hybrid homeschool learning a few years ago. She never imagined that the Lord would orchestrate connections with Emily and Abby allowing and guiding them towards a vision of beginning Rooted & Rising Homeschool Hybrid!
Jerilyn Burgeson - Director of Operations and Finance
Jerilyn brings nearly two decades of experience in leadership, administration and finance, having served on her church’s Children’s Ministry Team and on the boards of three nonprofits, she held roles including Board Chair and Treasurer. She has also taught social sciences at a Christian high school and helped lead a homeschool co-op in Michigan, where she further developed her skills in organization, supporting families, and shaping learning experiences.
A homeschooling parent of four, for 8 years, Jerilyn champions parents who want to make homeschooling work for their families, without the pressure of what’s considered typical or expected. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Ministry, focused on families, and is committed to creating a welcoming environment where students and families can thrive.
Meet the Teachers!
Sarah Davis-Elementary Education
I’m a wife and stay-at-home mom of three with a heart for Jesus, children, and Christian education. I studied Elementary Education in college and have spent many years caring for children through babysitting, homeschooling my own children, and serving in children’s ministry. I’ve also gained leadership experience through roles in business operations and management positions. I strive to create a warm, Christ centered learning environment where every child feels known, encouraged, and excited to learn. I’m so thankful to be part of the Rooted & Rising family! I‘m so excited to partner with families as we help each child learn and grow this year!
Jolene Czosnowski-Elementary Teacher
Teaching has been my passion for as long as I can remember. I've been blessed to teach in public schools for 25 years. I began my career in Indiana teaching students with disabilities and then fifth grade general education. Then I taught twice-exceptional students in grades K-8. After that I taught high-ability 5th and 6th graders. Other positions I've held were teaching in a fine-arts focused school and music one year. My last five years were teaching gifted students in Kansas.
Since retiring I spend my time reading, walking, playing with my cat, and spending time with my husband and grandkids and family. I also play and teach piano and sing with the worship team monthly. I look forward to working with families in Rooted and Rising Hybrid Homeschool!
Andrea Schmidt- Middle School Writing and Social Studies Teacher
I’m a small-town gal who moved to Kansas 20 years ago for a job, met and married a farmer, had a child and have been planted here ever since. On most days, you will find me homeschooling, attempting a new healthy recipe that leaves everyone still hungry or trying to find the right field to deliver a meal to my husband. In my spare time, I love reading, writing, being outdoors and sipping coffee with friends. I earned a B.A. at Spring Arbor University with a major in English and a minor in Psychology with a Secondary Education Teaching Certificate.
I have more than 25 years’ worth of experience working with youth. During my young adult years, I served as a Camp Counselor, Sunday School Teacher, and Youth Group Volunteer. After college, the teaching job market wouldn’t budge. In order to even substitute teach one had to be a certified teacher and pass all the required state exams. While waiting for a position to open, I was a ‘Guest Teacher’ by day and tutored at Sylvan Learning Center in the evenings. The summers I traveled to Maryland and Rhode Island and worked for Johns Hopkins University for the Center for Talented Youth Program. Then at 24 years old, I packed my bags and moved 1,000 miles away to a town I’ve never heard of to work as a Resident Director for Central Christian College. After I ‘retired’ from my position at the college, I was a Paraeducator for Moundridge Middle School. Most recently, I taught WriteShop and How to Write a Novel for the high school students at the MAHE co-op, in McPherson KS. On Monday afternoons, I served as a Writing Coach for aspiring novelists. I enjoy working with students and igniting their passion for writing. Whether it’s the reluctant writer who never knows what to write or the one who has 27 half-finished stories under their bed. I’ve been praying for the students who will be in my room and under my care and will continue to pray for them. I trust the Lord to bring together an amazing group at Rooted & Rising Hybrid this season. Walking alongside parents in their educational journey will be an honor. Let’s bring joy, strength and community into this crazy world of homeschooling together.
Kelli Farley-Middle School Science and Math Teacher
As a proud McPherson native, I have deep roots in this community and a genuine passion for serving the people who call it home. My husband and I have been married for 24 years, and together we’ve been blessed with four wonderful children—a 23-year-old daughter, two sons ages 21 and 20, and our youngest son, who is 13 and is homeschooled. This August, our family is celebrating an exciting new chapter as we welcome our very first grandchild. For approximately 14 years, I had the privilege of working in the school system in a variety of roles, including classroom aide, paraeducator, family advocate, middle school staff member, and preschool creative arts teacher. Those experiences strengthened my love for helping families, building relationships, and serving others with compassion and integrity. For the past five years, I have been a Realtor with Sheets-Adams Realtors, where I enjoy helping buyers and sellers navigate one of life’s biggest decisions with confidence. My faith is the foundation of my life, and I have been actively involved in children’s ministry through my church for many years. One of my greatest joys is encouraging children as they grow in their relationship with Christ.
Stacey Kaufman - Teachers Aid
I was born in Massachusetts and moved to Kansas in 2007 to marry my amazing husband and best friend, Jordan Kaufman. We now have two of the most beautiful, fun, adventerous, and kindhearted boys. Life is so much more fun with them around! I’ve worn many hats during my days in Kansas, but by far my favorite is just being mom and being able to homeschool. It’s such a blessing from the Lord to be able to raise my own kids at home. I love gardening (barefoot), camping with my family, being near big bodies of water, sewing, cooking, and growing closer to the Lord each new day and bringing my kids along for the adventure!
“We have been charged to cultivate the souls of our children, to nourish them in truth, goodness, and beauty, to raise them up in wisdom and eloquence. It is to those ends that we labor. The raising of children, the teaching of truth, the sharing of life, the nourishing of imagination, and the cultivating of wisdom: These are all His anyway; we are merely His servants.”
-Sarah Mackenzie