Another positive aspect of the staff commitment is the two-hour weekly meeting which teaching staff attends. In fact, when a meeting is not scheduled, staff has requested a special meeting just to keep informed of the many happenings at Mountain Oaks. This is the kind of staff that regards each other as friends: our families share vacations, special events, and all the small things that make life challenging.

The educational background of each teacher seems to complement and complete the needs of the home-school community. When one teacher has an area of expertise this person is willing to share it with any student, whether that student is "on the roll or not." One of our staff re-entered teaching, because this refreshing method of working with students made teaching a rewarding occupation. Several teachers, having home-schooled their own children, completed the California credentialing program in order to assist other families with this educational option. When class size reduction opened the possibility for two of our teachers to work in a traditional setting, they chose to remain with Mountain Oaks. All of our teachers are members of the staff because they choose to be here.

Our office staff is the hub of Mountain Oaks. Many of them are also home schooling parents. There is a flexibility here, which allows for families to combine work and home schooling. It really makes a difference to anyone walking into the school, to be greeted by other parents who believe and understand the choices a family makes when deciding to educate at home.

Mountain Oaks is truly a community of home-schooling families. From the administrators to the cleaning person, from the grandparent to the newest child, we are a support to each other, a friend when one is needed, or simply someone to share a joke or a smile.