Meet our teachers
Cindy Flaherty
Founder
I founded Jubilate Choir and The Obadiah Players Drama Group in 1987. Growing up in a musical family, playing violin and oboe in the Vallejo Youth Symphony, and performing in theater from a young age, the performing arts have always been an important part of who I am. I attended Simpson College as a performing-arts major and enjoyed learning the many facets of communicating through the arts. It has been my delight and blessing to teach hundreds of children over the last 36 years and they have enriched my life immeasurably. As a published author, I enjoy the beauty of the written word and the power of storytelling. I look forward to the adventures that lie ahead as we welcome new students each year into Jubilate Homeschool Academy.
Lydia Pond
Co-Owner
I am a homeschooling mom of three, administrator and co-owner of Jubilate Academy, and one of the directors of Jubilate Choir and Drama. Having the perspective of growing up in Jubilate Choir and Obadiah Players, I know firsthand the importance of this creative journey for homeschool students. I have studied voice and advanced choral music and technique for many years. I also attended regional and all-state honor choir multiple times. Joining Jubilate Performing Arts is fulfilling a life-long dream of using my training and skills to give to other young people the wonderful experience that so enriched my childhood. As we expand our business to include more of the arts and academic enrichment classes, I am deeply invested in making Jubilate Homeschool Academy a place for children to grow in confidence and skills, pursue their interest and dreams, and connect with others as they make life-long friendships. I would like to give a special thanks to my husband for always supporting me in everything I do.
Mandy Keller
Joined Jubilate Homeschool Academy in 2023
~ English ~ Language Arts ~ Creative Writing ~
I have been a homeschool mom for eight years. Teaching has always been a passion of mine, particularly English, creative writing, and literature. I have taught a course on creative writing to homeschool students grades 3-8 this last year, as well as assisting in the choir and drama program at Jubilate Performing Arts for the last three years. I love working with children, getting to know them, and helping them learn to love learning!
Alicia DeRienzo
~ Dance ~
Alicia DeRienzo has been a lifelong dancer and choreographer. She participated in the dance program at California State University, Sacramento, and has since choreographed and performed in a number of musicals. Alicia loves teaching children all forms of dance and always strives to have a positive and encouraging learning environment. She is a homeschooling mom, and has two children performing in Jubilate.
Jessica Ostrander
Joined Jubilate Homeschool Academy in 2023
~ Art ~
I am a seasoned fine artist and storyteller.
I use my knowledge from the entertainment industry to lay a solid foundation in the visual arts, inspire a love for learning, and awaken creativity.
In my classes students have ample opportunities to develop their skills as visual communicators through design principles and a variety of image making techniques.
AriAnna Schaefer
~ Dance ~
AriAnna Schaefer is an enrichment dance teacher with 13 years of dance experience and 5 years of teaching. With big dreams she started her own dance company in Northern California. AriAnna believes in teaching with kindness and grace to always keep a joyful environment. With her young age she hopes to inspire her students to follow their dreams and always dance with the daisies.
Ashlee Powers
Joined Jubilate Homeschool Academy in 2023
~ Elementary History ~
Ashlee Powers is a wife, a mother of four, competitive soccer coach, and a Homeschool mom. Teaching and creating curriculum is her passion in life. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Psychology from Colorado Christian University. She created and taught a science program to underprivileged schools throughout the bay area for seven years before taking a break to be a mom. Since returning back into work life, Ashlee has been an elementary and middle school substitute teacher in El Dorado county for four years.
Ashlee is extremely excited to join Jubilate academy and teach history. She hopes to bring the love of history out in all of her students. ss here.
Katheryn Robinson
Joined Jubilate in 2024
~ Classical Voice ~ Musical Theater Voice ~
Kathryn Robinson is a voice teacher, wife, and mother of three. She grew up singing in several competitive choirs through middle and high school in Texas. She received her Bachelors of Music in Vocal Performance from BYU’s school of music. She is classically trained and has experience performing in operas, musicals, and advanced choral groups. She studied vocal pedagogy and has many years of experience teaching lessons to people of all ages and voice types. Kathryn is very passionate about sharing the art of singing through her teaching and truly believes everyone has their own unique and beautiful voice! It’s her job to help her students discover and strengthen their individual voices through fun, creativity, and artistry. When she’s not teaching, you might find her hiking or snowboarding in the mountains with her husband and kids.
Alyse Gee
Joined Jubilate Homeschool Academy in 2023
~ Elementary Math ~
Alyse Gee is homeschooling mom of three and has always been fascinated by education. As a child, she dreamed of homeschooling her future children in way that satisfied their natural curiosity and was fun! Having not been homeschooled herself, she intuitively knew there was a more impactful and enjoyable way to learn. She even kept all of her favorite textbooks and notes from college specifically for her homeschooling journey. Math has always been a favorite subject of hers and she loves seeing methods “click” in children. Alyse's patience, love, and a sense of humor makes her a fun and enjoyable teacher.
Nicole Harlow
Joined Jubilate Homeschool Academy in 2024
~ High School Math ~ Elementary Math ~ K-1st Learning Pod ~
~ Website Design ~
Nicole Harlow is a math enthusiast and homeschool mom of twin boys. She knew she wanted to homeschool her children before she was even a mom. She loves the experiences and unique learning opportunities that come with homeschooling. She believes that each student learns differently, and homeschooling allows each student to learn the way that serves them best. As a Sac State graduate, Nicole has been teaching in a wide range of settings for 13 years. She has Waldorf training and teaching experience, as well as experience teaching in private school settings. She thrives in smaller group settings where she can truly customize the learning experience for a specific group of students. She is a lifelong learner, often returning to take college classes for personal development and growth. During her time in college, she earned the exclusive opportunity to participate in a NASA program learning directly from the engineers.
Katie Vitale
Joined Jubilate Homeschool Academy in 2024
~ Middle and High School Math ~
I am a mom of two girls, and my favorite thing to do is woodturn. I love math, but that doesn’t mean that it always came easily to me! I do, however, love learning about things that make me think hard. I've always felt so excited when the light bulb came on! In that same way, I found a passion for sharing knowledge. If you learn a certain way, tell me! Math doesn’t need to be abstract and there’s a lot of ways to solve problems. We are together in this!
Aisling Cannon
Joined Jubilate Homeschool Academy in 2024
~ High School Science ~ Anatomy ~
With over 18 years’ experience as a clinical nurse, including 10 years working in corrections, my passion has been caring for the underserved who have limited access to needed services. As many of my patients were local and often greeted me warmly on the street, my children learned firsthand that everyone deserves kindness and compassion. As my family grew, I recognized the value of homeschooling my 3 children, and with that also came my desire to teach the next generation the art of health “care” and compassion. As a medical instructor and curriculum coordinator for a local college, teaching the language of medicine, anatomy, and physiology, I champion the next generation of health caregivers. I have particularly focused on those who underestimate their potential and have guided many into celebrated successes.
Patricia Yarbrough
Joined Jubilate Homeschool Academy in 2024
~ English ~ Literature~
Patricia Yarbrough is currently a home educator for her two sons. Prior to homeschooling, she was a classroom teacher with over ten years of experience. She has a multiple subject teaching credential through the State of California with a minor in introductory English. She has a Bachelor of Arts in English from Thomas Edison State University. She was homeschooled from kindergarten to the twelfth grade. She is an avid reader, believing that books are the best way to develop both critical thinking and empathy for others.
“You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Sharlee & Kaia King
Joined Jubilate Homeschool Academy in 2024
~ Musical Theater Dance ~
We are excited to be teaching the musical theater dance class this year. We have had previous experience taking this class, as well as performing in multiple amazing shows with Jubilate. Besides our experience performing we've also worked in a capacity as student directors and have taught dance at multiple times to people of various ages.
Amine Meddeb
Joined Jubilate Homeschool Academy in 2024
~ Chess ~
A Tunisian chess enthusiast with over 15 years of experience, Meddeb has rich family background in the game. He's worked with diverse students, from beginners to Tunisia's current champion, in both individual and group settings. Amine has contributed to various chess clubs and opened one at the El Dorado County Library. His focus on personalized teaching and strategic thinking inspires the next generation of players. Notably, two of his students from Tunisia have achieved the esteemed title of International Master in the game. Additionally, he holds a certification as a FIDE instructor.
Lizzi Robertson
~ Choir ~
I am a homeschooling mom of three, and as a product of homeschool myself, I have to say there is no better life! I sang with Mrs. Flaherty way back; she taught me how to sing! Over the years I have sung in many Byzantine and Russian Orthodox church choirs in various parts of the country, and have experience singing and chanting many ancient hymns and music. I am a US Navy veteran who grew up here in Placerville, and ended up coming home to marry my high school sweetheart. My kids and I have been with Jubilate for the last four years, and I love helping kids learn new and challenging music.
