Our Team
MINDY KINNIER
Founder and Teacher
I am a homeschooling mom and credentialed teacher with a Master's Degree in Education from Biola University. After spending 12 years in the classroom, I transitioned into teaching for a homeschooling charter school and began homeschooling my own children. Over the years, our family has fallen in love with this alternative style of education, and now, with our 2.5-acre blossoming farm (a lifelong dream of mine!), we love inviting others to join us. I am passionate about making learning fun and engaging, and there is no better way to do that than teaching in the context of nature and farm life!
NICK KINNIER
Founder and Farmer
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to books that deal with the deeper things of life and the outdoors. I grew up with parents who were teachers and my formative years as a kid were marked by backpacking trips in the central Sierra Nevada mountains, camping along California’s coast, and frequent trips to national parks. In college, I resisted the pull towards a “practical” degree and followed my interest into the deeper things of life and pursued a Master's Degree in Theology. Having spent the first part of my life reading books and teaching adults, I felt pulled to spend more time outside with plants and kids.
SHIRLEY SWENSON
Three Day Learning Coach
I have been teaching at Gathered Oak since it started in the Fall of 2021. Growing up, my summers were spent on my family's farm in Pennsylvania, where I have some of my fondest memories. I received my teaching credential from UCI and spent several years teaching in public school. I have been married for 47 years and have 4 grown daughters and 8 grandchildren who I have been able to help homeschool. I love farm life and teaching, and getting to combine these two passions is a dream come true!
SHERI DIMARCO
Three Day Learning Coach
After 15 years as a credentialed Reading Teacher in the San Marcos Unified School District, I am thrilled to be able to work with the team at Gathered Oak. My experience has shown me that children learn best when they are engaged, and able to follow their passions to explore and discover the world around them. I enjoy being able to facilitate that experience while incorporating an academic focus. Gathered Oak Farm merges these two aspects together well. I have been married for 40 years and have three grown daughters, plus four grandchildren. As a lifelong learner myself, I'm excited to embark on this next adventure after being a stay-at-home Mom while my girls were young and working 14 years in the financial industry prior to my career in education.
RENA FREY
Monday Farm School Teacher
Middle School Teacher
I love being a part of the teaching team at Gathered Oak Farm and am excited to be starting our Middle School program this year as well as continuing our Monday farm school. I went to school at Cal State Long Beach and worked for the last sixteen years as a speech therapist at a middle school. During the great shutdown of 2020, I homeschooled my kids, and history & science were my favorite subjects to do! I love coming up with creative, out-of-the-box ways to teach new things to kids. I feel like it's important to be outside and learn new things by doing them firsthand. I live with my husband and our four kids in San Marcos. We love to camp, go to the beach, laugh together and often have last-minute dance parties.
JUSTINE JACKSON
Three Day Learning Coach
When we decided to homeschool our son at 3 years old, there weren’t many options for enrichment, especially in 2020. I took a leap of faith and created a preschool co-op with other families looking to foster a love of learning in their children. After a career designing and teaching sales training courses, teaching children ignited a passion in me for creating unique learning experiences. We moved to Fallbrook in 2021, seeking to connect with nature, build meaningful ties in the community, and learn new skills like gardening and raising chickens. Finding Gathered Oak checked all of those boxes and more! What I love most about “farmschooling” is the freedom to slow down and be curious, both as students and teachers, about subjects that spark passion and discovery through diverse experiences.
JESSICA MANUEL
Electives Teacher
NICOLE ROSSI
Core Academic Track and Tuesday/Thursday Farm School Teacher
ALISHA PETAK
Electives Teacher