About Us
Helping Homeschoolers Since 2002
Marguerite Gaspar, Director
Marguerite Gaspar, M.S.
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential
Supplementary Authorization, General Science
Reading Specialist Certification
Founder & Director
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Marguerite Gaspar is the founder and director of Talega Preparatory Academy and the Athletes 1st Academy Program. She has homeschooled her three children and has been a California-credentialed classroom teacher since 1991. Above all, she is an advocate of educational freedom of choice: every child is unique, and this individuality must lead families to pursue the most appropriate educational setting for each of their children.
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Jennifer Schmit, Advisor
Jennifer Schmit, B.S.
Mathematics, Statistics
CHN Local Contact
Homeschool Veteran, Blogger, Tutor
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Jennifer is the Co-Founder of Talega Prep and serves as our homeschool advisor to families seeking additional guidance in curriculum planning and design. Jennifer also tutors students in all subject areas, with expertise in higher-level math and statistics.
Jennifer homeschooled her three children for over 20 years, served for over a decade as a CHN local support representative, and has worked as a statistician for the Department of Defense and in consumer marketing.
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The Talega Preparatory Academy opened in 2002 when homeschooling mom, Jennifer Schmit, reached out to her classroom teacher sister, Marguerite Gaspar, seeking an ISP umbrella program to support her local homeschool group members. A strong advocate of homeschooling, Marguerite was eager to help.
In the years since our opening, we've seen public school classroom funding drastically reduced and instructional priorities transformed, focusing less on academic success and more on social planning. Great teachers flee, class sizes increase, and the demand to meet diverse student needs amid discipline problems, student crises, and litigation proves unmanageable.
Meanwhile, political agendas infiltrate public education, leaving many families unhappy with the academic and social curricula. Private school tuition has skyrocketed, barring most families from those programs. The Covid-19 pandemic response resulted in tremendous learning loss for students across the country.
Now more than ever, families realize the need for parents to take charge of their children's educations.
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Responding to these challenges, Talega Prep has grown to serve families throughout California, Florida, and other regions where local laws allow.
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Today, our mission remains unchanged. We strive to provide families with the utmost personal freedom to educate their children in a manner that best serves each individual's needs, interests, and aptitudes while assuring you that the State's requirements are met.
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With Talega Prep, you have the freedom and flexibility to choose what, when, and how each of your children will learn. You are in charge, and we are here to support you in your plan.
Personalized consultations are available at the rate of $95/hr, via Zoom.
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