Jeanne Faulconer, M.A.

Hi there!

I’m Jeanne Faulconer, and I’m here because I homeschooled my kids for twenty years—all of them through high school! I loved being a homeschool mom. I also love sharing how I helped my kids learn from the preschool years through high school and college-prep!

I’ve been writing for TheHomeSchoolMom for over a decade.

Words have always been like oxygen to me, so reading, writing, advocating for, and speaking about homeschooling come naturally. Asking the right questions to help parents, kids and teens clarify their concerns and consider potential solutions has proven to be one of my more valuable skills. That’s part of what I do here at TheHomeSchoolMom, not only in my "Ask Jeanne" column, but also as I write articles for you, giving you options to consider rather than one-size-fits-all advice. Every homeschool family is different, and homeschooling can be handcrafted to fit your family.

We moved a lot during our homeschooling (an average of every two years), so I have experience with homeschooling in different states in the U.S. and lots of different environments—including rural, small town, suburban, and metro area settings. I’ve homeschooled in small apartments with parking lots, on Main Street, and in houses with big backyards—and I love picturing the many families in all kinds of places and spaces who are successfully homeschooling all over the U.S. and around the world.

As we moved, everywhere I went, I was excited to find new friends for our family, so I had a habit of Jeannie-Appleseeding new homeschool groups and co-ops into existence. This helped me get my social needs met and gave me time to learn from experienced parents and become a mentor to those just starting out. Through the TheHomeSchoolMom, I can reach even more people who are starting to homeschool, facing a new challenge, or reaching a new stage of homeschooling.

I prefer giving you options to consider rather than one-size-fits-all advice.

My Homeschooling Cred

If homeschooling 20 years is not enough . . .

Most recently, I was director of Brave Learner Home, Brave Writer’s homeschool community for parents. There, I provided homeschool coaching, led an amazing coaching team, and developed homeschooling resources.

For many years, I conducted end-of-year Evidence of Progress evaluations for homeschoolers in Virginia. As a homeschool evaluator, I worked with hundreds of families who homeschooled with a variety of approaches, used many different curricula, and had kids with so many different interests, strengths, and challenges.

I served on the Board of Directors of The Organization of Virginia Homeschoolers and was recognized as a member of their Legacy Circle in 2021. For VaHomeschoolers, I enjoyed editing VaHomeschoolers Voice magazine for five years and speaking at their annual conference for many years.

I’ve been a homeschool conference speaker and workshop leader for many different organizations. Speaking about homeschooling is one of my favorite things to do, so much so that another highlight for me is speaking at homeschool graduations! I also do talks about homeschooling to non-homeschoolers who want to understand the laws, status, culture, and effectiveness of homeschooling.

In fact, I sometimes find myself as a news source for the media. I was featured in Good Morning America’s cover story on the increase in the number of families opting to homeschool their kids. I’ve also been featured in TIME magazine, in newspaper stories and on the radio.

Long-time homeschoolers may remember Home Education Magazine, where I was a contributor and editor for quite a few years.

My time as a La Leche League Leader confirmed for me the difference nurturing can make in a child’s life, and seeing my children through a lens of partnering with them rather than coercing them was important to me as a homeschool mom.

While I’m no longer an LLL Leader, I continue to serve on the Board of Directors of Family and Home Network in an effort to empower parents to have the ongoing nurturing relationships with their children that are so essential.

Having been a university faculty member no doubt has helped me understand what’s necessary for homeschooled high school students to succeed in college. Before kids, I was assistant professor of English and journalism at Averett University and later taught public speaking at Southside Virginia Community College.

I’m glad for the chance to reach homeschoolers and people interested in homeschooling here at TheHomeSchoolMom. It is so rewarding to be able to provide information and encouragement by adding to the wealth of resources Mary Ann has provided.

Other Than Homeschooling

Our family enjoys the outdoors, and my husband Rick and I are trailer camping our way through the state parks of Virginia. We take our two dogs (I seem to have a two-dog quota), rescued rat terriers named Hershey and Snickers. Our adult sons join us from time to time—we keep an extra tent with us!

For about ten years, Rick and I owned Windrock Farm in southern Virginia, where I trained horses and gave riding lessons. We boarded horses on our farm that was so far out in the boonies, you could only get pizza delivered halfway.

We love music, and I especially love bluegrass, blues and gospel, and playing music and singing together has been a big part of our family life. One of our sons is a professional musician, so we have been to a lot of gigs and loaded our share of gear.

My writing and speaking life has not just been about homeschooling. I have done my share of straight-up journalism and magazine editing, and, as a published poet, I love writing about the kitchens and moonlight of daily life.

My odd side hustles include emceeing events and writing and delivering eulogies and wedding meditations.

Because people need words sometimes.

Things most people don’t know about me

• I am a Star Trek fan, especially TOS. Send me all the Tribbles. But really? I love the social commentary.
• Memento mugs clutter my cabinet: mugs with the names of places I’ve worked, state parks I’ve visited, my kids’ colleges and universities, favorite vacation spots, and towns I’ve lived in. Each mug of tea is accompanied by a memory! And it’s tea, not coffee. Earl Grey, hot. (That’s a Star Trek Next Gen reference, if you don’t know).
• I was the #1 hurdler on the boys track team of my middle school, before Title IX was enforced in Virginia.
• I am allergic to bananas.
• I’ve “done the news” for three different radio stations, from rock and roll to NPR!
• My master's thesis at University of North Carolina-Greensboro was a documentary screenplay I wrote about the Civil Rights Movement in Danville, VA. I was privileged to interview Movement leaders who worked with Dr. King and who risked their own lives and livelihoods to help end segregation in my home state and across the South.
• I’ve lived in a lot of villes: Berryville, Danville, Mooresville, Charlottesville, Ruckersville, Stanardsville. I’ve lived in a lot of non-villes, too, but I’m always pleased to think about the many villes I’ve called home.