Staff Bios

Daniel Cooley

Principal

phone: 907-742-3700

cooley_daniel@asdk12.org

I am thrilled to be able to lead Family Partnership Correspondence School. I am a product of education in Alaska, having earned my H.S. Diploma, bachelor's, master's and EDLC all from Alaskan educational institutions. Over the past twenty years, I have worked both in public and private education, both in Alaska and abroad as far away as Indonesia and Kenya, while also having been head of an online private school. I believe that my unique experience in all of these areas has prepared me for the role of Principal of FPCS. As a leader, I believe there are those that aspire to lead and those that choose to follow. Leadership is not about a title, but instead built upon trust that allows me as a leader to gain influence and help guide the mission vision. I hope to earn your trust as leader of FPCS. 

My wife is also an educator from Alaska, and we have two sons, one in the United States Marine Corps, and the other heading to college this fall to study Biochemistry. My wife and I are entering the empty nest phase of life and are excited for this next adventure, Alaska Style!

Thank you for the opportunity to serve as leader of FPCS.

Hi!  I am Ashley.  I was born and raised in Florida but have always been an Alaskan at heart!  I moved to Anchorage in 2016 and have loved it here ever since.

I hold my bachelor's degree in criminal justice/political science and then went back to school in 2012 to earn my teaching certificate.  In 2018 I continued my education and earned a master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

During my teaching career I have taught 8th grade math, Algebra, Geometry, and high school credit recovery.  For extracurricular activities, I previously coached middle school volleyball, swimming, and the archery club.  

I am a huge advocate for college and career-ready students, and those who are unsure what they want to do after high school.  Alaska has so many options for students who want to enter the workforce or pursue a specialized trade.  I fully understand that not every student will go to college after high school, and that is okay! 

When I am not working, I enjoy getting outside with my family: hiking, boating, camping, cross country skiing, and taking our dogs for a walk.  I love the outdoors and believe any bad day and be fixed by spending some time in the mountains. 

I look forward to getting to know you and your students and helping you along your educational journey!

Chantal Davis 

Sponsor Teacher: 

Cell: 907-744-3593

davis_chantal@asdk12.org

I have been an educator with the Anchorage School District since 2004. I am originally from Washington state, where I graduated from Cedar Park Christian School. I went on to Central Washington University to pursue bachelor's degrees in both Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. After graduating in 2004, I moved to Alaska and began teaching. In addition to teaching, I have coached many sports. While my favorite sport to coach is volleyball, I also enjoyed my time as a cross-country, basketball, and track and field coach.

My son is in high school here in ASD. He is very active and spends his time playing football, running track, fishing, riding jet skis and four-wheelers. My daughter, a FPCS graduate, just finished her first year in college. I love watching my children grow in the things they love to do. In my free time, I am an avid reader and spend lots of time with our two little French Bulldogs.

I am excited to be a part of the Family Partnership family, and I look forward to working with you and your family to tailor your homeschooling program to your children's educational needs. This is something I am passionate about. I can't wait!

Melissa Lipinski

Sponsor Teacher.

Cell: 907-744-7716

lipinski_melissa@asdk12.org

I was born and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska, and my journey later led me to Anchorage, where I earned my bachelor's degree in Elementary Education (K-8). It was during this time that I met my husband. We are fortunate to have two amazing young adult boys; our youngest is a graduate of FPCS, is in college, playing baseball for both his school and the Alaska Baseball League (Go Bucs!) Our oldest has completed his multi-engine commercial pilot's license and is working on building flight hours.

We love the outdoors - whether it's fishing, spending time at our cabin, cheering at baseball games, or going on aviation adventures. Cooking, reading, hiking, Nordic skiing, and spending quality time with loved ones are all activities I personally enjoy.

Teaching has always been my passion. I began with student teaching in 1st grade and have since taught 2nd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. After focusing on my children's development for 15 years, I returned to teaching math at Wendler Middle School. Now I'm thrilled to be a part of Family Partnership. I understand the importance of finding the right educational path for each child and am eager to support families in making informed decisions that best suit their children's needs and aspirations.

Sarah Petersen 

Sponsor Teacher.

Cell: 907-310-9140

petersen_sarah@asdk12.org

I was born and raised in Montana but now have called Alaska my home for over 20 years. I have a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Montana State University and a Master's Degree in Educational Technology from the University of Alaska Southeast.

For over twenty years, I have worked as a classroom teacher, Educational Technology Specialist, IT Collaborator, Teacher Expert in STEM Science, adjunct faculty at UAA & UAS, and currently as a sponsor teacher for Family Partnership. I have earned a few recognitions in my time as an educator: I was a finalist for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics, I have served as a board member for ASTE Board (Alaska Society for Technology in Education), and I am an Apple Distinguished Educator. 

We are blessed to be able to homeschool our own children (grade 10 and grade 8). I love skiing (Nordic & alpine), backpacking, fishing, gardening and spending time with my precious family! I am excited to team with you and assist in your homeschooling journey!

Lucas Soden 

Sponsor Teacher 

Cell: 907-538-6743

soden_lucas@asdk12.org

I am originally from Wisconsin and grew up in a close-knit family. In 2009, I came to Alaska to visit friends and felt at home as soon as I stepped off the plane. I've been here ever since. I enjoy camping and skiing with my wife, our two elementary-age kids, and our 12-year-old husky lab, Buddy. I also enjoy trail running, cooking, and playing the guitar.

I have 15 years of teaching experience at the middle school level and a master's degree in elementary and middle school education. I have worked with a wide range of students throughout my teaching career. I have taught all core subjects at the middle school level, but I have spent most of my time as a 7th and 8th-grade Language Arts teacher working with students to develop their writing and reading comprehension skills. In addition to teaching Language Arts, I have coached debate, Battle of the Books, Spelling Bee, cross-country running, x-country skiing, wrestling, and baseball.

This will be my fifth year as a sponsor teacher with Family Partnership Correspondence School. I enjoy working closely with families to help them make the best educational choices for them and their children.

As someone who grew up and continues to live in the Anchorage area, education has always been a priority for me. I obtained a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Alaska, Anchorage, and a master's degree in teaching and learning. One of the most rewarding parts of my job is working with students and their families to develop personalized learning plans that help students reach their full potential. I have personal experience homeschooling my oldest son, Aidan, who graduated from Family Partnership last year, and my daughter Avalee, who will be in first grade this year.

Working at Family Partnership has been the highlight of my career so far. I am excited to share my personal experiences with families and support them throughout their homeschooling journey.

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family, which includes my husband and our four children - Aidan, Avalee, Eleanor, and Donovan. We love to engage in various outdoor activities during our downtime, including going to the park, camping, and enjoying the beautiful Alaskan weather.

I am thrilled to be a part of Family Partnership's team and look forward to helping families and students grow and succeed. It’s going to be a great year! 

Noah Zogas  

Sponsor Teacher

Cell: 907-310-5862

zogas_noah@asdk12.org

I am a life-long Alaskan and a former Anchorage School District student. I grew up in a log cabin in the woods on the Kenai Peninsula and later moved to Anchorage for high school. After graduating from East High School, I attended the University of Alaska – Fairbanks and then Claremont McKenna College in California, where I earned a BA in Environment, Economics, and Politics. After college, I returned to Alaska and worked as a flooring installer and an environmental consultant before becoming a teacher. I earned a Master of Arts in Teaching in Secondary Education from the University of Alaska – Southeast in 2011 and have been teaching in the ASD ever since. Prior to joining FPCS, I taught high school biology and honors biology at Bartlett High School as well as  7^th-grade science and middle school applied technology at Goldenview Middle School. In addition to teaching, I’ve enjoyed coaching middle school cross-country running, basketball, and track and field. 

I live in Anchorage with my family and have a son who is an ASD student. I love so much about living in Alaska, and in my free time I try to be outside as much as possible. I especially love rock climbing, world travel, mountain running, backcountry snowboarding, mountaineering, and hunting/fishing/gathering/growing as much food as I can. On rainier days I enjoy reading, cooking, playing games, and working on my old house. 

I’m very thankful I get to work with the amazing and talented staff at FPCS, and I’m excited to support and assist our families’ educational adventures. I look forward to meeting you! 

I am originally from Missoula, Montana, but have called Alaska home for over 30 years now and cannot imagine living anywhere else! I have a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education with a minor in English and a K-8 certificate. I also hold a master's in education degree with a focus on teacher excellence. My passion is teaching and learning!  

I have worked in the Anchorage School District for 22 years, including 16 years on JBER, teaching grades K-6 and STEM. I have spent the most time in the early grades, particularly kindergarten and first grades, but I have loved working with children of all ages in all subject areas. I have a lot of experience with younger students who struggle with reading and writing. I have also worked with all ages of students in enrichment activities like battle of the books, student government and service-learning clubs.  

My life plan was always to teach until I had my own children and then switch to homeschool. That did not happen for me, and I feel so blessed to be able to embark on the homeschooling adventure with you through Family Partnership. You are your child’s first teacher, and I am excited to be a part of your family’s team. Please contact me to see how I can work with you to meet your teaching and learning goals! 

Teresa Hintze  

Sponsor Teacher, SPED/504 Coordinator - Full not accepting new families 26/27 school year.

Cell: 907-538-8752

hintze_teresa@asdk12.org

Born in Idaho and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, I have been working for the Anchorage School District for many years. For 15 of those years, I worked in the Deaf Education program and taught all subjects at all levels; elementary school, middle school, and high school. During my tenure, I also had the pleasure of assisting my sisters in their homeschooling endeavors, including acting as a sponsor teacher for them at Family Partnership Correspondence School. I have been with FPCS for several years now and have a unique, dual role here at Family Partnership. First, I am a sponsor teacher and second, I am the special education liaison. In my role as the Special Education Liaison, I coordinate meetings and facilitate communication between FPCS families and the Special Education teams at their neighborhood schools. While FPCS is not allowed to offer special education services, as part of the Anchorage School District, our families are able to access any services at their neighborhood school. In my role as a sponsor teacher, I have the pleasure of working directly with families in supporting parent-directed education. I love this program and I am so excited to be part of the homeschooling community. 

Kristin Jackson  

Sponsor Teacher - Full not accepting new family 26/27 school year.

Cell: 907-538-8753

jackson_kristin@asdk12.org

I have been with Family Partnership since 2006, and I love the opportunity to partner with families! I graduated from Wheaton College with a B.A. in Elementary Education and have continued my professional development, taking classes through UAA. For five years, I taught second grade at Klatt Elementary. I transferred to Family Partnership to spend more time at home with my children and have the opportunity to work with students in a more individualized setting. As a teacher at FPCS, I have been a sponsor teacher for kindergarten through 12th grade students as well as taught elementary enrichment classes in all subject areas including hands-on science, writing, and math games. My husband and I have four children who have attended Family Partnership, and I have had the privilege of being an integral part of their education. As a family, we enjoy camping, fishing, and exploring Alaska. I grew up in Minnesota, making Alaska my home now with my family for over 20 years. I love spending time with my family, watching my kids' sports events, and venturing outdoors, whether in Alaska or a beautiful, sunny destination. I look forward to another great year sponsoring families here at Family Partnership! 

As one of the newest members of the FPCS team, I’m honored to join the Family Partnership community. I began working with the Anchorage School District as a substitute teacher in 2015 and gained experience working with students of all ages and grade levels at a variety of schools. It was through substitute teaching that I discovered a passion for special education when working in resource and SLC classrooms around the district. In 2018, I completed my master's degree in teaching and went on to teach at Whaley School, where I gained experience in working with students experiencing behavioral and social/emotional disabilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I stepped away from teaching to focus on family and broadened my experience by exploring new career fields before returning to ASD. Returning to education has allowed me to bring a fresh perspective to my passion for teaching.

I'm delighted to serve as the Special Education Teacher at Family Partnership, where I collaborate with our special education liaison to support our amazing students and families. My focus is on writing and managing IEPs for FPCS students and ensuring tailored, comprehensive support for those not accessing services at their boundary schools. I love working with parents to unlock the strategies that work best for their child's unique learning style, offering guidance for a successful home-school environment. I'm truly passionate about this collaborative approach to education. When I’m not at work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling to Hawaii and Mexico, camping, reading, and exploring the beauty of Alaska. I also love cooking and experimenting with new recipes.

Lynnetta Marcellus  

Sponsor Teacher - Full not accepting new families 26/27 school year.

Cell: 907-538-6741

marcellus_lynnetta@asdk12.org

I graduated in 1995 with a B.S. Ed degree in Secondary Math and History (grades 6-12) from the University of Idaho. In 2015, I finished my Master’s Degree in ED Leadership from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a K-12 principal certification. My husband is in the military, and we have had the opportunity to live in various places, such as Idaho, Germany, Missouri, Alabama, Delta Junction, Wasilla, and now Eagle River. I was blessed to teach in some of the places we traveled to, such as Idaho, Missouri, Delta Junction, Wasilla and now 16 years in Anchorage at FPCS. I have been teaching for 30 years in various educational institutions, such as the brick-and-mortar classroom, online school, private school, charter school, and now a correspondence school. I have taught 7th grade math, 8th grade math, Pre-Algebra, Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Applied math, Consumer math, Precalculus, Calculus AB and BC, Geography, US history, Western Civilization, Health, and P.E. I also coached high school volleyball and track. Over the years, I have received awards such as the 2001 Young Educator of the Year, the Society of Women Engineers Merit for High Honor in Science and Mathematics, and the intellectual vitality award in the UAA Education Leadership graduating class.

Both of my children were homeschooled at Family Partnership and went on to attend Liberty University. My daughter graduated from Liberty in 2024 with a pre-law degree and is now a 2LT in the Army. My son is now going to be a senior at Liberty University and is studying Computer Science.

I believe homeschooling is the best gift we can give our children. I also love helping parents become more confident in their ability to teach their children. I believe parents know their children better than anyone else, and with the partnership of a sponsor teacher, they can become the best teacher to their children. I would love to get a chance to visit with you as you embark on this wonderful journey of homeschooling.

Karin Owens

Sponsor Teacher, Community Outreach - Full not accepting new families 26/27 school year.

Cell: 907-310-9354

owens_karin@asdk12.org

I am a homeschooling mother and teacher. I first came to Family Partnership as a parent many years ago, and I loved the program so much that I joined as a sponsor teacher in 2022. I graduated from the University of Notre Dame and received my teaching degree from Indiana University. I have taught in both public and private schools. My most unusual job was as a K-12 principal/teacher at a one-room schoolhouse on the Alaska Canadian Border. However, my favorite teaching job has been homeschooling my own children.

I am a mother of seven, and my children range in age from nine to twenty-nine. My husband served more than twenty years with the Alaska Air National Guard, and my family adapted to multiple deployments. I am actively involved in my church, and I have volunteered with the American Heritage Girls program for many years.

I love the flexibility that homeschooling offers to families, allowing them to teach their values, to tailor the education to children's strengths and needs, and to study and learn in harmony with the family's schedule. I would be honored to work with your family and help you attain your educational goals.

Aimee Sims  

Sponsor Teacher - Full not accepting new families 26/27 school year.

Cell: 538-6742

sims_aimee@asdk12.org

Homeschooling has been one of the greatest adventures of my life. I am a mom of four incredible children - Iain (graduated in 2019), Nathaniel (graduated in 2021), Johanna (graduated in 2024), and Stuart (graduated in 2025). Our family's educational journey has been a rich experience of homeschooling, traditional neighborhood schools, alternative education programs, and ultimately returning to homeschooling.

Each day brought something new and exciting. I absolutely loved those "ah-ha" moments - when curiosity sparks, understanding clicks into place, and a child's face lights up with discovery. Learning together as a family has been an incredibly rewarding part of our lives, and it's a joy to share that passion with others.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies, a minor in Bible, and a specialization in Political Studies earned from The Master's University in Santa Clarita, California. Since graduation in 1997, I've remained deeply committed to education, teaching in my community and receiving extensive training in literacy instruction through the Slingerland Method, a multisensory program for reading, writing and spelling. 

For the past two decades, I have had the privilege of serving as a sponsor teacher and small group instructor with Family Partnership. It's an honor to come alongside families, helping to craft personalized learning plans that support academic excellence and encourage lifelong success. 

I am excited for the school year ahead---and all the learning, growth and exploration it will bring. Let's work together to make this a truly meaningful homeschooling journey for your family.