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Our Story

ABQSHC was founded in 2020 in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Nona Carter and Magen Hansen dreamed of a place where their children could learn with other homeschoolers on a regular basis.  While our state was still on lockdown, they created a facebook group to discuss the idea with others and started offering virtual classes.   

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In Summer 2021, everyone from the facebook group who was interested in joining us for our in-person co-op started meeting up outdoors at a park every week to get to know each other and discuss plans.  Along the way, Nona and Magen met Sam Gruver who was a mother to teenagers; an age group that we also wanted to appeal to.  They brought Sam on as an admin to help launch their dream.  

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The three spent the Summer of 2021 planning classes, making registration forms and securing our beautiful outdoor space for rent. We started meeting regularly on Wednesdays in Fall 2021.  There have been some minor changes here and there, but overall our Wednesdays look very similar to those early days.  

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In Spring 2022, we established ourselves as a 501(c)3. 

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In Summer 2023, Nona Carter stepped down as an admin in order to have more time for her family,  Sam Gruver moved into the role as a board member, and Magen Hansen became Operations Manager.  The organization spent the 2023/24 school year delegating all of the admin positions to many others; adding the Board of Directors and Operations Coordinators positions and structure we now have today.  

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After three full years in operation, we now serve approximately 35-40 families with about 75 students ages 7-17, (and a handful of siblings under the age of 7.) On Wednesdays, over 25 classes are offered ranging from music to Spanish to essay writing, and everything in between.  We've expanded to offering a week-long winter camp each December, a vibrant and state-of the-art theater program, and many other wonderful events, classes and clubs run by our member volunteers. 

 

If you'd like to be part of our growing community,

please read more about our different membership levels here and  how to join here.

Mission and Values

Mission

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We are guardians homeschooling our school-age children.  Our purpose is to provide a secular, academic, cooperative learning experience in the greater Albuquerque area.  

 

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Vision

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Through participatory leadership, we aim to cultivate a secular academic community that thrives on cooperative learning, guided by sustainable practices.


 

Value statements ​

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  1. We value being a secular organization. 

  2. Our Wednesday co-op is the heart of our organization while the collaborative serves to further develop relationships and community.

  3. We serve ages 7- 17, recognizing the role the whole family plays in our homeschooling culture, and focusing our resources where they will have the greatest impact. 

  4. We value an equitable and inclusive environment, embracing multiple diversities including but not limited to, LGBTQIA+ diversity, neurodiversity, racial diversity, financial diversity, family diversity, nationality diversity, and ability diversity

  5. We are fueled by active, engaged volunteers, along with sustainable financial practices to keep the collaborative and Wednesday co-op accessible.

  6. We are bigger than any one person, therefore, we all take on leadership and ownership of the organization.

  7. We value empowered leaders who work for the best interests of the community as a whole, being transparent with our established procedures, and engaging in open communication and valuing informed, thoughtful decision making

  8. We value structured, community learning in classes and clubs in our Wednesday co-op environment.

  9. We value the learning that takes place through strong social relationships and through broader collaborative activities

  10. We value respect and care for ourselves, each other, and our collaborative environment.

Board of Directors 

Operations Coordinators

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