Our Story
Hewitt Learning traces its roots to 1963, when a group of educators and concerned professionals came together with a shared conviction: families deserve the freedom and support to educate their children in the way that best fits them. What began as Cedar Springs Foundation became Hewitt Research Foundation in 1969, named in honor of co-founder Carl Hewitt. Under the leadership of co-founder Dr. Raymond Moore (whose work appeared in Time, Newsday, and Columbia University’s Teachers College Record) Hewitt Research Foundation became a pioneering voice in the homeschool movement, publishing landmark books like Home Grown Kids and School Can Wait.
Over the decades, Hewitt grew into a trusted resource for tens of thousands of homeschooling and alternative education families, offering curricula, assessments, coaching, and community. That commitment has never wavered.
STUDENTS ENROLLED
0
P.A.S.S. TESTS TAKEN
0
DISTINCT TITLES PUBLISHED
0
Who We Are Today
Hewitt Learning is a publishing and curriculum arm of Ceiba Connections, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to equipping learners in every setting to thrive. We represent the broad homeschool and alternative education landscape – connecting families and educators with excellent, time-tested resources.
Our offerings include:
- Lightning Lit – a beloved literature and composition curriculum for K-12 students
- Kid’s Chemical Solutions – including both the Chemistry Colleen series for preschoolers and the M.C. Detective Agency (a graphic novel series designed to teach college chemistry to kids 8+)
- My First Report – a series of unit studies for 3-5 graders
- Innovation & Invention – the Young Inventor Program is a guidebook for parents and teachers looking to develop creativity and innovative thinking
- Partner Curriculum – many different curriculum from vetted partner organizations
We hold our programs to the highest standards of academic rigor while remaining flexible and accessible to families wherever they are on their educational journey.
Our Commitment
Learning looks different for every child; and that’s exactly the point. Whether you’re just beginning to explore homeschooling, are teaching a co-op, building a microschool, or you’ve been at it for years, Hewitt Learning is here to offer resources built with care, curiosity, and a deep respect for the learner.
We are part of something bigger. Together with our sibling programs (PASS Testing, the US National Innovator Challenge, Curriculum Navigator, Sideview Press, and EduGift) we are Ceiba Connections: a community committed to making excellent education accessible to every family.
P.A.S.S.
Our Team
Jack Lewis
Having led non-profits for over 38 years, Dr. Lewis was invited to assume the presidency of Hewitt in light of the retirement of now President Emeritus, April Purtell. Having earned a PhD in Educational Leadership from Gonzaga University, he spent over 20 years in Higher Education Leadership. Dr. Lewis also comes with experience in homeschooling some of his own children (the lead role in that context taken by his wife of over 40 years, Cheryl). In addition, he and his wife have also been involved in the homeschooling of some of their grandchildren. The Lewises have four grown children, currently boast of ten grandchildren, and enjoy the privilege of living with some of them in a four-generational home.
President
Jane Tucker
Assistant
Kristin Lehman
Kristin Lehman has spent years working on the title “eclectic learner.” She worked in Higher Ed for over 13 years, teaching schools including Eastern Washington University and Whitworth University. During that time she wrote a textbook, set up curriculum for an Aviation major, and helped establish the mathematics scope and sequence for multiple programs. She also taught coding, astronomy, & mathematical artistry to elementary students as a community collaborator for Spokane Public Schools’ homeschool Parent Partnership Program. She studied Wilderness Leadership, Linguistics, and Interpreting for the Deaf, and holds an advanced degree in Mathematics from Eastern Washington University. She worked as the Director for Invent Washington before joining Hewitt Learning. She helped found the Independent Innovator Challenge in the spring of 2021. Kristin and her husband have four children who have been homeschooled or in alternative ed settings for the majority of their schooling.
Director
Jared Nelson
IT
Michael Gaunt
Born in North Carolina, Michael Gaunt has had the pleasure of living in many different parts of the US and abroad. He met his wife while they were in graduate school studying medieval history at the University of York in England. Upon his return to the States in 1998, he went to work as a teacher/counselor at Hewitt Homeschooling Resources where he has been ever since. Years of experience working with homeschooling students and families have helped him to revamp many of Hewitt’s class offerings to better meet the needs of the homeschooling community as well as to recognize the variety of situations and the flexibility of approaches required to best serve each student. He was also able to assist Elizabeth Kamath in the development of the Lightning Lit program which has proved so useful to so many. After his twins, he is proudest of the high level of achievement of his students, both at Hewitt and in their lives after Hewitt.
HS Director
Christa Mattocks
Designer
Our Board
Anne Haugaard
A native to the Pacific Northwest, Anne was raised on the strong foundation of Hewitt curriculum. When her parents realized the incomparable benefits of one-on-one instruction and the beauty and limitless bounds inherent when parent and child bond as teacher and student, they made the choice to homeschool Anne and her brother and never looked back. During her summers in high school and college, she worked at Hewitt in the customer service and shipping departments. The company and its mission are still closely held in her heart. Anne received her Bachelor's of Arts in Environmental Studies from Hawai'i Pacific University and Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Oregon. She is a family law attorney in Portland, Oregon. In her spare time, Anne loves going on outdoor adventures, whether camping, hiking, snowshoeing, kayaking, or just sitting beside the fire enjoying fellowship with friends.
Board Chair
Anna Huebner
Anna is an accomplished early childhood educator with extensive experience in planning and delivering high-quality care to children. She is passionate about collaborating with teachers, principals, and school staff to create optimal learning environments. Anna is committed to recognizing the unique learning styles of each student and promoting effective educational practices to meet lesson objectives.
Board
Jaclyn Parrott
Currently serving as Assistant Professor, Collection Management Librarian, and Religious Studies Subject Liaison at EWU Libraries, Jacki has years of professional librarianship experience (including serving five years as Branch Librarian at Moody Bible Institute-Spokane Library), as well as an extensive customer service and leadership background. She earned an MDiv from Moody Theological Seminary, a Professional Librarian’s Life Certificate, an MLISc, (Library and Information Science) from University of Hawai’i, and a BA in Communication Studies (with a Business Administration minor) from Eastern Washington University. She was homeschooled the first six years of her formal education. Besides a passion for education, she enjoys spending time with her Springerdoodle Fyodor, recreating in the outdoors, traveling, reading, enjoying music, riding her motorcycle, taking pictures, and hanging with friends and family.
Board
Elisabeth Silver
Elisabeth is an educational leader with a 30-year career serving in teaching and educational administrative roles. She has taught in both traditional and alternative learning environments. Elisabeth has always been (and will always be) a champion of individualized education for students.
Board
Christal Gamble
Christal shares her adventures as the parent and homeschool educator of her
son, Cash, a Gifted Learner, on her Instagram page @Mamasweetbaby. Christal realized that her unique point of view could be beneficial to other families who share similar experiences, so she started a blog, Facebook pages, Pinterest, TikTok, and YouTube channel, all with the same name. Christal supports any parents interested in Learning at Home. She believes that a parent is the child's first and most important teacher. She frequently shares free educational resources, events, competitions, curriculum reviews, books, and additional support specifically for Gifted and Diverse learners.
Board
Our Authors
Elizabeth Kamath
Elizabeth Kamath has a B.A. in psychology and worked many years as a technical writer. She had over ten years experience grading home-school student English papers before she began developing curriculum for Hewitt. She has written thirteen of the current twenty Lightning Lit guides. In addition to her writing, Elizabeth is kept busy by her husband, two sons (who she homeschools), two cats, two chickens, and a snake.
Author
Colleen Kelley, PhD
Colleen Kelley received her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Richmond, and herPh.D. in Organometallic Chemistry from The Pennsylvania State University. She continued her studies having been awarded a postdoctoral fellowship at the University Louis Pasteur with the Nobel Laureate, Professor Jean-Marie Lehn. Colleen was a tenured faculty member at Northern Arizona University with research focusing on metal toxicology and chemical education. Her teaching duties have spanned from graduate level courses all the way to elementary school courses. In 2017, she taught chemistry in rural Kenya. Colleen is passionate about chemistry, discovery, chemical education and how to create a profound and robust learning environment for all students. Colleen now teaches organic chemistry at the University of Arizona. She is the author of M.C. Detective Agency, a fun comic book series for kids ages 8 and up!
Author
Michael Gaunt
Born in North Carolina, Michael Gaunt has had the pleasure of living in many different parts of the US and abroad. He met his wife while they were in graduate school studying medieval history at the University of York in England. Upon his return to the States in 1998, he went to work as a teacher/counselor at Hewitt Homeschooling Resources where he has been ever since. Years of experience working with homeschooling students and families have helped him to revamp many of Hewitt’s class offerings to better meet the needs of the homeschooling community as well as to recognize the variety of situations and the flexibility of approaches required to best serve each student. He was also able to assist Elizabeth Kamath in the development of the Lightning Lit program which has proved so useful to so many. After his twins, he is proudest of the high level of achievement of his students, both at Hewitt and in their lives after Hewitt.
Author
Lucy S.R. Austen
Lucy S. R. Austen is a freelance writer, editor, and homeschooling mother who loves sharing her enjoyment of reading, writing, and thinking. She was homeschooled from kindergarten through sixth grade, and again in eleventh grade, before going on to earn a B.A. in English from the University of Washington. She has worked for Hewitt Homeschooling Resources as a high-school English evaluator, and as editor of Spring Hill Review, a (print-only) journal of Pacific Northwest culture. Her textbooks, British Christian Authors and American Christian Authors, are part of Hewitt's Lightning Literature & Composition series, and she has a full-length biography of Elisabeth Elliot forthcoming from Crossway. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, working in the garden, and watching the antics of her family's two cats, four goats, six chickens, and nine runner ducks.
Author
Brenda Cox
Brenda S. Cox is an American who has spent most of her adult life living and working in the Middle East. She homeschooled her four children, and several other students, through high school. She currently trains people in teaching and learning Arabic, and hopes to soon complete a master’s degree in applied linguistics. She also enjoys teaching Arabic to her oldest granddaughter! Brenda has friends of many nationalities and loves to share the joys of different languages and cultures with others. She has written articles and stories about languages and cultures for children and adults.
Author