Building on Things that Count: Helping Homeschools Thrive

 According to statistics from  National Home Education Research Institute, there are about 2 million children being home-schooled in the United States, and the numbers are expected to increase as more parents want to have more input in their child's education. Some of the common reasons  parents home-educate their children is to be able to teach them their own set of values, provide a safer environment, and customize the learning atmosphere for their child.

Current research shows that typically children who are home-schooled, on average, score higher on standardized academic achievement tests than students of the public education system.  A good home education system is not accidental; there are various pieces that must be in place for success.

Our interview this segment is with Carol Topp, CPA, whose ministry provides one of the vital pieces that help home schools thrive.

Joan:  Welcome Carol! Tell about your ministry to homeschooling families. We know there must be  challenges to getting a home school up and running, so where do you come in and how do you help them?

Carol: My ministry is to homeschool leaders-those who homeschool their own children and also lead groups such as support groups, co-ops, sports and arts programs.

Leaders face several challenges in organizing groups, running them, dealing with money, people and programs. I offer articles on many areas including setting up as a nonprofit organization, opening a checking account, writing bylaws, paying workers, conflict resolution, and insurance for homeschool groups.  I also have several workshops that I conduct for homeschool leaders at conventions and I have written four books to help leaders with money management, paying workers, and obtaining 501c3 tax exempt status including Homeschool Co-ops: How to Start Them, Run Them and Not Burn Out. I also maintain a blog at my website HomeschoolCPA.com to answer questions from homeschool leaders.

Joan: Interesting. As one with little knowledge of the homeschooling arena, I didnt' realize it could be so involved with the things you mentioned. What got you started doing this?

Carol: I am a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and have used my accounting skills to help several nonprofit organizations including my own homeschool co-op. I found that I had knowledge about running a homeschool organization from the unique perspective of being a homeschool mom and an accountant. There was no one else in the homeschooling movement helping homeschool organizations, so I combined my accounting knowledge, nonprofit experience and homeschooling background to launch my website, HomeschoolCPA.com, in 2006.

Joan: Well Carol, I understand you've been a homeschooled student yourself. Share that with us.

Carol: Yes! To give you a little background on my education, I graduated from Purdue University with a B.S. in Engineering in 1984 and worked ten years for the U.S. Navy as a cost analyst before staying home with my two daughters.

While being a stay-at-home mom, I took accounting classes via distance learning (thus I'm a homeschooled CPA). In 2000, I received my CPA license and opened my own practice from home. My specialties are tax preparation, small/micro business accounting, and nonprofit accounting. My professional memberships include the Ohio Society of CPAs, the National Associations of Tax Professionals and the Society of Nonprofit Organizations. As I mentioned, I have served on several nonprofit boards including my church, American Heritage Girls, Inc., PregnancyCare Cincinnati and my homeschool co-op.

Joan: That's wonderful to see how you're involved with your community and church. What touches your heart most in what you do?

Carol: I am so happy when a homeschool leader tells me "I've been looking for someone like you to help us." or "Your website and books were so helpful." I want to share my knowledge and experience to make running  homeschool groups easier on these hardworking leaders. I really want to help leaders avoid burn out. If a group disbands because the leader was exhausted, everyone suffers, but if I can help ease her burden, I feel very rewarded.

Joan: That's great and I'm getting a better understanding of some of the things involved in having successful home school groups. You mentioned you homeschooled your daughters. Share with us a little about your family and other things you enjoy.

Carol: My husband, Dave, and I just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary with three nights at a bed and breakfast. We have two teenage daughters. Our oldest daughter just graduated form homeschool high school and will be going to Grove City College in PA this fall to study accounting. Our younger daughter will be a junior in (homeschool) high school and is learning to drive this summer.

 As a family, we enjoy traveling, hiking  and our neighborhood swimming pool. I enjoy good discussion with friends, my Sunday School class and small group, chai tea, anything Jane Austen, old movies, good books and if I get a chance I want to learn to paint.

Joan: Well you're certainly quite busy!  Before we end, will you share with us a scripture that really speaks to you?

Carol: Yes, it's Colossians 3:23-24, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."

I try to apply that verse to my work as an accountant, volunteer, and wife and mother.

Joan: Thank you Carol!