Homeschooling Continues to Grow in Ave Maria

The Buccheri Family

In Ave Maria, education comes in many forms, from private school traditional classrooms to professor-led university programs. One alternative schooling option that continues to grow in Ave Maria is independent home study. What began as a small network of families has evolved into a thriving community where parents support one another, children grow together, and learning extends beyond the home.

Roseanne Buccheri, a mother of five and longtime Ave Maria resident, has witnessed that growth firsthand. After moving to Ave Maria in 2009, she quickly became involved in the small local homeschooling community, where families supported one another both inside and outside the classroom. “When we moved here, we wanted to be a part of a community with not only faith but family values,” Roseanne explained.

Over the years, she watched the small homeschool co-op grow into a thriving network of families connected through shared educational opportunities. Parents organized classes, activities, and enrichment programs for children of all ages, while Ave Maria University (AMU) students and professors shared their time and knowledge, creating unique learning experiences for local homeschoolers. “We have so many resources, especially with AMU,” Roseanne said.

For Roseanne, those connections helped make home education not only possible but rewarding. “I homeschooled for 21 years. Ave Maria was huge in supporting this type of education, and I don’t know if I would’ve continued if we didn’t have such a huge and supportive community here,” she shared. Throughout her family’s educational journey, some of her children were homeschooled while others attended different schooling options available in Ave Maria, giving her a firsthand understanding of the many educational pathways families can pursue within the community.

The Moreno Family

Tawsha Moreno, a mother of five and newer Ave Maria resident, was drawn to the town’s strong sense of community and family-centered values. While researching places to live, she was pleased to learn that many families in Ave Maria homeschool, making it easier to connect with others who shared similar goals and experiences. “It’s easy to meet people. A lot of families homeschool here,” Tawsha said.

With a master’s degree in education and teaching experience in Broward County, Tawsha brings a strong educational background to her homeschooling approach. As she continues to explore the opportunities available, she appreciates the willingness of local families to share advice, resources, and their own homeschooling experiences. “The homeschool families that we have met in Ave Maria are super helpful. They want to share things that they do with our kids and stay connected,” she explained.

For Tawsha, homeschooling offers more than education. It provides her children with opportunities to build friendships and learn alongside other local families. “It’s been so nice to be in Ave, meeting all of our neighbors and seeing the community and all that they do,” she said. She looks forward to becoming more involved and one day using her educational background to support other children.

While every family’s homeschooling path looks different, the strong sense of community remains the same. In Ave Maria, families continue to find opportunities to learn, connect, and grow together.