Erika Jewell

I do this work because I’ve lived it.

I’m a homeschooling parent who has spent years navigating nontraditional education firsthand — building transcripts, managing records, working with charters, and figuring out how to create academic paths that actually fit real kids and real family life. I know how overwhelming the administrative side can feel because I’ve carried it myself.

Alongside that, I lead RYFO Music, a mentoring and artist development organization centered on young people, identity, and mental health. Through that work, I’ve walked closely with teenagers and young adults who are creative, independent, anxious, burned out, misunderstood, or trying to imagine futures that don’t follow a traditional script. I’ve seen how easily young people fall through the cracks when systems prioritize outcomes over humanity.

My work sits at the intersection of those two worlds — education logistics and human development.

I help families slow things down, take stock of what’s actually going on, and build paths that are sustainable — academically, emotionally, and practically. Sometimes that looks like mentoring a young person through identity and decision-making. Sometimes it looks like sitting with a parent who’s overwhelmed and helping them create and maintain records, transcripts, and documentation that make sense and hold up over time. Often, it’s both.

I don’t believe every student needs to fit an existing path. I believe many young people need help building new ones — with guidance, structure, and someone willing to walk alongside them.