FACILITATORS
Meet The Team
Jenny Lemker
Facilitator, Founder
I have a B.S. in biology, and I like to joke that I am now working indefinitely on a PhD in Unschooling, which is a fancy way of saying I have a lot of varied interests. I have been a community-based lactation counselor both here and in suburban Chicago for about 18+ years while facilitating the unschool adventures of my own 4 children at home after a few years of less-than-ideal experiences in compulsory schools with my two oldest daughters.
Upon discovering the Sudbury Valley School and the Agile Learning Centers model, I dreamed of creating such a place in Fresno for local families. Bungalow Lane ALC is a manifestation of that dream.
My most important qualification as an Agile Learning Facilitator is that I love and trust children. My job is not necessarily to teach, but to partner with kids in their learning to scaffold and support their interests, trusting that the 3Rs will take care of themselves. (spoiler alert: they do.)
Melinda Cavalli
Facilitator
Mel is the mother of two amazing self-directed learners. She has been unschooling/deschooling since 2016. Mel holds a M.A. in School Psychology and worked in the conventional school settings (preschool-high school) for over 10 years.
Mel loves watching children grow and believes we are all continually learning and ever changing. Bungalow Lane supports this belief to the fullest and has been a blessing to her family. It's a place where kids can be kids and have freedom to explore the world around them.
Heather Sanchez
Facilitator
Heather has an extensive background and a bachelor's degree in child development with years of experience observing the power of play-based, child-led learning. Her experience raising three neurodivergent children has shaped her responsive and dynamic way of interacting with all kids, respecting each person's very unique learning styles, strengths, and challenges.
Like most of the other learners in this space, Heather has a wide variety of interests and hobbies, which make regular appearances in the offerings at Bungalow Lane: crochet, crafts & maker-space building, painting, needlework, and writing novels to name a very few! Helping kids learn to regulate their big feelings and navigate conflict are among Heather's special gifts.
Mahnaz Botlani-Esfahani
Facilitator
Mahnaz is bilingual in Persian and English, has degrees in painting and child development, and will probably continue to pursue more like the hard-working and curious achiever she is. She is absolutely magic with the kids, and jumps right into scaffolding whatever projects are blooming in their hearts. She is not afraid of a mess, but if you find the dishes in the cupboards sorted by color, you can be sure it was Mahnaz who organized them that way.
Triss Oliver Emmons
Facilitator
Triss embodies following her passions with a degree in Studio Art, and career spanning from background casting in Hollywood to Massage Therapist and Workshop Facilitation. She has spent over a decade as a homeschooling parent and community builder navigating self-directed education firsthand. She also is certified as an ADHD Coach primarily supporting neurodivergent homeschool families as they build learning environments that actually fit their kids.
What brought her to self-directed education was simple: a desire to let her own children keep their curiosity alive and explore their interests to the fullest, without a rigid system getting in the way. That same belief drives the offerings she creates at Bungalow Lane, work that weaves together art, science, and personal growth, giving learners room to follow what genuinely excites them.
Goosetopher C.J. Gosling
Canine Executive Officer
Goose serves as Bungalow Lane's resident therapy dog, working strictly on a barter system: affection and an occasional belly scratch in exchange for his services. He takes his role very seriously, though his hours are flexible and heavily dependent on his nap schedule.
You'll usually find him holding down the garden with Jenny, available for pets, moral support and the occasional game of fetch. Learners report he's an excellent listener and an even better co-regulator.
"Coercion, after all, merely captures man. Freedom captivates him."
Robert McNamara