FOUNDER and CEO

Meet Liz Summers-Fisher, an exceptional educator with over 20 years of experience in both classroom teaching and as a certified reading specialist. With a strong belief in the potential of every child, Liz is dedicated to nurturing their unique gifts and helping them discover the best ways to learn. Her passion for teaching is evident through her role as Program Director for an award-winning reading program, recognized as the Best in Michigan. Watching her students learn and grow brings her immense joy and excitement.

Beyond the classroom, Liz’s journey in education took an unexpected turn when her oldest child was diagnosed with Apraxia of Speech. This experience led her to explore the world of homeschooling, which she has since fallen in love with. Embracing the homeschooling adventure, Liz finds fulfillment in sharing this rewarding journey with her three kids: Andrew, Domenica, and Anthony. Her heartfelt and passionate goal behind establishing EXCEL Learning Center is to cultivate a tight-knit and enduring community, where her children can flourish, develop, and learn together, forming meaningful connections that will positively impact their lives for years to come.

When she’s not teaching, you can find Liz on the tennis courts, at the beach, diving into a captivating book or coaching and cheering on her favorite athletes — Andrew, DiDi and Anthony!

Executive Operations Adviser and Teacher

Caleen is a homeschooling mom of two with a passion for early childhood development and a wealth of experience in both childcare and accounting. With a background in early childhood education, she has spent many years working in childcare, creating nurturing environments for young children to thrive. Alongside her work in education, Caleen also brings nearly 15 years of expertise in bookkeeping and light accounting, giving her a strong foundation in organization and financial management.

Excited to contribute her diverse skill set to the EXCEL community, Caleen is dedicated to helping others in any way she can. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys tending to her flower and vegetable garden, as well as exploring new adventures with her kids. A fan of yoga and spending time with little ones, Caleen believes in maintaining balance and nurturing growth in both her personal and professional endeavors.

Robotics Coordinator, Science and Music Teacher

Angela graduated from Michigan State University with a B.S. in Biochemistry and from University of Illinois at Chicago with her M.D. After successful completion of residency and board certification, she worked as a family physician in primary care for many years. She then transitioned to urgent care medicine with the growth of her family. She retired from clinical medicine in order to homeschool her three children. She has 20+ years of musical performance experience. She has played keyboard and sung backup in modern church worship bands, accompanied choirs and musical theater shows, and had other performances. She has always found tranquility through her creative hobbies, which include gardening, handicrafts, and quilting.

Teacher

Victoria Courtney is a nationally certified American Sign Language Interpreter (CI & CT) with over 20 years of experience. She holds an undergraduate degree in ASL interpreting and attended Gallaudet University for her graduate degree, focusing on ASL and English Linguistics. Her diverse interpreting experience spans medical, mental health, educational (K-12 and university), community and government settings, with work primarily in Michigan and the extended D.C. metro area.

Victoria also has extensive experience teaching ASL. She has taught in a private high school in Ann Arbor, provided private tutoring for both high school and college students, taught numerous homeschool classes, and continues to offer online tutoring and interpreter test preparation. Her students have gone on to become nationally certified interpreters, conduct research in linguistics groups around the world, and are involved members of Deaf communities.

Teacher

Jennifer Walsh is thrilled to be teaching at EXCEL Learning Community this year. She graduated from the University of Michigan School of Education (many moons ago) and is a retired teacher after 34 years in the classroom. While she enjoyed public school teaching, she was hampered by the lack of freedom and creativity over the last ten years and is happy to be able to create her own class! She is delighted to work with homeschoolers and learn and explore with them. Jennifer loves reading, yoga, walking, meditating and gardening and believes mindfulness and love can help heal the Earth and her patrons.

Teacher

Mel brings her experiences as a scientist, professor, farmer, fiber artist, and mama of three inquisitive and world-curious kids to supporting the EXCEL program.

Teacher

Crystal Harding has been a music instructor in Ypsilanti, Michigan for over 40 years. A University of Michigan graduate, she taught elementary music in Ypsilanti Public Schools for 26 years and continued with Ypsilanti Community Schools in 2013. In 2017, she transitioned to teaching high school, where she led the YCHS Choir in performances and competitions in Washington, D.C., and New York City. Even during the COVID pandemic, the choir remained active virtually and continued performing at local events.

Ms. Harding has also served as a piano and theater instructor at Washtenaw Community College. Her honors include the Michigan Association of School Boards Excellence in Education Award and the Ypsilanti Chamber of Commerce Exemplary Educational Endeavors Award. She has directed numerous musical productions and authored original compositions used in schools nationwide.

After leaving the district, she founded and continues to direct the Ypsilanti Youth Choir, which performs at local events and has toured throughout Michigan and other states. She also teaches piano with the Willis Patterson Our Own Thing Instructional Program and is a proud mother of two and grandmother of one.

Teacher

Alicia is a homeschool mom to six. She has been working with young people in a variety of roles since she was young herself. Alicia loves to empower kids to follow their passions and learn from the world around them. Alicia thoroughly believes in the power of play, and you might find her enjoying a variety of hobbies right alongside her kids, including ice hockey, hiking, playing board games and knitting.