Art, crocheting, woodworking, entrepreneurship 101, French, theology and sewing are just a few of the classes the Father’s House Co-Op in Des Allemands offers to homeschool students in the parish.
Anthea Comardelle, a Hahnville High School graduate and former teacher, started the co-op last year with six families. It now has 24 families and 43 students.
“To see my children and other children learn and grow in the truth of how valuable and how treasured they are is absolutely priceless,” Comardelle said. “I am honored and in awe that I get to be a part of it.”
The co-op is a group of families with diverse backgrounds, Comardelle said.
“We want to make it always a place for anyone and everyone,” she said. “The main goal is for kids to know how loved they are and within that we are going to teach things like graphic design, crochet. We want to build their sweet hearts up.”
One of the ways the co-op came together was that Comardelle’s son, Levi, said he missed P.E. class. Comardelle decided to teach the class and asked others if they wanted to join. When other parents offered to teach additional classes, the co-op was born.
Each semester, the co-op offers various courses for one hour twice a week. Prices start at $250. Parents teach the courses.
“It’s very organic – we kind of flow with whatever parents want to teach each semester,” Comardelle said. “The kids get to pick what they are interested in.”
The co-op is supplemental to the student’s homeschool education. The students get certificates after completing each course.
If you asked Comardelle 10 years ago if she would ever leave her teaching career – which she loved – and homeschool her children, she would tell you that thought had never entered her mind.
“But that’s just how good God is,” Comardelle said. “He directs us onto paths that are so amazing, we couldn’t have gotten there ourselves even if we tried.”
The decision to homeschool Levi, 11, and Jeremiah, 4, was a leap of faith that Comardelle took in 2023. She also homeschools another student at her home.
“I left a job that I loved because I knew [God] was telling me to homeschool,” she said. “He wanted me trust him that, although I was surrendering a career, what he was going to give would be so much more.”
For Comardelle, homeschooling allows her the freedom to take her kids sailing on a Wednesday and to support their interests and skills.
“I see a whole bunch of confidence [in my kids],” she said. “I see new interest. Fishing and hunting and being outdoors – my oldest was never really into that until we started homeschooling.”
One day, she was driving with Levi when he told her, “I love my life.”
“My heart melted,” Comardelle said. “This is what every parent longs to hear their children say. Life is supposed to be filled with joy, and I am so thankful that at his age his heart is so full. He can look forward to what each day brings and life for him is filled with enjoyment and purpose.”
But Comardelle stressed that all families have different paths.
“In no way do we dishonor the amazing schoolteachers in the school system,” she said. “We honor those we can’t homeschool.”
Comardelle’s husband of 14 years, Cody, teaches at John Curtis Christian School.
Families interested in joining the co-op can visit the Father’s House Co-Op Facebook group to get a glimpse of the culture and see upcoming registration dates.
In addition to the supplemental classes, the co-op also organizes an annual “kidprenuer” event in December. This year’s event is Dec. 6 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Father’s House Church in Des Allemands.
“This event encourages children to engage in the entrepreneurship process by creating, selling and even bartering their very own products,” Comardelle said.
Admission to the event is free for attendees.
The co-op will also host a pajamas and pancakes Christmas breakfast Saturday, Dec. 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
“It’s a morning full of pancakes, Christmas music, Christmas list making, ornament crafts, a photo booth, and more,” Comardelle said.
