Epic Foundations

When Andrea Hall first started homeschooling she and her husband were in search of a homeschool group in the area where they could find support and learn from other parents. This search proved to be difficult but that did not stop her or her family. Andrea leaped and started South Cobb Homeschoolers in July 2012, a group that met at the South Cobb Library and eventually became Epic Homeschool Network. 

Epic was founded to fill a crucial gap: providing homeschool families with access to educational resources, intentional learning experiences, and a sense of community often found in traditional schools. As a teacher Andrea understood how important the first 7 years of a child’s education are and wanted to create an environment where those years would be spent, learning, growing, and connecting on a personalized level. 

Epic’s Impact

Since 2012, EPIC has had a profound impact on the Hall family and countless others. Her children, like other Epic students, have developed practical life skills and confidence in addition to a strong academic foundation. This confidence and independence manifested itself in many ways. Her son could cook independently by age 7 and her daughter launched her own LLC thanks to Epic’s partnerships with organizations like the Urban League. Through the Young CEOs program one of her children earned a business grant to expand their operations and give back.

Epic’s organizational partnerships are one of the many ways the organization supports homeschool students and their families. Organizations like Compudopt helped EPIC students learn how to make effective websites and code, the latter of which continues to become increasingly important in higher education and beyond. The Global Leadership Academy, helps students develop public speaking skills and attend leadership summits. 

More than Academics

It’s important to remember that EPIC doesn’t stop at academics, there are friendships, mentorship, and personal growth–for children and their parents. Andrea found friendships among homeschooling moms, even learning new skills like social media marketing through these relationships. With a background as a math teacher, Andrea felt very confident teaching math — but needed help to teach reading effectively. When she expressed this concern to a member of the homeschool group, that conversation opened a new door. Andrea was introduced to a book that answered all her questions and gave practical advice for teaching her children to become successful and confident readers. This moment perfectly encapsulates what EPIC is all about, parents helping parents to become the best teachers for their students. Additionally, through EPIC students and their parents have many opportunities to give back to their communities and volunteer, further connecting families to one another.

There are many memorable moments that Andrea says stand out the most to her. These include the annual awards and graduation ceremony that celebrate students’ achievements, field trips to places like the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, and dolphin-watching on the Georgia marshes during a trip to Savannah.

No Parent Is An Island

When asked what she would say to a parent considering joining EPIC, Andrea shared this story. When her father passed away, the EPIC community rallied around her family, offering support and even fundraising help. She says it best: “No man is an island.”, If you want to homeschool well, you need to be part of a connected community.”

Looking ahead, Andrea envisions EPIC expanding into a homeschool and microschool hybrid with a “work-play-learning center” where parents can work while their children learn. She also hopes the incredible Epic alumni will come back to mentor future students, ensuring that the sense of community lasts well beyond graduation.

For Andrea Hall and all other families, EPIC is more than just a homeschool group—it’s a place to learn, grow, and belong.