Testimonials

There are teachers, and there are good teachers, and there are game changers. The Muellers belong to that rare third category.

My son had the pleasure of taking classes from both Mr. And Mrs. Mueller over the past three years. As a former public school teacher with two children in the public school system, I wanted to make sure my youngest was “staying on track” with his peers. When we started, it was out of necessity; my kid needed a break from having me as his only teacher. Even though it was an hour-long drive to get to Caerus from Holly Springs, we’d heard good things about “Science Jim,” and I liked the look of Mrs. Mueller’s curriculum.

Our expectations were far exceeded, even as early as the first month of school. In science, my son found a teacher who also became a role-model and a hero figure. I watched my student increasingly take charge of his own learning, making flash cards, marking important pages, and taking detailed notes. He went from not being interested in anything to reading additional information just to learn more. By his third year in science class, my student was begging me to sign him up for TWO science classes so he wouldn’t miss anything Mr. Mueller taught.

In English class, Mrs. Mueller gave my son confidence as a reader and as a writer. Her patient guidance allowed him to improve drastically in both. Thanks to her, he has discussions with our family about what he liked about a book and why, and he reads at night- by choice- “for fun.” This was not the child who first walked into her classroom!

If you’re looking for rigor, this is the class. The students read about 7 classic books (plus short stories and poetry) per year- a far cry from the 2-ish books/year my public school high school AP kids got. Not only that, they discuss the relative merits of these books, and it’s okay if the students don’t always agree with each other. Thank goodness this still exists somewhere in education! The grammar lessons are excellent- if extremely challenging. The kids get academic writing instruction as well, and Mrs. Mueller’s patience and kindness as she guides the students through it all is noteworthy. She always, ALWAYS made time for my son when he emailed her a draft of his papers, and never made him feel bad about it.

The changes I have seen in my son since he started taking classes at Caerus are nothing short of astounding. I would drive him to class from our new home in northern Virginia if time permitted- they’re THAT good. If you’re considering taking a class here, just do it.

-Lisa Buch

As a homeschool administrator I cannot recommend Caerus enough! It is the first co-op I have found (and I have tried several!) with truly transcript-worthy classes. All of the teachers are experts in their fields and are adept at pushing their students to excel in an engaging and fun manner. My son was supported fully while at Caerus. He has grown both in his knowledge and in his organizational skills, and I feel he will be well-prepared for college courses in the future. In addition, there is a culture of scholarly acceptance at Caerus that is unmatched. It truly is a learning community and I am so grateful my son is a part of it.
-Tracy Whittington

Ms. Mueller was a true godsend for my daughter this year. During an academic year when so many other students and teachers struggled with the transition to on-line learning, my daughter had a full, rigorous year of instruction in ELA and History. The coursework was challenging but well-organized, and the assignments were consistent, with a gradual increase in difficulty over the course of the year, such that progress was obvious. My daughter was a bit daunted by the Honors ELA curriculum at first, as her former school had not spent a lot of time on the classics. By the end of the year, Don Quixote and Great Expectations were two of her favorite books! The 9th grade Caerus Academy courses were easily more rigorous as those my son was taking in 10th grade at his public high school. We are so grateful for this amazing year of learning, thanks to Ms. Mueller!
- H. F., Durham, NC

Jennifer Mueller is a wonderful instructor who gives a lot to her students. When interacting with students and parents, she is kind, unhurried, and always positive and professional. Her teaching style is polished. She expects all students to work toward high academic standards, and she devotes much time to providing very helpful handwritten comments and insights on students' work. L&W1 contained the right mix of grammar, literary analysis, and journaling for my student. Her course was well-designed, well-organized, and helped prepare my student for a college-level English composition course the following year. My original goal was to find a solid language arts teacher who loves teaching. Jennifer Mueller and Caerus Academy definitely exceeded all my expectations.
-V.C., Morrisville, NC

Caerus Academy was exactly what my family needed for my children’s middle school education. Jennifer and Jim Mueller provided the unique combination of academic content, creative and critical thinking, and appropriate student accountability which served as the perfect bridge for their successful launch into 9th grade at a local public charter high school. I have three children, two of which were fortunate to be able to attend Caerus before going to high school. My youngest took courses at Caerus for all 3 middle school years, and she is a very well-adjusted and academically grounded high school student today. I definitely credit my children’s strong foundation in good study habits, creative and critical thinking, and academic engagement and confidence to the excellent experiences they had at Caerus Academy. I highly recommend it!
- Marie Mohler, Chapel Hill

Mr. Rich
You have always been a steadying force – everyone in our family knows and appreciates that. We are grateful for the important role you have played in our children’s lives, and how you have earned their respect both in and out of the classroom.
-Catherine (parent, Chapel Hill)

My son's experience at Caerus Academy has shaped him as a student and a human beyond anything I can possibly relay in words. Within the homeschool community there are many options, it's vital to find what works for your child. If you are looking for an educational experience of the highest caliber, where your child will be inspired and challenged, you have found the place. We journeyed through two private schools as well as one public school before finding everything we were looking for here. I have a well-rounded understanding of different learning environments, and this one sets the bar high. My son is in his third year of classes at Caerus, and he couldn't be more satisfied.
Jen Mueller is amazing. She is organized, prepared, engaging, and inspiring. She makes both English and History come alive! Her classes begin with a syllabus and very clear descriptions about how to do each assignment. The kids are asked to think critically, to connect with the material. Their voices as individuals are heard and encouraged. Jen brings a passion and love for the subject matter. She holds the classroom in a way that allows students to participate and fully express themselves, knowing they will be treated with respect by both teacher and fellow students. My son absolutely loves her. And thanks to her, now has a love of both literature and writing.
Jim brings science to the kids in the best way possible. He presents all the pertinent information and data, and then weaves it into real life experiences and experiments. My son comes home talking about whatever subject he's currently learning from Jim . . . Physics, Earth Science. I can't tell you how many times he spouts off some science information in application as he goes about life, and I say how in the world do you know that? The response is always - "Oh, Science Jim taught me that." Jim's love for science is contagious, and fills the students with a sense of possibility and curiosity. They bring home an integrated understanding of the material.
-Laura Lee Pearson, Carrboro

Mr. Rich
I want to say thank you for the 12 straight years of caring and quality teaching you have given all 5 of my children.
-Corey A. (parent, Efland)

The classes at Caerus are fabulous. My daughter, who never loved science, would like to be a chemist now thanks to Jim. It was amazing to watch the transformation that occurred in her, including confidence, grasp of material and love for science learning. My son has always loved science and took Jim’s high school physics as an 8th grader – he would not stop talking about science. Jim brought the material to the students in a very dynamic and engaged manner.
Jen Mueller is an absolutely remarkable teacher. She has high standards and her students will rise to her expectations. Her ELA classes are demanding and she teaches her students responsibility, organization, and polite dialogue along with grammar, writing, and literary exploration. Her choice of books is wonderful: she introduces her students to classic works from Dickens to Homer to Tolkien. Jen has completely inspired both of my children, and both have grown under her tutelage into confident writers. I cannot say enough positive things about Jen and her classes.
History. Such and important subject, and so often it is dry and boring. Both of my children have had Jen Mueller for history, and they both quickly grew to enjoy the subject, to understand the importance of studying the past, and were both able to make interesting connections across time. Having tried to teach history as a homeschooling parent, I have a serious appreciation for Jen’s ability to make history interesting, to make it thematic, and to keep the general story line alive without dumbing the content down.
--Rebecca Moore, Carrboro

My children have taken courses from three of the Caerus teachers. The teachers were dedicated, delivered carefully prepared classes and were able to encourage the students to enjoy learning the classes that they taught. Our overall experience was positive!!!
--Kathleen Abbey, Garner

Mr. Rich
My son is very excited about your class and has told me it’s his best school class ever.
-Heather S. (parent, Chapel Hill)

Our boys have taken Jen Mueller's ELA Foundations and ELA 1 classes in the past two years. Jen's classes have offered our homeschool structure and accountability. Her reading list is excellent, including classics, books my kids enjoy, as well as those they find challenging. She is organized, punctual, cheerful, and kind. My boys like her class very much! In fact, our oldest convinced his younger brother that he should take ELA Foundations. Both boys are building a solid foundation in grammar, honing their writing skills, and practicing completing work in a timely manner. These classes have been a wonderful introduction to coursework, and will be an excellent bridge from our homeschooling life to high school or college later.
--Amy Pulliam, Siler City

We have been so happy to have Caerus Academy as a wonderful addition to our home schooling experience. As my son was starting high school level courses this year, I didn't feel that I would be able to give him the level of instruction for the curriculum he needed. Mrs. Mueller, Mr. Mueller and Mr. Hirschman have been wonderful, engaging instructors. My son has been challenged and really enjoys going to class!
--Terrie Kocienda, Chapel Hill

Caerus Academy is a wonderful option for homeschooling families. All of the classes my daughter took were excellent and her teachers were enthusiastic and engaged. She learned a tremendous amount and I wouldn't have been able to teach her everything the classes covered.
--Teri Smith, Cary

Mr. Rich
Thank you so much for being an amazing teacher these past four years. You have helped me become more confident in math and I am so grateful. You have always been a kind and considerate teacher.
-DK (11th grade student)

Corbin Craig (Hillsborough, NC) speaks about his experience at Caerus:

I want to recommend Caerus Academy for several reasons: First, and foremost, Jen Mueller is an especially lively and engaging teacher. Jen's lectures have inspired my son to see the compelling stories that are woven into the fabric of world events. And, her assignment have encouraged him to reflect deeply on these stories-- assignments that I would never have had the imagination to design with my limited experience with this subject. In short, Jen has helped my son see events from a wide and generous point-of-view, to think outside the box, and to better understand the patterns and interconnections in our human story. I've been so grateful for the care and work that she has poured into this class.
-- Ann Collins, Chapel Hill