Where Learning Comes to Life

Miss Hollie

Hollie Nelson is a devoted and experienced educator with more than 20 years of combined classroom and tutoring experience. As a tutor at The Learning House, she works with students from kindergarten through eighth grade, specializing in an engaging, student-centered approach to core subjects. Hollie’s background in Elementary Education, with an emphasis on learning differences, makes her especially effective at supporting a diverse range of learners, including students with dyslexia and autism.

Hollie believes learning should be fun. She works to build positive, supportive relationships with her students while strengthening their academic foundations and self-confidence. Her greatest joy is seeing the “a-ha!” moment when a challenging concept finally clicks and a student begins to recognize their own potential. By adapting her teaching to each child’s individual learning style, Hollie helps students stay engaged, build confidence, and reach their academic goals.

Miss Heather

Heather Hartrim-Lowe is a dedicated educator who brings a wealth of experience and a genuine passion for learning to her students at The Learning House. She holds degrees from Northwestern University and the University of New Mexico and began her career as a classroom teacher before transitioning to homeschooling her seven children.

Throughout the years, Heather has continued to share her love of learning by teaching in homeschool co-ops and serving her church community. These experiences have given her the opportunity to work with students of many ages, personalities, and learning styles. Heather finds great joy in walking alongside students in their educational journeys, encouraging them to grow in knowledge, confidence, and curiosity. She especially values creating a learning environment where students feel supported, capable, and excited to learn.

Miss Josette

Josette Bisbee is a passionate educator with nearly a decade of experience as both a tutor and classroom teacher. She holds a BA in English from Agnes Scott College and a Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of West Georgia. Her love of teaching led her to join AmeriCorps, where she tutored students in underserved communities.

Josette spent several years teaching at an alternative school serving students with emotional challenges and learning disabilities. This experience shaped her approach to teaching: meet students where they are while encouraging them to do their very best. After taking a break from the classroom to raise her two young daughters, Josette returned to tutoring and enjoys working with students at The Learning House.

Josette loves helping students build confidence, overcome challenges, and discover the joy that comes with understanding something that once seemed difficult.

Miss Patti

Patti Gaines brings more than 30 years of teaching experience to The Learning House. She began her teaching career in 1995 at a private school, where she taught primarily Abeka-focused kindergarten, along with occasional classes in first, fifth, and sixth grades.

In 2012, Patti began teaching at Prairie High School, where she taught child development, early childhood education, and workplace skills. Through these courses, students could earn Washington State certification and college credit while gaining hands-on experience in an onsite preschool. Patti currently holds her Washington State teaching license.

When The Learning House first opened in Battle Ground, Patti discovered that tutoring offered a unique opportunity to help students grow academically in ways that could be tailored to their individual learning styles. After leaving The Learning House to pursue other teaching opportunities, she was excited to return to the team in January 2026.

Outside of teaching, Patti enjoys reading, traveling, and crafting.

Miss Kathleen

Kathleen Yarnell is an experienced teacher and tutor with more than 30 years of experience working with students of all ages. She has homeschooled her nine children, volunteered as a community educator, and taught professionally in both classroom and tutoring settings. As an English, Math, and Homework Help tutor at The Learning House, Kathleen enjoys sharing her passion for lifelong learning while encouraging each student to build confidence and recognize their unique strengths. She holds a TEFL Certificate with additional English Grammar training, an AAS in Business Administration and Certificate of Proficiency in Small Business Management from Clark College, and has completed training in classical education, test preparation, and academic tutoring.

Kathleen has taught ESL to international high school students, Geometry and middle school math, and English and math to students from preschool through adulthood, both online and in person. Her years of working with a wide range of learners have helped her recognize and respond to individual challenges in reading, spelling, language, and math. Kathleen works diligently to meet each student’s specific needs through appropriately tailored lessons. Her goal is to empower students for success, helping them trust in their abilities, build confidence, and discover a love for lifelong learning.