The Sharps, 2016
A Founder’s Story
Why Crestline Exists
Crestline Learning Collective began with a realization that not every bright child learns best in a traditional classroom. As both a parent and experienced educator, I came to believe something with my whole heart:
If a child could…they would.
And like many parents, I found myself asking a difficult question:
Why was school becoming the place where my children felt the least confident?
I’m Carissa Sharp. Mom of two incredible, capable young men and one bright, curious daughter. As a former licensed counselor, now certified teacher, and mom of neurodivergent children, I have experienced firsthand how easily capable, creative students can begin to lose confidence when their learning differences are misunderstood or ignored. I watched my bright, creative, capable kiddos work twice as hard just to keep up in environments that often weren’t designed for how they learn best. My children were curious, intelligent, imaginative, and full of potential, but the environments around them often focused more on what was difficult for them and what they lacked rather than on the incredible strengths they carried.
At home, I saw something completely different. Give them meaningful work, hands-on projects, real problems to solve, freedom to create, and they came alive. They were thoughtful thinkers, builders, innovators, and big-picture learners who thrived when learning felt connected and purposeful. Outside the classroom, I saw their true strengths everywhere! That experience led me to a question I struggled with for years - one I ultimately could no longer ignore - and it became the foundation for Crestline Learning Collective:
What if school looked and felt different?
Crestline is a relationship-centered, physiology-first, faith-based microschool intentionally designed for both neurodivergent and neurotypical learners. I combine strong, structured academics and enrichment with executive-functioning support, social-emotional learning, movement-rich environments, STEM, and meaningful project-based experiences to help students feel engaged, capable, and connected.
My goal is simple:
To create a place where students’ gifts are known, appropriately challenged, and they are excited to learn again!
Kids deserve to love school!
I believe children thrive when learning feels purposeful, relationships are strong, and their strengths are valued - and they are not just identified by their struggles. At Crestline, students build confidence, develop skills needed for life, strengthen independence, and rediscover curiosity in a supportive, structured environment designed around the whole child. If you’ve been searching for something different for your child, something more personal, intentional, and connected, I would love to meet you.
Schedule a conversation to learn more about Crestline Learning Collective and see if we may be the right fit for your family.
Meet the Founder
Hello! I’m Carissa Sharp, Founder of Crestline Learning Collective, and educator, wife, and mom to three incredible children who have shaped both my heart and my mission... they are the heartbeat behind everything I build!
For the past seven years, I’ve worked in public elementary education, supporting diverse learners, while also bringing a background in counseling, neurodivergent learning, executive functioning, and whole-child development into the classroom. I’ve spent years pursuing advanced degrees, training, and certifications across multiple educational and behavioral fields because I genuinely love understanding how children learn, grow, think, and thrive! Before I became an educator, I worked as a licensed professional counselor (LPCi), which shaped how I view children and families. One belief that has stayed with me throughout every season of my life is:
If a child could…they would.
Children are naturally wired with a drive and desire to succeed! They search for ways to feel capable, connected, and confident. Sometimes they just need the right environment, the right support, and adults willing to be patient with them while they get there.
As a mom, education became deeply personal for me. Watching my own children navigate challenging learning differences and confidence challenges pushed me to think differently about what school could and should be. That journey ultimately led to the creation of Crestline Learning Collective, a place that my own children needed that I couldn’t find at the time.
Outside the classroom, you’ll usually find me reading, gardening, planning my next family travel adventure, giving my paycheck to Amazon, or enthusiastically convincing my family that yes, we absolutely do need one more plant.
I believe that the dreams God places on our hearts are there for a reason. He wouldn’t give us a calling without also placing the courage to pursue it somewhere within us. I’ve learned that faith often means taking the next step before you can see the entire path. One of my favorite sayings is:
“If your dream doesn’t scare you, it’s not big enough.”
Starting Crestline was one of those dreams, and completely worth pursuing. Because when children’s gifts are challenged, supported, and inspired, incredible things happen!
~Carissa Sharp
“Mom, I’ll climb the mountain and run the crestline.”
~ Gavin, age 8, during his first real mountain hike in Rocky Mountain National Park
What began as my child’s determined goal on a mountain trail later became the inspiration behind the name Crestline Learning Collective. That moment captured the perseverance, courage, growth, and sense of purpose we hope to cultivate in every student through a personalized, hybrid approach to learning that blends the best of private education and home-centered learning.