Hello!
We’re Zach and Kella Gehlert, a husband-and-wife team behind Gehlert Learning.
As a homeschooling family for the past 15 years, and with nearly 21 years of combined experience in education, we bring both professional and lived experience to our work. We specialize in supporting neurodivergent learners (we are both neurodivergent and are raising a neurodivergent teen) as well as students who thrive in flexible, individualized learning environments.
Educational Philosophy
All of our classes are taught from a secular perspective. We intentionally keep class sizes small to allow for more individualized support, and we offer flexibility in both assignments and participation. If a student needs to communicate or complete work in an alternative format, we are happy to accommodate those needs.
We provide constructive feedback to students. Grades are based on student participation, which again, is flexible. Final course credit determination is made by parents or guardians.
Experience & Education
Zach has six years of experience in education, including teaching secondary-level history and science, as well as adult and community education courses such as HiSET preparation, English Language Acquisition, and guitar. He is a licensed teacher in the state of Missouri. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history and is currently completing a master’s degree in game design, with a focus on creating educational games for teaching history.
He is passionate about both history and game design and prioritizes critical thinking and meaningful discussion over busy work, with an emphasis on real-world application of knowledge.
Outside of teaching, Zach enjoys playing guitar and video games, reading, and spending time with his family, including their pets (two dogs, a cat, and a bunny). He also loves tacos!
Kella has nearly 15 years of experience in education, working across all levels from pre-K through adult and community education. Her primary focus areas include special education, at-risk/intervention support, and expressive arts. She has also supported neurodivergent individuals and their families through a range of roles, including direct support, service coordination, supported employment, program management, advocacy, and consultancy.
She holds an associate’s degree in studio art, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, a master’s degree in human services (with a focus on autism in women), and a graduate certificate in applied gerontology. In addition, she holds certifications in life coaching, expressive arts, mindfulness, yoga, end-of-life and after-loss care and planning, and grief support.
Kella is passionate about neurodiversity, advocacy, and self-expression. In her free time, she enjoys making art, spending time outdoors, and being with her family, including their pets. Her favorite food is Thai. She’s never met a curry she didn’t like!