Helen Allen

Helen is a secular, eclectic, progressive homeschool educator and founder of Mint and Bloom Learning, which started as a few online art classes in the lockdown era of the Covid 19 pandemic, and has spread like mint in a happy garden into so much more. Helen teaches her own two children as well as a bunch of other homeschool kids of all ages with in-person classes, and online classes where students from all over the world log in to learn. When Helen isn't teaching, she's writing children's books and these learning resources. When she isn't doing those things, she's making shrinky dink art with her wonderful children. And when she's not making shrinky dink art, she's standing in her kitchen, Winnie the Pooh style (no pants, y'all), eating a block of cheddar like it's hand fruit. Helen's greatest Mint and Bloom Learning wish is that the learning resources she creates with Arielle will be a help to fellow secular, progressive educators. Helen often says, "wherever you are, if you are reading banned books to your children and teaching them kindness, inclusivity, and empathy, we at Mint and Bloom are endlessly thankful for you. The future is a safer, happier place because of the children you are raising."

Arielle Arizpe

Arielle is also a secular, eclectic, progressive homeschool educator, and she's Helen's big sister! She's also way more Type A, which is probably already apparent to you from the lack of pants-less cheese-eating in her bio. Arielle works with Helen to create learning resources and to co-teach a weekly history course for mixed-age learners. She has a cum laude BA from Boston University with a double major in Political Science and American History and a Masters degree in Elementary Education from Texas State University.