Elizabeth (Liz) and her husband Tim were married in 1991 and have been blessed with 10 children; the three oldest children are married; they have 3 delightful grandchildren. They served in full time ministry in a church in the Westlock area for 30 years. In 2021, Liz was led to join the team at WISDOM where she serves as a facilitator for homeschool families across Alberta; at this time the Gurnetts relocated to the Edmonton area.
The Gurnetts began homeschooling in 1999 and have enjoyed continuing to homeschool ever since. While they continue to homeschool their four youngest, six of their children have graduated from high school; five have completed their post-secondary training and one is currently in post-secondary education. Homeschooling has given them the opportunity to teach and to spend more time with their children as they served together, enabling them to pass on their faith and values to their children even with their busy schedule.
Elizabeth and Tim understand the challenges and blessings of raising a large family while homeschooling multiple children and being highly involved with their church and community. Over the years Elizabeth has had the opportunity to work with a number of homeschooling families. She saw the need to start a parent-run homeschool group (in 1999) in the Westlock area where homeschool families could connect and participate in field trips, swimming lessons and more. This allowed families to build friendships, encourage each other and learn together. As their children were getting older, she felt led to pursue a position that would allow her to encourage and walk alongside other parents who desired to home educate their children. Elizabeth feels privileged to be part of the WISDOM team and enjoys being able to connect with families and encourage them in their homeschooling journey.
Elizabeth loves working with children and she has seen time and again that children that have grown up in a homeschool family become confident, secure and equipped adults. She attributes this to the fact that homeschooled children are taught by the people that love them most, their parents. She feels that parents have the greatest impact in their child’s life.
Elizabeth enjoys visiting with the homeschool families she serves, but when she is not doing that, she enjoys listening to audiobooks, sewing, cooking, baking, serving at summer camps, and doing activities with friends and family.
“To make a difference in someone's life you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful or perfect. You just have to care.” — Mandy Hale
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” — I Thessalonians 5:11
Liz & Tim Gurnett, Edmonton
780-349-1577
liz@wisdomhomeschooling.com
liz.gurnett@gilbertineinstitute.com