Welcome to our Peer-to-Peer Parent Connections Program!
We understand that choosing a school can feel challenging at times, with many questions to consider. That's why we've created a forum where prospective parents can connect directly with our current parents. Whether you're curious about our school, seeking advice, or simply want to hear firsthand experiences, our parent ambassadors are here to answer your questions. Feel free to browse the parents who are available to connect with you below. We hope to hear from you soon!
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Casey Kersten
Parent of a Boys Program Student
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Name: Casey Kersten
Interests/Extracurriculars of Your Child: Bennett is very involved in the HFC soccer program. He also plays basketball, skis, and plays pickleball, but soccer is his true passion. He is an avid reader and has begun guitar lessons after finding an interest at FBRA.
About You: We live in South Asheville and had our eye on FBRA since our oldest was in 2nd grade after some friends shared about their child’s experience. When we finally toured the school, we knew it was the perfect place to challenge our son in new ways. Every night at dinner, our family does “high low high” to share about parts of our day. Bennett’s high is always school. When I ask him to be more specific, he just says “everything. I just love my school.” He adores and respects his professors and his resiliency is already noticeably stronger. I would recommend FBRA wholeheartedly.
Rebecca Cater
Parent of a Girls Program Student
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Name: Rebecca Cater
Interests/Extracurriculars of Your Child: Theater, skiing, singing, piano, being outside, crafting.
About You: I am an elementary educator and curriculum coordinator turned homeschool mom, turned stay-at-home. I love all aspects of teaching and learning. I enjoy crafting, reading, travel, skiing, and training our dog, Hopper.
Heidi Knoll
Parent of a Boys Program Student, Parent of a Girls Program Student
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Name: Heidi Knoll
Interests/Extracurriculars of Your Child: My son is into soccer, ultimate frisbee, football, bowling, piano, board/video games, reading.
My daughter is into soccer, taekwondo, ultimate frisbee, violin, all things arts & crafts.
About You: We were charmed by and then moved to WNC more than a decade ago, soon after our twins were born. We had a very positive elementary experience with our public school and probably would not have otherwise considered private school except we were drawn to the special nature of FBRA’s middle school experience. This age feels very pivotal, and we believed in the power of the close peer + staff connections that FBRA develops both in the classroom but also through progressively challenging outdoor + community oriented educational opportunities. We’ve been so pleased to see how quickly this is already taking shape for our kids, and I would be delighted to connect with prospective parents.
Zanne Garland
Parent of a Boys Program Student
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Name: Zanne Garland
Interests/Extracurriculars of Your Child: Roan loves to do outdoor activities like hiking and canoeing and he enjoys playing soccer and video games with his friends.
About You: My husband and I work from home and have lived in Asheville since 2011. We met hiking on the Appalachian Trail and named our son, Roan, after Roan Mountain. We wanted to find a school for him that prioritizes the whole person – academically, socially, emotionally, and physically. FBRA is a great place for him to channel his excitement and energy in dynamic ways and for him to reflect on his experiences and grow as a human!
Melissa Mathews
Parent of a Boys Program Student
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Name: Melissa Mathews
Interests/Extracurriculars of Your Child: My son Dexter has always had an interest in how things work. He loves to build and create things, whether it’s a Lego city, a pinball table made out of cardboard or stop-motion videos. While he has never gravitated towards traditional sports, he has really enjoyed paddling, rock climbing and mountain biking…activities either part of the FBRA program and/or after school clubs.
About You: Our family moved to Asheville in 2022, drawn to the mountains and to give our kids a closer connection to an outdoor lifestyle. My husband works in marketing and I’ve been a stay at home parent to our 3 children since relocating to Asheville. Dexter attended our local public elementary and intermediate schools prior to enrolling in FBRA. My husband and I had heard incredible things from FBRA alumni and their parents and we were really impressed and in alignment with the character building that FBRA focuses on. We are blown away with how much Dexter has grown since starting at FBRA. He has made so many close friendships and we love the community at FBRA. I am happy to connect with anyone that wants to ask questions or learn more about our experience with FBRA!
Maria Averza
Parent of a Girls Program Student
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Name: Maria Averza
Interests/Extracurriculars of Your Child: Jazmin loves Art especially drawing, skiing, sports and being out in nature, all of which FBRA provides during her middle school years. Jazmin has also participated in theatre, voice lessons, mountain biking and playing Magic the Gathering: new activities that she explored at FBRA, discovering a differnt side of preferences and abilities. She has practiced piano and formed different roles in her band at FBRA. Jazmin is curious, loves exploring new environments and travelling, and learning about other cultures. She occasionally practices British style horseback riding lessons as she is passionate about animals and has many pets at home! Jazmin especially values connection and social interactions and therefore cherishes her friendships at school and outside of school! We are thrilled that Jazmin has grown to enjoy and be enthusiastic about her Science classes at FBRA and has set her goal to thrive academically while having fun. People can observe how lively she becomes when talking about her education and experiences at FBRA.
About You: “FBRA – redefining middle school” is what caught our eye when we were shopping for a middle school for our daughter. We were researching a different kind of school, especially for this important age in a child’s development. As Jazmin’s parents (as well as mental health counselors), we priortize education on all levels. We strongly value the impact her education will have on her young life and beyond. Otherwise, education is partial, senseless and an accumlation of missed opportunities during a long phase of a person’s life. Jazmin has always attended private schools (different ones) from Montessori to experiential to Christian ones. Our experience at other schools was that they significantly lacked in several areas that promoted forming an individual on all the other levels besides ‘only academics.’
A well-rounded life is handcrafted by all the activities and experiences that a child encounters. Schools have a major impact on their growing minds and bodies, since they are at school for many hours each day and for most days of the year. Parents need assistance in sculpting their children for the world “out there” as well as their futures. We desired a school that could meet the crucial needs of a young child by offering real world opportunities in order to grow and help mold their social, emotional and experiential learning in a positive and supporting manner. FBRA offers this very much needed type of education through teaching, practicing and implementing skills that allow youth to discover who they are, thrive and be happy in life.
From the school tour to the current time, we have been impressed with the flip education system (shift in perspective of how to learn), the nature based field lessons (where the theoretical becomes practical), and the staff (actively) helping with the ‘road bumps’ on the students’ middle school journey. FBRA overextends education in other qualities that make them unique, such as their professional skillset on “taboo subjects” that most schools avoid and/or ban (i.e. menstural cycles, drug education, life skills, etc). These are, for us, key to what FBRA stands for. This is a school where you can learn the deeper lessons of life: discover abilities, strategies, preferences; have healthy social connections; tolerate and face challenges: being kind and respectful of eac hother; skills that enhance professionalism, and so many other abstract values put into action through the many experiences the students endure. This, alongside daily/weekly structured and intentional lesson plans and routines. We need more schools like this one due to its unique offerings that help form a human being at a precious time in their life cycle!
In a nutshell: FBRA reflects the old saying: “It takes a village to raise a child.”
They are our village!
Ani Buraglia
Alumni Parent
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Name: Ani Buraglia
Interests/Extracurriculars of Your Child: Mountain biking, whitewater kayaking, reading, swimming
About You: I am the director of a non-profit foundation and have been in this role for almost 20 years. I am also mom of a current 9th grader who graduated from FBRA last year (2025). We chose FBRA after we moved from Miami because it offered something different from the education options we had seen through our lives in different cities. Our son attended from 6th – 8th, and it was a transformative experience for him (and us). I always believed education could be better than what we were seeing and experiencing, and this was it. Happy to answer any questions you might have and share what this school has meant to our family and the growth we saw in our son over the three years he spent there.