At West River Academy, our mission is to nurture the unique paths of self-led learners around the world. Founded on an unschooling approach, we believe in empowering students to follow their curiosity and develop a lifelong love of learning through their interests and explorations. While some students enroll with us individually, others join through learning groups—small communities of families and educators who share our vision for self-directed education. These groups provide students with a supportive, dynamic environment where they can explore, grow, and learn in ways that resonate with them personally.
To celebrate and connect with the diverse communities within West River Academy, we feature a blog series called “WRA Groups.” This series highlights the unique learning groups that have joined our academy, each formed around their own values, ideas, and local communities. We are proud to support over 100 groups worldwide, each with complete freedom to design educational experiences that best meet their students’ needs. These groups vary widely, reflecting our belief that learning should be as unique as each individual and group of students.
One of the most vibrant segments of our WRA community includes our Spanish-speaking groups, which have grown to 96. Leading these groups is our dedicated manager, Milagros Burga, who brings her passion for unschooling and community-building to support these families in their self-led educational journeys. Recently, we welcomed Karen Abe to our team, who now assists 46 additional groups, bringing her own expertise and enthusiasm to help our groups flourish.
Meet Our Groups Team
Karen Abe
Karen Abe is Peggy’s eldest daughter and grew up being unschooled as West River Academy’s first student. She spent her teenage years pursuing her passions of horseback-riding, swing dancing, and reading historical fiction and sci-fi. After graduating from West River Academy, she went on to finish a four-year Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis on Project Management. She began working full-time for a financial services company when she was 18, and worked full-time while going to college full-time (and continuing to swing dance in her spare moments!).
She left the financial services company in 2014 after getting married to Brian, and they traveled the world for a few months on an extended honeymoon. In February 2015 she joined Peggy at West River Academy to assist her with the growing school. With her sisters Stacey and Rachel joining soon afterwards, the family business began expanding rapidly. In 2018 she moved from Denver, Colorado to live in an ecovillage (La Ecovilla) in Costa Rica with her husband and their 2-year old son. After her daughter was born in 2019, she stepped back from her position as Assistant Director of West River Academy to be a devoted mother to her toddler son and infant daughter in their early years.
In the fall of 2024 her family started a new chapter and moved to Encinitas, California. Her son, Jason, is now 8 years old and her daughter, Lily, is 5 years old, and they are enjoying their homeschooled life in California. She is happy to be returning to West River Academy and supporting families and groups of students in their educational journey.
Milagros Burga
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Milagros Burga has always been a social person with a love for group activities. Growing up with the freedom to pursue her interests, she spent her childhood surrounded by friends, pets, and the joy of nature. She studied music, played the guitar, and joined an Argentine folk music group with her best friends, performing around Argentina, Spain, and Italy. After high school, Milagros earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Musical Arts with an emphasis on Lyric Singing, followed by an opera specialization at the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón (ISATC). Her career allowed her to travel throughout Latin America and Europe, performing in various opera productions.
In 2020, she married Roger, who also works with WRA. Introduced to Peggy and her family in 2022, Milagros is now a valued member of the West River Academy team, supporting Spanish-speaking groups and graduates, and hosting the December Graduation Ceremony.
How groups work?
To ensure that every group aligns with our philosophy, we hold one-on-one meetings with each group’s administrator. These conversations help us confirm that each group’s approach resonates with our mission—to foster curiosity, warmth, and natural learning. Through these partnerships, we can guide and support our groups as they create nurturing, curiosity-driven learning environments for their students.
If you, or someone you know, is educating children in a group setting and could benefit from the accreditation and support West River Academy provides, we invite you to reach out. Together, we can continue building a global network of learners and educators dedicated to fostering a love of learning and discovery. We’re here to support your journey and welcome you to our growing community.
