Director Spotlight: Terri Budke Leads with Passion at iLEAD Hybrid at the Acton Studio
Today, we are thrilled to feature Terri Budke (Miss Terri), the founding Director of iLEAD Hybrid at the Acton Studio. From her background in education and leadership to what she loves most about our community, get to know Miss Terri!
Please tell us about your background and how you came to be at iLEAD Hybrid at the Acton Studio.
I have worked in education since 1990 in a variety of roles. I’ve taught in traditional classrooms, served for many years as a Lead Teacher and New Teacher Trainer, and spent several years training corporate teams in leadership and team building while my children were young. Eventually I discovered the home study charter model, which better aligns with my belief that education should be tailored to each child—challenging them while supporting them where they are.
Since 2014, I’ve worked with several charter schools. In July 2021, I joined iLEAD to design a new program. We began as iLEAD AV Exploration. With our new location, we are now iLEAD Hybrid at the Acton Studio. It’s the same charter and program—just a new name and space.
I designed this program specifically for families who are new to home study and unsure where to begin. I wanted it to provide extra support through events and drop-off workshops so families could connect with one another and with our staff. Over the years, we’ve made adjustments, always striving to improve while staying true to our foundational goals.
What’s the best part about working at iLEAD Hybrid at the Acton Studio?
The best part of our program is our amazing team of educators. The collaboration on our team is awesome. Everyone has a common goal of constant improvement on how to support our families and learners.
What do you LOVE about iLEAD Hybrid at the Acton Studio? What sets it apart from other schools?
I don’t know of any program exactly like ours. I appreciate that we have the freedom to draw on my staff’s many years of educational experience to continually refine and improve our work. We all share a strong commitment to giving children an excellent education by teaching parents how to support learning at home.
Please name five fun facts about you.
- I grew up in Iowa and graduated from the University of Iowa. Go, Hawks!
- I have two adult children: Hannah and Jackson. Hannah is married and lives in Rhode Island (too far from Mom, in my opinion!), and Jackson lives in Arizona.
- I love dogs—especially my two retrievers: Maggie, a golden retriever, and Hope, a labrador retriever.
- I love coffee and Diet Coke. You will usually find one on my desk or in my hand.
- Being with our learners brings me a joy that is hard to describe.
- I love what I do and feel so blessed to be a part of the iLEAD family.
We are so grateful for Miss Terri’s vision, heart, and dedication to making iLEAD Hybrid at the Acton Studio a supportive home for our learners and families.
About iLEAD Hybrid at the Acton Studio:
iLEAD Hybrid at the Acton Studio is a free public TK-8 school independent study program with a studio in Acton, CA. Our credentialed educators empower each family’s journey with personalized guidance, award-winning curriculum, technology, vendor funds, engaging field trips, and the convenience of free drop-off workshops. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, and find us at ileadhybridstudio.org.