Meet the Teacher

Hello friend! I'm so glad to meet you!

I’m Mrs. Ruth Distad, and I’m so glad you’re here. I live in the quiet hamlet of Catharpin, VA, right next to Manassas Battlefield Park. Working with children is truly my passion—I love creating a classroom environment that is joyful, welcoming, and filled with wonder, all while maintaining high standards and deep learning. Kids are one of the most delightful parts of the world God has given us. Their curiosity, energy, and joy light up every day, and it’s my greatest honor to help them grow into the people God created them to be.

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I grew up in a tiny town of 300 people in Wyoming, where my dad pastored our local church and my mom homeschooled me and my three brothers. These early years sparked in me a deep love for faith, family, and education. Though I’ve made Northern Virginia my home as an adult, those small-town roots still shape the way I teach and lead.

I’ve been homeschooling my four children for the past seven years and have taught in co-ops for five. For over two decades, I’ve also had the joy of teaching in church settings—starting the moment I aged out of the kids’ classes myself! Lord willing, I’ll complete my M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction in the summer of 2025. This program has given me a strong foundation in how children learn and grow, while offering hands-on experience in both traditional and alternative classroom environments. It’s been a joy to learn how to support students of different cultural and educational backgrounds.

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At the heart of it all, my goal is simple: to inspire and equip both your children and mine. I want to prepare them for all of life—to walk forward with confidence, kindness, and curiosity, from the warmth of their hearths to the horizons they’re called to explore.