Where learning fits real life. Where purpose meets play. Where kids and parents come together.
HI, I’M JILL HATCH—
Founder, Chief Idea Maker, and Biggest Fan of Different Learners
I’m a mom who’s been in the trenches—raising five amazing, messy, totally-their-own-person kids (from toddlers to teens). I’ve juggled tantrums, teen moods, math homework, taxi driving, mountain bikes, skis, volleyballs— sometimes all at once.
Credentials
- BS in Child & Family Studies + Psychology Weber State University
I got this before I had a family and thought I had it all figured out. Then I had kids… and I realized how little I knew. I often teased that I literally got a B.S. (Bull Sh!t) degree because everything I thought I knew was tested by every unique child and circumstance.
- M.O.M. from Real Life University
Earned through late nights, hard lessons, and a lot of love.
- Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP)
- NeuroModulation Technique Practitioner (NMT)
- National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBHWC)
- Education Advocate & Community Builder
MY EDUCATION STORY
The Roots of Poised
Journey Academy
A STUDENT WHO DIDN’T FIT THE MOLD
As a kid, I didn’t always fit the traditional system. The very same day I was honored at a luncheon as Student of the Quarter, my parents showed up to celebrate—only to find me in the principal’s office for swearing at a teacher! From honors to the principal’s office in one afternoon—I lived both sides.
A MOM TO KIDS WHO LEARN DIFFERENTLY
My children taught me that learning isn’t one-size-fits-all. During COVID, when we were doing school at home, I learned that doing school at home was not that fun. I had community members step in and help with my kids and that experience showed me the power of collective wisdom and support. I’m grateful for them mentoring my kids through that difficult time.
WHAT HOMESCHOOL TAUGHT ME ABOUT LEARNING
When it was time to go back to school, many things were unknown, but I knew sitting masked all day would break my boys’ spirits. I homeschooled my boys that year and learned a lot through the process:
- Learning can happen outside of classrooms
- Community and wisdom from others make the difference
- There are so many great resources outside traditional models
- We did miss the structure, teachers, and friendships that school brings
THE VISION THAT FOLLOWED
There had to be a way to blend the best of public school—its community, teachers, and opportunities—with the flexibility and purpose of real-life learning. I wanted this for my kids… and for yours, too.
So I built it.
Poised Journey Academy was born from lived experience, deep gratitude, and the belief that every student deserves a path that fits them.
Learning Beyond The Classroom
I watched one of my kids (let’s just say- cough K.J.) skip school to hit the gym or the slopes because sitting still just wasn’t his way. I could fight it — or I could embrace it. I wanted him to:
- Learn balance (you can’t ski all day, buddy!—he would disagree and he could ski all day)
- Understand how he learns best
- Feel good about himself, even if his style wasn’t the classic sit-and-soak- in-the-words model
- Learn that his choices mattered in all areas of his life and as he moves forward embracing the unique qualities he has to give light to himself and others.
- Have a good relationship with me and not a resentful contentious one.
My Why
I created the Be P.O.I.S.E.D. Plan™ first for my family—to design an educational life that fit us. I wanted my kids to have both structure and freedom, purpose and play, school and real life. I wanted balance and to feel Joy in our Journey
We extended this to friends of my kids and then friends of their friends for the past two years.
THE NEXT STEPS
From One Family
to a Movement
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN…
I created the H.I.V.E. for Health and Wellness Club
High schoolers Initiating Valuable Experience for Health and Wellness. I worked alongside incredible students and their supportive parents, and together we shaped something special: A program built on patience, collaboration, mistakes, learning, and a spirit of adventure.
These families inspired me to keep moving forward—to work toward accreditation and create opportunities for others to experience the same magic.
LEARNING THAT TRANSFORMS
So many amazing mentors stepped up...
I’m grateful for the hands who shared their talents and passions as mentors, teachers, and guides, who helped these students not only gain knowledge, but also discover more about themselves as whole, unique individuals.
Watching these kids engage, grow, and be part of something meaningful has been hard but equally one of the greatest joys of my life. Especially when I read their write ups at the end giving a glimpse of what they are truly learning about themselves. I have first hand seen mental health become better by the opportunities these students were able to create.
THE BIRTH OF POISED JOURNEY ACADEMY
From club to certified— we are growing.
With the encouragement of these early H.I.V.E. families, I pursued and received WASC accreditation to grow this vision into what is now Poised Journey Academy—a supplemental program designed to blend real-life learning with personal growth and purpose.
I’m beyond ecstatic to take this next step—and invite more families to be part of the journey.
CONFESSION? I LOVE LEARNING….
Especially the kind that asks: Why are we the way we are?
Personality tests, strengths, learning styles—I wanted to bring it all together in one meaningful framework.
So I created the UniPath Compass MapTM, a tool to help students understand who they are—not to turn them into someone else, but to help them see their own superpowers and chart their own course.
I don’t have to turn you into me. I need to turn you into you.
PO, KUNG FU PANDA 3
This IS a Different Way to Learn
Hybrid education model
Blending public school benefits with flexible, real-world learning
More Than Academics
Focus on whole-person wellness and purpose— emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being
Learning Through Connection
Powered by community mentors, families, and professionals with passion
Built on a Strong Foundation
Rooted in faith, balance, and the belief that everyone has a unique contribution
OUR MISSION AND PHILOSOPHY:
- We don’t cram kids into a mold—we help them discover who they really are
- We mix real-world learning, public school perks, and flexible options that actually fit today’s families
- We help families grow stronger, not just smarter
- We empower creators rather then content consumers
- Not just another online credit tool but a life changing real world experience
LET’S DO THIS TOGETHER
