Beyond the Books Education (LLC) is a private homeschool group located in Manalapan, New Jersey, serving children from Pre-K through 5th grade. In today’s ever-changing world, many families want to homeschool but aren’t able to for a variety of reasons — and that’s where we come in.
At Beyond the Books, we offer families peace of mind knowing their children are learning in a safe, nurturing environment that supports not only academic growth, but also social and emotional development. Our program is designed to be flexible, personalized, and one of the most affordable options around — all while maintaining high standards for learning.

We believe education should go far beyond textbooks. At Beyond the Books, we focus on the whole child — helping students grow into kind, curious, and compassionate members of their community. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.” That belief is at the heart of everything we do.

Every child learns differently, and that’s exactly how it should be. We celebrate each child’s unique strengths and learning style. Our hands-on, multisensory approach keeps students actively involved in their learning every step of the way. As Benjamin Franklin wisely said, “Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.”

At Beyond the Books, no two students are the same—and we don’t believe their education should be, either. Instead of following a rigid, one-size-fits-all model, our students are grouped by skill level for reading and math while still enjoying whole-group time with their peers. This allows every child to learn at their own pace—slowing down when they need extra support and moving ahead when they’re ready.

We use highly rated, research-based, standards-aligned curriculum that we adapt to fit each student’s needs. Our goal is to help children build confidence, independence, and a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

Beyond the Books offers an in-person learning experience free from unnecessary restrictions or distractions. In a world where education can sometimes lose sight of what really matters, we choose to teach in a way that honors our values, gives families freedom, and keeps our vision clear:
to educate our students “Beyond the Books.”

Please note: Our program is open to MEMBERS ONLY. Visit our FAQ page to learn how to become a member.

Our Mission

At Beyond the Books, we have faith in educating the whole child, and tailoring instruction to meet the needs of each individual child. It is through creativity, imagination, social skills, self-interests, and problem solving that discovery is ignited.

We strive to develop the whole human being in order to help each child reach his/her intellectual, emotional, social, creative and inquisitive potential. We have firm belief that each child learns differently, and when children are kinesthetically engaged, their learning is more profound.

Meet Our Staff and Educators

Nicole Gries . Founder

How it all began...

Hi! I am Nicole Gries, the founder of Beyond the Books. I became an educator even before I was licensed by working as an aid in preschool and kindergarten classes for 6 years throughout high school and college. Immediately after graduating from Monmouth University with degrees in Elementary education, special education, English as a second language and anthropology, I obtained a job as a second grade teacher in the Keyport School District. I then taught there as a first grade and ESL teacher for 7 years. I landed my dream job as a kindergarten teacher in the Manalapan school I went to as a child right before the pandemic and followed my class to first grade the next year.

My motto had always been "shut the door and teach how you know you need to teach." I followed the curriculum but knew so many elements were missing to meet the needs of each child and bridge certain gaps. I created majority of my own materials, games, and tweaked my schedule where I could to assure I was helping my students meet their full potential in all aspects of life. After I had my two children, i decided to homeschool them because I was seeing first hand how education was being handled in the public realm and I did not want that for my children.

When requirements and curriculum changes began happening in public school, I made the decision to resign and start my own learning pod of first and second graders in my father's basement. I began teaching with the flexibility and freedom that public school doesn't offer and was able to tailor learning to meet the needs of every diverse learner. I was able to modify curriculum and make learning into a hands on discovery from beginning to end. I had the time to get to know my students academically, socially and emotionally. I had always taught with the intent to educate the whole child, but now without the constraints or distractions from public school, I was able to do that and I saw the change in my students as a whole. I decided to join the public and homeschool forces together to create a program where learning is organic, happens naturally, and is focused on the child, their needs and growing and learning. I decided this was going to be my new path and that my mission would be to educate as many other children as I could "Beyond the Books."

Since then, I have made a huge move out of the country and worked remotely for one year; while my former manager Holly ran the show. As of September 2025, Beyond the Books, has officially taken on new ownership! Please read below to meet the new owner Holly Katko.

Hi! I’m Holly, the new Owner of Beyond The Books.

I’m so excited to be part of the Beyond The Books family! Before taking on this role, I spent five years as the Assistant Manager at Sportika, where I ran all of our programming, created new camps, and managed a summer camp with over 350 children enrolled in 2024. I’ve also had the pleasure of teaching PE at Beyond The Books and other homeschool programs before BTB came to Sportika.

I am passionate about creating spaces where children can explore, express themselves, and feel celebrated for every achievement—big or small. I truly believe every child deserves to be seen, heard, and supported, and that philosophy guides everything I do at BTB.

Coming from a large, supportive family, I understand the importance of community, encouragement, and celebrating each other’s successes. I’m thrilled to bring that same energy to Beyond The Books, working alongside amazing students, parents, and our BTB team to create another memorable year full of creativity, learning, and fun!