Tomball Classes For Home Schoolers

Gloria Andress
gbandress@gmail.com

Gloria Andress inherited a love for math and teaching from her father, a retired USN Commander and math professor at the University of Texas-EL Paso. Both her parents fostered a tremendous love for God, country, and family while growing up in West Texas. She received her BS Degree in Mathematics (Biology minor) at the University of Texas-El Paso in 1977 where she also received a teaching certificate to teach both Math and Biology at the secondary level. She taught 7th - 12th grade Math in Texas public school systems for 18 years and retired from teaching in 2010. She has been blessed to be married to her husband, Allen, since 1985 and they have 2 wonderful children (Texas A&M grads) and 4 precious, young grandchildren. Through her husband’s job in the oil and gas industry, the family has travelled extensively and has been exposed to other cultures and languages. Argentina, Venezuela, Aruba, Mexico, Indonesia, and Canada are among some of the countries she has been able to visit or to call home. She attends Magnolia’s First Baptist Church and has been actively studying the Word of God in Bible Study Fellowship for over 10 years. Best Hobbies Ever: Horses and trail riding.

Tammy Aston
astontammy5@gmail.com

Tammy Aston has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a Teaching Certificate from Texas A&M University-Commerce. After graduating from OU, she worked as an accountant at the top real estate companies in Dallas, until she went back to school to get her teaching certificate. Tammy met her husband at church in Dallas where she taught for 3 years, in a large suburban school district, earning the New Teacher of the Year Award her first year. She was blessed to semi-retire when her eldest son was born; and has been a home school mom of 3 ever since, with her two oldest now attending colleges here in Texas. For the past 15+ years, she has utilized a curriculum focused on teaching language arts through rich, classical literature. Tammy and her family have always been actively involved in their local church, including serving in AWANAS, VBS, and teaching 5th and 6th grade Sunday school. As a family, they love serving together; mountain vacations; camping; reading; playing board games; watching movies and college sports; working puzzles; and playing with their dog Bree.

Jennifer Chidester
jennifercclasses@gmail.com

Jennifer Chidester worked in the field of studio photography while attending Boise State University. After living in Idaho for 13 years, her husband's job brought them to Texas. Both in Idaho and Texas, Jennifer has had a passion for teaching, photographing, and serving in ministry. She has facilitated several community events and productions including concerts, theater productions, banquets, etc. as either an Interim Youth Director, Business Owner/Leader, or Ministry Leader. (Usually, something to do with the Arts). Jennifer managed and worked in studio photography for over 23 years. Upon coming to Texas, she completed additional training under the New York Institute of Photography and opened her own location studio called Cherished Reflections. As a wedding photographer and event specialist, Jennifer decided to change direction and coordinate weddings for the surrounding Houston area and now works with various wedding and magazine photographers. While living in Texas, Jennifer renewed her passion for Government politics and has become actively involved in teaching students the foundation and inner workings of how the Government operates. She has taught High school Government at various Homeschool Co-ops using the curriculum American Government in the Christian perspective by A Beka. Jennifer was a military child and traveled around the globe. This experience grew a passion for different cultures which gives her a hands-on connection to the various countries she teaches in her classes. Jennifer has just launched her first child in college and continues to home-school her son. Jennifer shares her years of photography and travel experience, and her passion in Government to inspire students to see life in a new way.

Jen Creel
jen@thecreels.net

Jen Creel has been a homeschool mom for the last 27 years, and taught kids at FAITH of NW Houston co-op for 14 of those. She has taught novel writing, magazine and newspaper writing, Cool Crafts for Boys, Lord of the Rings literature analysis, Prairie Primer encompassing Little House books, Texas History and more. Through and since Covid, she has taught online and then hybrid novel and magazine writing classes, but very much prefers teaching in person! Whatever she teaches, Jen enjoys making learning fun! Jen has been married to her husband Mike for over 30 years, and they have 3 great kids – Becca, Alex and Jack. They were all homeschooled and are either graduated from college or are in college now. She and her husband graduated from Marietta College in Ohio, where Jen majored in Radio/Television and French. They settled in her husband’s hometown of Parkersburg WV for many years. Jen was blessed to work as a radio DJ during that time. After having kids, she devoted her time and efforts to learning alongside her kids, and they had a wonderful time doing it. Since coming to Houston 20 years ago, the family joined FAITH of NW Houston co-op, where Jen taught for many years before becoming a Board Member responsible for coordinating High School classes. Jen and her husband Mike are members at Covenant Methodist Church at Creekside in the Woodlands. She has just taken on the blessing of being Children’s Director there.

Andrea Criswell
acriswell73@gmail.com

Andrea Criswell received her B.S from Texas Tech University in General Studies and her Masters from Asbury Theological Seminary in Cross Cultural Communication. She is a homeschooling mother of four and married to her husband Chris since 1994. The Criswell’s lead a home church in theTomball area. Andrea is passionate about using education as a discipleship tool, and believes the world needs young adults who can clearly communicate the gospel in every area of life. Contact information: acriswell73@gmail.com or 281-650-3816

Heather Davis
heather.classes21@gmail.com

Heather Davis received her B.A. in English with highest honors from Sam Houston State University (SHSU). She is currently attending SHSU for her M.A. in English. During her B.A., Heather worked alongside graduate professors to complete her undergraduate thesis as well as present at the Undergraduate Research Symposium. While still an undergraduate, her research led her to obtain a graduate internship position working on grant projects as well as completing a Direct Study under the Dean of the SHSU Elliott T. Bowers Honors College. Heather is active in her local church as a high school youth group leader and has traveled to Africa as a VBS leader. Heather has also gone through The Write Foundation as a student, giving her more insight into how students approach the class. Contact Heather at heather.classes21@gmail.com or 281-814-9091.

Rebecca Elkins
vrelkins4@gmail.com

Rebecca Elkins studied art at Houston Baptist University where she developed an interest and appreciation for her craft. For over 15 years, Rebecca has shared her love of working with children at West University Baptist Church in various capacities, including helping to set up a special needs ministry. In 2008 she was blessed with the opportunity to teach junior high and high school art classes with a local homeschool co-op and has created quite an extensive program to develop students' artistic abilities. Her philosophy is that we are created in the image of God who is the Greatest Artist. She strives to enable her students to see the creative side of our Creator. Rebecca has been married to Van for over 25 years and has two beautiful children. She left her position as a Financial Aid Advisor at a local technical school to become a full-time homemaker. Homeschooling since 2000, she recently graduated her youngest who is now studying art at a local university. The Elkins family serves and worships at Magnolia Bible Church. Contact: Rebecca Elkins at vrelkins4@gmail.com.

Bethany Garcia
bethanygarcia@comcast.net

Bethany Garcia, B.S. received an Accounting degree with honors from the University of Houston. Soon after graduating, she earned her CPA license. Prior to becoming a full-time stay-at-home mom, she worked for KPMG accounting firm, an insurance company, and Hewlett Packard. She has been married for 25 years and is a mother to four wonderful boys. She began her homeschooling journey in 2003. Her family has been part of FAITH coop since 2008. Bethany has primarily taught history and science at the coop during that time and has served on the Leadership Team at FAITH for nine years. She was a part of Heritage Christian Homeschool Support Group for twelve years. She has always been involved in a local church. Her family currently attends Second Baptist Church in Cypress where she has volunteered in a myriad of roles, such as Sunday school teacher, greeter, VBS leader, and mission worker. Her homeschool teaching style incorporates many hands-on activities. With homeschooling four boys, action was the key to learning. She brings games and interactive activities to her classroom. While teaching or just talking, Bethany always tries to incorporate the Lord and His saving work on the cross into the conversation. For more information, contact Bethany at bethanygarcia@comcast.net or call 281-793-8995.

Hallie LaPell
lapell.hallie@gmail.com

Hallie LaPell has been part of the homeschool community since 1991 when her mother began homeschooling her in 3rd grade. She graduated as a homeschooled student with HCYA in 2001 and has been homeschooling her own children since 2007. For the past 2 years, Hallie has taught PE for Faith of Northwest Houston co-op. This experience taught her how to manage a class of students and how to create a working yet flexible curriculum. She understands that each student is unique, and it is important to create a program that reaches each student in their learning style. She is a certified group fitness instructor with the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) and the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). She currently holds a specialized certification in Youth Exercise. Hallie has been married to Chris for 21 years and they have 4 children: Noah age 20, Caitlyn age 19, Ethan age 16, and Elijah age 12. For Hallie, homeschooling is important because she wants children to have a Christ-centered education.

Jolynn McQuary
mcquary5@att.net

Jolynn McQuary B.S. in Education, Masters of Education. Jolynn received her B.S. in Education with a specialization in Life-Earth Science from Texas State University in 1989. She has taught science for junior high in public schools and high school with a co-op over the past 20 years. After receiving her Masters of Education in 1996 from Sam Houston State University, she also served as an Assistant Principal in Tomball for two years before becoming a homeschool parent. She was blessed to homeschool her three children and each has pursued a career in education. In addition, Jolynn has led Bible studies through her church, Salem Lutheran, and a Maidens of Virtue group she began with her daughters. She enjoyed coaching for the YMCA in several sports over the years, co-coordinating a P.E. co-op and teaching swimming lessons for over 25 years. Jolynn and her husband Austin, a Biology teacher and coach at Tomball High school, both avidly love science. They continue to enjoy family camping trips and spending days on the family farm where they can witness God's handiwork first-hand. Jolynn feels teaching science is a ministry and enthusiastically shares her love of science with others-relating these concepts to our Master Designer. Finally, Jolynn strives to take difficult concepts, developing them into understandable ways which help achieve student mastery, preparing them for college and reaching other future goals. Contact Mrs. McQuary at mcquary5@att.net or text/call 713-503-1127.

Beth Munnerlyn
tbmunnerlyn@hotmail.com

Beth Munnerlyn is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute. She was trained in linguistics by Wycliffe Bible Translator’s Summer Institute of Linguistics program, and also completed one year of intensive Spanish study at Rio Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, TX. Beth served as a missionary with United Indian Missions in Oaxaca, Mexico for ten years. She has taught Sunday school and Bible studies in Spanish and has a great love and appreciation for the Spanish language and Latin American culture. Beth has taught Spanish to home school students since 2003. She and her husband Tom have three children and are members of Tomball Bible Church. Contact Beth at 713-817-1521 or tbmunnerlyn@hotmail.com.

Dawn Romaguera
dromag1@gmail.com

Dawn Romaguera has a B.S. in Accounting from LSU and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of New Orleans. She began her teaching career as an Instructor of Office Careers at a Louisiana Vocational-Technical School, and then moved on to Nunez Community College where she held the position of Associate Professor for over 15 years. During that time, she was honored with the NISOD Excellent in Teaching Award and was named to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers. Dawn and husband Mike have 5 children. Originally from New Orleans, Mike’s company moved the family to Illinois for five years and then to Texas in 2005. Eager to get back to teaching, Dawn joined Computer Explorers™ and has been teaching computer classes to homeschoolers for more than 10 years. The CE curriculum incorporates real-life, hands-on projects to cover a wide range of topics essential for students in our technology driven world. Dawn has developed a passion for learning new technology and truly enjoys educating her students and helping them to realize their full potential.

Rita Torres
aslmyheartlanguage@gmail.com

Rita Torres was born Deaf and has a passion to teach ASL. She has taught ASL (American Sign Language) in Puerto Rico and the United States to students ages 6-adult. For ten years, Rita and her husband were full-time missionaries with a Deaf organization reaching Deaf people for Christ worldwide. They travelled to over eight countries, learning not only their culture, but also their language (sign language is not universal). In 2001 they followed the Lord’s leading to Costa Rica and planted a church that is still thriving to this day. Twelve years later (in 2013) they sensed Him call them to the U.S., particularly the Tomball area. Less than a year after moving here they planted a Deaf church in Houston where her husband is currently the pastor. You can contact Rita Torres at aslmyheartlanguage@gmail.com.

Tami White
txwhitetami@gmail.com

Tami White is a homeschool mom of 15 years. She graduated from NorthCentral Bible College in Minneapolis, MN in 1993. Since then, she has taught in public and private schools, FAITH coop, as well as starting a home based coop, tutored, pioneered a character program in the public schools with highschool students, served as a children's pastor, youth worker and has been on many mission trips. Seven years ago, she was certified as an educational therapist and has found a niche to encourage students who have processing difficulties to not only get through school, but to thrive. She is a fully certified and practicing private therapist with NILD. Tami has three children: Jayce age 18, Mariah 16 and Hudson 14. Homeschooling is grueling, exhilarating, and humbling, There are no guarantees, but a ton of opportunities to love your children well and obey God as you live out each day.