Pam Bowen, a mother of four, has home schooled her children for 20 years. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance. After having their first child, she and her husband, Tommy, decided for her to be a stay-at-home mom, and they began home schooling in 1988. In addition to home schooling their four children, she has also worked from home doing accounting and bookkeeping for private individuals. Math has always been a favorite subject, as well as reading. Mrs. Bowen has taught sign language, writing, math, and other courses in various home school classes. She also loves signing and has been very involved in classes or working with the deaf for 15 years. She currently is on the deaf ministry team at The Light Community Fellowship. Mrs. Bowen is also very involved with a local home school sports program where her daughter plays basketball. You may contact her by phone at 936-760-1790 or email tlbfam@suddenlink.net. Her mailing address is 189 Greenleaf Lane, Conroe TX 77304
Valerie Craft and her husband Bill, have home schooled their five children for 26 years. Shortly after their oldest son was born (1978) they started reviewing public school textbooks and praying about how the Lord would want them to educate their children. After moving to College Station,TX, Bill pastored a small church and was the principle of a Christian School. Then, when asked to help a church in Denver, CO, they moved and Valerie started teaching their oldest son (then 6 years old) at home. Now, their oldest son (32) works for a TV station in Austin, and their second son (26) supervises the building of oil rigs in Houston. Their third son (24) has his own music business, Carpenter House Music, and teaches 7-8 grade science at the Training Center. Their fourth son graduates with CACHE this year, and their youngest will graduate in the next year or two. Over the years the kids not only learned the 3 R's and science & history, but explored interests in carving & woodworking, gardening, leatherwork, sewing, 4-H, re-enacting, beekeeping, camping, sports and music. Kids love to learn with their hands as well as their minds and hearts! In the last 5 years Valerie has taught classes in Elementary and Jr. High sciences, Home Economics, Junior Master Gardening and Texas History. She is excited to enclude pre-algebra and geometry with Texas History this coming year. To contact Valerie Craft call 936-760-3298 or email valsherbal@aol.com. (936) 760-3298 (home) 116 Gregory Rd., Conroe, TX 77304
Karen Garza is a follower of Jesus Christ. God gave her a passion for science and the pursuit of learning coupled with a gift for teaching. Her beginning foundation in education was graduating valedictorian of her high school in 1977. At 19, she was certified as a paramedic and an American Red Cross certified teacher of CPR and first aid. When her path led her and her husband, Joey, to Houston she began pursuing a medical degree. She completed 60 hours, including honors biology and honors chemistry at U of H. In the fall of 1989, God instructed Karen to quit work and school and thus began her career as a full time mom. Two years later, in 1991, she became a home school teacher. Her 3 girls that were her first and most important students are Penny, Jennifer, and Esther. Penny graduated in 2004; she then received her Associates Degree in 2006, and continues her college education as a member and officer of the Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. In 2008, Jennifer’s high school graduation included 18 hours of dual college credit hours. Esther will be finishing high school in 2011. The Garzas were a founding family of the SHARE co-op in Spring and Karen was responsible for teaching science to multiple grade levels for six years. She also taught junior high science with a lab utilizing a curriculum she put together for multiple students in her home for two years. From 1991 to 2004, she was responsible for teaching God’s Word at church from toddlers to high schoolers in Sunday school, Children’s Church, and Wednesday night Youth Groups. Her most recent endeavor, Revelation Science Classes, www.revelationscience.com, has focused on teaching science in a classroom set up with lab equipment instructing high school students in biology, chemistry, and human anatomy & physiology utilizing the Apologia curriculum and Micro Chem lab enhancement. Her ministry to further science awareness has also included joining her husband as the administrators of the Texas Regional Science Fair beginning in 1997, www.texasregionalsciencefair.com. Karen has a vision of science being a tool to use to reveal the intricacies of God to students who in turn can use their knowledge to share the wonders and proofs of God that exist in our universe and are revealed through science. Teaching and instructing others is a ministry and an honor to her and she lives to be used by God to bring Him honor and glory. Family Info - Joey and Karen celebrated their 28th year of wedded bliss November 2009. The family attends Gateway Christian Fellowship in Hockley where Joey serves as the Worship Leader along with their daughters, Jennifer and Esther. Jennifer is also the Worship Leader for the youth group at Gateway. Contact information:revelationscience@sbcglobal.net, 281-370-6222 home, 832-483-9643 cell Payment Mailing Address: 7327 Root Road, Spring, TX 77389 - Mrs. Garza's registration form linked here
Hands Uplifted - Karen is a certified American Sign Language teacher, and is a native Houstonian. She has been working with the Deaf as well as teaching those who want to work with the Deaf since 1986. She has a M.S. degree in Deaf Education, B.S. in Child & Family Services, is a BEI state certified interpreter Level II and RID candidate. Karen has taught ASL as a foreign language to home school students for 7 yrs., taught ASL in the public schools for 3 yrs., taught ASL on a part-time basis at a college interpreter training program, freelance interpreted for 7 yrs., taught Deaf Education for 4 years, worked as a houseparent "dorm mom" at a residential school for the Deaf, and been a missionary with the Deaf (All team members were Deaf. She was the only hearing member.) In 2003, she resigned as a public school teacher to start her company, Hands Uplifted, to teach home school students how to sign and interact with the Deaf (learning not only their language, but also some of their cultural values). Although Karen does not personally have children, if she did, she would definitely home school them. HANDS UPLIFTED web: www.handsuplifted.com email: karen@handsuplifted.com P. O. Box 944, Conroe, TX 77305
Brenda Hall attended Texas A&M University earning her Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an emphasis in material science. She met and married her husband of 28 years, Eric, at the A&M Baptist Student Union where they began to be involved in ministry together. She worked until the birth of her daughter for Motorola as a Hermetic Packaging Engineer. Eric and Brenda have 5 children and have homeschooled for 17 years. Their two oldest daughters graduated with CACHE and are recent college graduates; their son, Scott, is graduating this year with CACHE also. The Halls live in Conroe and attend Renaissance Church. They have been involved in a nursing home ministry for the last 7 years at Hearthstone Assisted Living Center. Brenda loves math and the order that God created in numbers. It is her desire to help all students to excel in math. She will be using Teaching Textbooks for Algebra I and Algebra II. She will also be bringing the Pre-Calculus class to the Training Center for the 2011/2012 school year. Parents can find information about the program and placement tests at www.teachingtextbooks.com. Brenda can be reached at (936) 756-1217 (home) or (936) 443-9002 (cell) or e-mailed at EBHall7@aol.com. Please mail payments to: 2005 Shasta Ridge, Conroe, TX 77304. Payments are due on the 1st of each month or at the first class of the month.
Jack Hightower—teacher, principal, and administrator for 25+ years in private Christian schools in the North Houston area. He has majored in teaching in the Language Arts area, concentrating on Rhetoric, Compositions, Essays, and American and British literature on the 7-12 grade levels. He has also written curriculum taught same to his students in Language Arts, Social Studies, and the Bible on the 7-12 grade levels. He is experienced in teaching Latin I and II, with an Introduction to Greek on the 7-12 grade levels. Jack, while administrator of Sweetwater Christian School of North Houston, developed and implemented on of the first “Umbrella” programs for home-schooled students to be able to take academic courses and participate in competition sports on the Sweetwater campus. He has attended several Summer Institutes at Rice and the University of Houston for the purpose of becoming more proficient in the teaching of A.P. Composition and Literature. He contributed to the framework of accreditation standards adopted by the I.C.A.A. (International Christian Accreditation Association) division of O.R.U.E.F. (Oral Roberts University Educational Fellowship) located in Tulsa, OK. He has been happily married to his wife, Barbara, for 44 years and they attend The Crossing Church in The Woodlands. Checks are to be made out to Jack Hightower and mailed to Jack Hightower 545 FM 1488 Apt. 2203 Conroe, TX 77384. Contact Jack Hightower at jack_hghtwr [at] yahoo [dot] com
Terry Howell and her husband Bill, have homeschooled their 3 boys for 5 years, and she has taught classes in a home school co-op for 3 years. She has previously taught children's classes at her church and is currently an interpreter for the deaf at The Light Community Fellowship. She has a passion for history and geography and loves sharing that with teens and young adults. She has also taken the Financial Peace University class and learned very valuable information for her family’s finances and desires to impart that wisdom to students and help them make wise decisions as they start making money and hopefully avoid financial difficulties as they become adults. Her contact information is: Phone: 936.756.6220 or 936.525.7145; Email: thowell425 [at] hotmail [dot] com.
Kylee Huddleston is attending Sam Houston State to gain her Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training, with a minor in 2D Art. She was home schooled from the 5th grade through high school, and took dual credit classes at Montgomery Community College starting in 11th grade. In her spare time, Kylee enjoys riding her horses, reading, swimming, painting, and photography. Kylee’s Contact info: (936)525-0335 or divergurl@juno.com. Mailing address is 1611 Pine Oak Dr. Conroe, Texas 77304
Dianne Killian has spent the past 25 years teaching her five children, and hundreds of others in various educational environments including, Play and Learn Day and American Girl Camps. Dianne has always been a strong homeschooling advocate and considers her main credentials to be her children. Stacy Killian Gonzales graduated from Texas A&M with a degree in Communications in ‘08 and recently married Shaun Gonzales. Eric Killian graduated from Texas State in ’08 with a Criminal Justice degree and is headed east to GA for the U.S. Army’s OCS (Officer Candidate School). Ryan Killian graduated from the University of Texas in ’08 with degrees in Journalism and RTF (Radio-Television - Film). He is headed west to attend Pepperdine University School of Law in CA. Nikki Killian Willett is earning her degree in motherhood. She and her husband Travis Willett have two adorable children (2 yrs and 7 mo) and another due Feb. ‘11. Alex Killian graduated from high school this past spring and is enrolled at Lone Star College. He is plays the keyboard at The Ark Church in Conroe. Dianne is currently attending Sam Houston State University to pursue a career in education….lol…. All of the above has been made possible by Randy Killian’s engineering talents, hard work and devotion, and by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Dianne at be reached at 936.537.3974, diannekillian@yahoo.com, or on Facebook. Please mail payments to Dianne Killian, 392 Cumberland Trail Conroe, TX 77302. http://girlsanddolls.shutterfly.com/girlsanddollssummercamps
Jan Lund and her husband Sam, homeschooled their children for 16 years. Before opening The Training Center, she was a stay-at-home mom to their three wonderful children. Currently, they have one son in high school, one in college and a daughter who recently graduated from Houston Baptist University. Jan has always had a passion for teaching and enjoyed the time she spent teaching Sunday School, Children's Church and Children's Choir. She and Sam are excited about The Training Center and are looking forward to the direction God is leading them. Her contact information is (936) 539-1382 or Sajalund@aol.com. Please mail payments to Jan Lund at P.O. Box 1122, Conroe, TX 77305.
Corinne Park graduated from Hardin Simmons University with a Bachelor of Education degree. She spent 2 years teaching school at Asuncion Christian Academy in Paraguay, South America. Upon her return to the States she attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary where she met her husband Jon Park. She graduated with a Master of Arts in Religious Education. She and her husband spent 8 years in the ministry in Florida where she taught in a Christian school. When her first daughter was ready for kindergarten they began to homeschool. They have 2 children which they homeschool. Corinne has taught classes for homeschoolers in her home and in co-op classes. This year she will be teaching Astronomy on the elementary level, Apologia Physical Science and Club Explore for K-4th grades. She loves to make her classes hands-on with active learning to increase a student’s love of learning and natural curiosity. Her contact information is 281-252-8496, joncorinne@consolidated.net and 7226 Lorna Rd. Montgomery, TX 77316
Deborah Redman has a passion and enthusiasm for art that she has shared in public school education over 30 years. Coupled with her love for children, her teaching experiences have taken her to schools in the Kansas City area of Missouri, Houston, Denton, Temple, and Spring, Texas. She has a BA degree from Houston Baptist University that includes a double major in Painting/Drawing and Art Education with life certification in grades K-12, and a minor in Music. Deborah continued her education earning a Master of Fine Art from University of North Texas in a 60 hour Graduate Program of Study with a degree in Weaving and Fiber Art and a minor in Art History. As a teaching fellow in the art department, she taught university courses and worked with the faculty. Over the past 18 years she has taught middle school art in the Spring Independent School District and worked in various capacities to further student learning. Some of those interests include writing middle school art curriculum, facilitating district wide, extra-curricular, ”Special Experience“ in photography for middle school students, instructing teacher workshops, sponsoring art club, and displaying student art/murals for school concerts, plays, social studies, language arts, and science projects through-out the year. Deborah resides in Spring and since retirement a year ago is enjoying attending a community Bible study class and hanging out more often with her daughter, Jacquelyn, who is a nurse in one of the Woodlands hospitals. On a creative side, she is writing a children’s book, with the help of her husband, Bill, about their dog, Oreo, who is a cute beagle – dalmation mix. Of course, Oreo is helping the most and yes, she has a dalmation coat with lots of spots. Other things keep Deborah busy too. She loves painting, antique –hunting, and selling beautiful, hand strung jewelry her sister-in-law makes. Deborah is excited about teaching art to home school children and looks forward to helping them learn to “see in a new way” at the Training Center. Her contact information is (281) 355-0454 or wcredman@yahoo.com. Please mail payments to Deborah Redman, 330 Magic Oaks Court, Spring, Texas 77388
Yvette Schenck After graduating as the valedictorian of her high school class at Concordia Lutheran, Yvette Schenck attended Loyola University in New Orleans as a pre-med major. Her goals to become a pediatrician quickly shifted, however, upon the birth of her and her husband’s first child. When her spouse was relocated to Houston from Louisiana in 1994, she opted to become a stay at home mom. She has never regretted her decision, and has been grateful that she has had the opportunity to be her four children’s caregiver and educator. Mrs. Schenck has always enjoyed working with children. She has taught Sunday school and worked with Vacation Bible School for many years; and has taught homeschool classes, including HIS classes. Because working with youth is her passion, she has taught and tutored various students including her own. For over 11 years, she and her husband homeschooled their four children. Mrs. Schenck enjoys reading and writing in her spare time, and hopes to instill a love for these activities in her students. She is a firm believer that “readers can become leaders” with the right mentoring and encouragement. Her family attends church at Woodsedge Community Church. Contact her at: y_schenck@yahoo.com or (936)648-4823 (cell). Address: 1527 Cafe Dumonde, Conroe, TX 77304.
Marice Taylor graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education (certified K-12) from Texas A&M-Commerce. She taught as an assistant band director at Pearland High School prior to having her three amazing kids (now entering 5th grade, 3rd grade, and a 3 year old) and has homeschooled them the entire time. She considers herself an eclectic classical homeschooler (isn’t that a mouthful!), following the Story of the World as a guideline but utilizing other sources as appropriate. They enjoy learning so much that even the 3 year old often chants “His-tor-y, His-tor-y, His-tor-y” in the car to request listening to the history lessons! When she is not homeschooling her children, Ms. Taylor teaches private flute lessons in Conroe ISD. She enjoys triathlons and is the event coordinator for the Y Freedom Triathlon and Kiwanis Kids Triathlon in Pearland. Ms. Taylor is also the club manager for the Montgomery County 4-H Shooting Sports Club. She and her children attend church at The Ark Church in Conroe. Ms. Taylor considers herself a beloved child of God and mom to the three best kids in the world! Payments may be mailed to Marcie Taylor at 10132 Champion Village Dr., Conroe TX 77303. Ms. Taylor can be reached at 281-650-7842 or taylorm25@yahoo.com.
COMPUTER EXPLORERS® is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in computer and technology education. The company was founded in 1984 and is ranked #1 in Children’s Technology by Entrepreneur Magazine. The success of our program is due to several aspects: 1. Delivery by a trained teacher who also loves working with children, is enthusiastic and experienced with technology, and supports the mission of The Training Center Classes. 2.Curriculum that is professionally written by educators. 3. Software that is carefully selected to be educationally and age appropriate. 4. Technology skills are introduced and developed at appropriate age levels. Students build on their skills until achieving mastery of each technology area. 5. Integration of technology into core curriculum areas and real-life situations 6. A comprehensive, step-by-step process of co-operative learning to develop skills. Research has shown that students who have opportunities to work in pairs and small groups learn faster and more efficiently, have greater retention, and feel more positive about the learning experience. It is a way for students to learn essential interpersonal life-skills, oral communication skills, and to develop the ability to work collaboratively-- a skill now greatly in demand in the workplace. It is a way for students to take turns with different roles such as facilitator, reporter, recorder, etc. In a cooperative group, every student has a specific task; everyone is involved in the learning or project. 7. The study of each technology area is completed by the creation of a project. The topic of the project is related to work being covered in a core curriculum area or a topic of interest. By using their new skills in this way, we insure understanding and retention of technology skills, as well as reviewing and reinforcing their academics. COMPUTER EXPLORERS began over 20 years ago and is constantly developing programs to stay at the forefront of technology education. For more details go to Computer Explorers or contact: Kay at 877-468-2823 or info (at) teched4all (dot ) com.
