Pam Bowen has home schooled her four children for the past 22 years. 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. Their two oldest children graduated from college and the other two are currently attending college. Pam and her husband both served on the board of a local home school support group for several years. Their family was also very involved with a local home school sports program, and Mrs. Bowen served as a board member for six years. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance. 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 really has a passion to teach children and hopes to instill a love of learning in her students. In addition to home school classes, she has been very involved in classes or working with the deaf for 15 years and currently helps interpret for the deaf at The Light Community Fellowship where she also works part-time. You may contact her by phone at 936-760-1790 or email tlbfam [at] suddenlink [dot] net. Her mailing address is 189 Greenleaf Lane, 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 forms linked here Tuesday classesThursday class
Katt Gilcreasehas been a professional actor for 14 years. Currently he is a stage actor instructor for Bravo Company, which is the children’s educational wing of Stage Right of Texas, the resident theater company at the Crighton Theatre. He is also a board member of Stage Right of Texas. Katt is a member of the technical staff of the Crighton Theatre where he deals with lighting, sound, general staging, and set building. Katt works as a substitute teacher in Willis ISD and is retired from Texas Department of Criminal Justice after 21 years of service. His contact information is kattthatacts@att.net, or (936) 661-6070. Mr. Gilcrease's mailing address is: 180 Frank Cloud Rd. Huntsville, TX 77320
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 and B.S. in Child & Family Services. Karen is a BEI state certified interpreter and a NIC candidate who has taught ASL as a foreign language to home school students since 2003 while also working part-time as a freelance interpreter. Prior to teaching home school students, she spent 7 years teaching in the public school system (3 years taught ASL in high schools, taught ASL on a part-time basis at a college interpreter training program, and taught an additional 4 years as a Deaf Education instructor PreK – 12th grade). In addition, Karen has worked as a houseparent "dorm mom" at a residential school for the Deaf and been a missionary to the Deaf. All the other missionaries on her team were Deaf; she was the only hearing member. 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 by learning their language and cultural values. Karen does not personally have children; however, if she did, she would definitely home school them. web: www.handsuplifted.com email: karen@handsuplifted.com
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. During this time she was able to travel to Malaysia to set up a polyimide die coat process for her products and work on the assembly line overseas. Eric and Brenda have 5 children and have homeschooled for 18 years. Their two oldest daughters, Kellie and Julie, graduated with CACHE and are recent college graduates; their son, Scott, is currently attending Lonestar College. The Halls live in Conroe and attend Faith Bible Church in the Woodlands. They have been involved in a nursing home ministry for the last 8 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, Algebra II, and Pre-calculus. 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. A late fee of $5 will be charged after the 10th of the month.
Kandi Henry - attended Sam Houston State University earning a Bachelor of Science in Academic Studies with a minor in Mathematics. She began teaching in the public school system specifically in the areas of Math and Science. After nearly ten years, she and her husband, Brian, decided to homeschool their four children. Kandi became immediately involved in homeschool teaching by becoming a co-founder of the 7 Acre Co-Op.Teaching every year of the 7 Acre Co-Op usually in the areas of Math and Science, she found her true love and calling.. Also, Kandi taugh math and other subjects while attending the Conroe Co-Op.Kandi helped to establish the Homeschool Drill & Cheer Team that participates closely with the Northside Lions Homeschool Football Team. Kandi and her family are members of The Ark Family Church and feel God's blessing there. Kandi also teaches a course on Parenting at West Conroe Baptist Church for families in our area that have been court ordered to attended. She feels a deep need to help these families maintain and realize God's vision for the family unit. Brian and Kandi adopted their fourth child and are currently undergoing procedures to adopt more children. Kandi has a true love of the Lord, for teaching, hospitality, encouragement, and children. Please mail payments to 6 Bayou Drive, Conroe, TX 77304. Ms. Henry may be contacted at kandihenry@suddenlink.net or home no. 936-441-7512 and cell 936-203-4073 *email is best.
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
Christy Hill - Christy Hill was homeschooled for thirteen years during which she was a member of Joyful Sound Home School Choir where she served as a Student Director for two years. After graduation, Christy attended the College at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 2007 to 2011 where she received her BA in Humanities with a minor in Music. During her college years she worked with inner city students and was active in her church. Christy has returned home to teach in the local home-school groups. Her favorite book is Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan because in it she finds comfort and encouragement for her own walk with the Lord. Christy’s contact information is: (832)655-5553 and her email address is: christy_hill_89@yahoo.com. Please mail payments 5706 Stone Creek Dr., Magnolia, TX 77355
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: 201 Lakeshore Dr., Conroe, TX 77304. Phone: 936.756.6220 or 936.525.7145; Email: thowell425 [at] hotmail [dot] com.
Cindy Johnson has been married to her husband Gary for 30 years and has homeschooled their four children for 20 years. She has spent her adult life teaching Bible, art, theater sets, music and nature study. She has produced artwork for missionaries, churches, theater, and many other organizations, and has illustrated a cookbook. In recent years, she’s designed and painted the sets for seven CYT shows. She plays flute in her church orchestra, and has a heart for missions. Over the years, she has performed countless musical solos, loves playing in the CYT orchestra, and has been traveling internationally with a missions orchestra. As a professional artist, Cindy sells her paintings, shows at the Market Street Woodlands Art League Gallery, and teaches private art classes. She works to instill the beauty of God's creation and a love for our Maker in young peoples' hearts, and to give them skills to express themselves artistically. Her desire is that people will find beauty and hope in her paintings. To find her heart, check out her blog at www.colorcatstudios.blogspot.com. You may contact her at crazymomma100@yahoo.com or 281-734-3362.
Kim Kelly - With a love for both science and English, Kim began a pre-med course of study with a biology major and an English minor at the University of Texas at Arlington. She began teaching junior high and high school science classes at Meadowbrook Christian School in Ft. Worth in 1987. She also taught drama and directed plays for the school. Following God’s leading, Greg and Kim decided to home educate their four children. Three of their four have graduated from home school. Kara is employed as a registered nurse. Joel is a senior at Sam Houston State University, majoring in English. Kendra is a biology major at Lone Star College Montgomery, and Krista is a high school freshman at The Training Center. Kim has also enjoyed teaching "Icky Sticky Experiments" at a Christian girls' summer camp. In addition, she works as box office manager for the Crighton Theatre. You may call or email. 936.760.1962 ggkelly (at) juno (dot) com Payments may be brought to class or mailed to: 122 Magnolia Lane, Conroe, TX 77304.
Jan Lund and her husband Sam, homeschooled their children for 16 years. Before opening The Training Center, Jan was a stay-at-home mom with their three wonderful children. Currently, they have one son in high school, one in college and a married daughter who 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) 777-3171 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
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.
Marcie 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 (will be entering 6th grade, 4th grade, and a 4 year old) and has homeschooled them the entire time. She considers herself an eclectic classical homeschooler with a Charlotte Mason approach. When she is not homeschooling her children, Ms. Taylor teaches private flute lessons in Conroe ISD. She enjoys triathlons and is the Triathlon 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.
