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 New Teacher of the Year Award her first year. She was blessed to semi-retire when her oldest son was born and has been a home school mom of 3 ever since, with her eldest now attending TX A&M University. For the past 13+ 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 a Interim Youth Director, Business Owner/Leader, or Ministry Leader. (Usually something to do with the Arts). Jennifer managed and work 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 coordinate weddings for the surrounding Houston area and now works with various wedding and magazine photographers. While living in Texas, Jennifer renewed her passion in 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 continues to home school their two children, and share her years of photographing experience, passion of Government to inspire students to see life in a new way.

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

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.

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 15+ 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 has been blessed to homeschool her three children for 14+ years. In addition, Jolynn has led many adult and teen Bible studies through her church, Salem Lutheran, and a Maidens of Virtue group she began with her daughters. She has enjoyed coaching for the YMCA in several sports over the years, co-coordinating a P.E. co-op and teaching swimming lessons for 20+ years. Jolynn and her husband Austin, a Biology teacher and coach at Tomball High school, both avidly love science. They 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 and relates these concepts to our Master Designer. In addition, Jolynn strives to take difficult concepts and develop them into understandable ways in which students may better master them. Contact Mrs. McQuary at mcquary5@att.net.

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.

Mary Stockton
stocktoncrew@att.net

Mary Stockton, B.A. holds a double degree in Communications and Secondary Education (English and Speech) from Concordia University in Austin and is a state certified educator. Mary served as an English and Speech teacher at Concordia Lutheran High in Tomball from 1995-1999, where she was named Houston Area Lutheran Teacher of the Year in 1998. She has been tutoring and teaching homeschool English and Speech classes for 15+ years. Mary homeschooled her four children in the Tomball area and has since launched them to college. Married to Chris for 25 years, the Stocktons are members of Salem Church in Tomball where they serve on the worship team and in marriage and mission ministries. Mary is passionate about preparing and empowering all her students to be effective communicators for Christ in high school speech class and beyond. Contact Mary at stocktoncrew@att.net.

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.