Heather has been married to her high school sweetheart for almost 35 years. She has been homeschooling since 1997 and has graduated nine of her thirteen children. Heather has a passion for helping students learn to be effective communicators, ambassadors for Christ who can communicate truth with integrity and grace. Her family has been involved with NCFCA Christian Speech and Debate for 11 years.
Heather is a Registered Nurse, and she has been a foster provider for children and adults with special needs for over 30 years. In her free time, she enjoys working in her flower garden, hiking and spending time with her husband, 13 children and 11 grandchildren. One of her greatest joys is doing a weekly unit study co-op with her children and grandchildren.
Chuck Black, a former F-16 fighter pilot and tactical combat communications engineer, is the author of 24 novels, including the popular Kingdom Series, The Knights of Arrethtrae series, the Wars of the Realm series, The Starlore Legacy series, and Call to Arms: The Guts and Glory of Courageous Fatherhood. Kingdom’s Dawn of The Kingdom Series received Homeschool.com’s “Voted #1” award and was on CBA’s top ten best sellers list twice in 2008 for all Christian Youth Literature. His heart is to equip and encourage families in their pursuit of Christ, and he seeks to do so through his allegorical and Scripture-based novels, his seminars, and his published articles.
In addition to writing, Chuck is currently the CEO of FlowCore Systems, an oil and gas chemical injection automation company. He is the inventor or co-inventor on sixteen patents in the U.S. and Canada. Chuck has served as an Elder at Cornerstone First Baptist Church in Williston, ND and has taught adult Sunday school classes for the past nineteen years, including frequent class sessions on parenting. In addition to speaking at homeschool and Christian conferences all across the United States and Canada, he has written columns for the Teach Them Diligently Convention and the North Dakota State Homeschool Association. Chuck has also been published in LifeWay’s Home Life Magazine, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Walk Thru the Bible’s Stand Strong Magazine, and on various websites and e-newsletters.
Chuck is a believer in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and in the Holy-Spirit-inspired, infallible Word of God. He is devoted to his wife, Andrea, their six children and their spouses, and many grandchildren. Chuck and Andrea homeschooled their children for twenty-four years; all six have graduated from college and are married. Chuck’s passion is to inspire people of all ages to follow the Lord with zeal and to equip parents, pastors, and youth leaders to accomplish the same.
Trisha Pull has thirteen years of experience teaching at home and is currently home educating five of her six children in grades 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12. In 2025, she joyfully graduated her first student, thereby reducing her teaching load by nearly 17%. She has used a variety of teaching approaches, because different kids have different learning needs. She believes that school customized to the individual student is one of the great strengths of homeschooling.
Following Jesus, not by obligation, but as a relationship driven by hearing His voice, is Trisha’s goal in all she does.
Trisha has a bachelor’s degree in oboe performance and music education. Her favorite hobbies are music, University of Kansas basketball, tea, strategy board games, and running. Home renovation television shows are one of her vices.
Kristen D’Arpa Cushing is the creator and author of Kingdom Culture, a hands-on Bible learning curriculum that helps children, teens, and adults (ages 4+) practically live out biblical values and truths in everyday life. Her unique, experiential learning model has been used by families, churches, and schools in more than 25 countries, reaching over 80,000 people worldwide.
With a degree in Cross-Cultural Missions and Third World Studies from Bethel University (MN), Kristen has spent more than two decades developing creative tools that make the Bible come alive for every age. Her passion is to help families learn and grow together—through short, interactive lessons that make faith practical, joyful, and transformative at home, in the classroom, and beyond.
Stacy Saxton is a homeschooling veteran with a BA in Music Education and 40 years’ experience teaching music. She home educated her two children through high school as a widowed single mom while teaching music privately and in a local Christian school. After her children graduated, she saw a need for a relevant, inexpensive, truly elementary music curriculum that everyone could use, so she used her experience and gifts in teaching to create the curriculum to fill that need. If she had any spare time between students, Stacy would enjoy researching brain and body health, spinning, crocheting sewing, hiking, and spending time with her four grandchildren and two children.
Dale Cox is a professional food scientist, holding a BS and MS in Food Science, and is also a licensed general contractor. He grew up living all over the country while his father served in the Air Force and also lived for two years in Mexico while serving a mission for his church. In addition to his passion for food science and digging in the dirt (see one of his YouTube channels for some skid steer action!), Dale is a LEGO® brick enthusiast and is a certified original Star Wars Nut. For over 23 years he has worked in the food industry for many well-known companies developing new products and improving food manufacturing facilities. Together with his wife, LeAnne, and others, he has run several businesses, including various real estate investment ventures, mobile home park ownership and operation, and land development. Currently as owner and founder of Beakers & Bricks, LLC he develops print and self-paced online food science and physics courses for kindergarten through high school. Much of his time is spent creating new editions to the popular Edible Knowledge for the Curious Cook short course series designed to help cooks improve their skills through food science.
Dale’s food philosophy is to eat as close to nature as often as we can and use convenience foods in moderation when we need the convenience or want a treat. He believes that knowledge gives us the power to avoid being scared by whatever current food fad exists. Teaching this everyday useful knowledge, what he calls Edible Knowledge, is the primary mission of his company.
He has a great passion and love of history, especially for the Constitution of the United States of America and for preserving the freedoms enjoyed by its citizens. Dale and LeAnne have three children and reside in Asheboro, North Carolina.
Rich Frieder is the owner of LearningRx which focuses on improving an individual’s ability to learn and process information. Rich has worked with individuals with ADHD, autism, dyslexia and general learning struggles. A key driver in Rich’s decision to open LearningRx is his youngest daughter, Catie, who has struggled with ADHD, receptive and expressive language delays and sensory integration disorder. Rich has spoken to numerous parent and professional groups including annual conferences, local school districts, education conferences, homeschool groups, occupational therapy groups, ABA therapy groups and support groups. Rich has also appeared on the Fox Morning News, Twin Cities Live and the Kare-11 Today Show.
After years of being a homeschool skeptic, Nancy began homeschooling her four children in 1992. Now, after over 30 years, she has become known as the Homeschool Mom Whisperer for many and a champion of the cause. She has spoken at homeschool conferences in over 10 states where she is known for her enthusiasm, energy, and encouragement. She finds joy in empowering parents to join the journey of homeschooling. Though she stays busy as a mentor and speaker, her favorite times are spent with her growing family including 9 grandkids. She and her husband owned HEPPNER’S LEGACY, a homeschool store in Elk River, MN, for 18 years and now are learning what it’s like to have more free time as they make the handoff to the new owners.
Kathleen Cotter Clayton is the daughter of Dr. Joan A. Cotter, author and creator of the RightStart™ Mathematics program. She is one of the first children to grow up under the RightStart principles. Kathleen has a degree in Home Economics and a minor in Business from the University of Minnesota and has two Masters Degrees from the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota. Kathleen and her husband Steve have six adult children and six delightful grandchildren.
Kathleen is currently responsible for curriculum development, marketing, and sales. She travels all across the US and Canada, sharing the RightStart mission of helping children understand, apply, and enjoy mathematics. In her spare time, Kathleen designs and creates quilts and loves to travel all around the world.
Mike Pehl prides teaching students based on real-world scenarios. He has the deepest respect for his students and their parents. Mike has a unique perspective on defensive driving because his career has included roles as a Crash Investigator, Insurance Agent, and Driving Safety Instructor. His colleagues call him an “innovative rebel.” Mike’s authentic approach, original insights and proven techniques have helped him succeed in creating tens of thousands of smarter, safer teen drivers over his 30+ year career. Mike knows that your student needs to learn more than just facts and rules. They need practical knowledge and tactical skills to succeed on the roads today. Mike Pehl will give your student insights on the knowledge, defensive driving skills and confidence they will need to survive on today’s roads.
Cassandra DeLeon is a pastor’s wife, mother of 10, and a veteran homeschooler with 20 years of experience guiding her children’s education. For over 15 years, she has served as a HomeWorks by Precept consultant, helping families navigate the joys and challenges of homeschooling.
Cassandra delights in teaching ladies’ Bible studies, speaking at conferences and women’s retreats, and sharing God’s Word with women of all ages and backgrounds through her study resources at theonethingbiblestudyplan.com. When she’s not homeschooling or ministering with her family, she enjoys sipping coffee with friends and building meaningful connections through faith and fellowship.
Jonathan Friesen is a homeschooling father, award-winning young adult author, international speaker, and university professor. When he’s not writing, speaking or teaching at North Central University, Jonathan is traveling, bringing a message of hope to conferences, prisons, schools, and homeschool groups. Together with Wendy (his incredible wife) Jonathan has seen two of three children graduate from college, with his third nearing that milestone. They homeschooled all their children from kindergarten through high school.
Your instructor has been a medical transcriptionist for more than 30 years, operates a large MT biz and has been a homeschool mom. You’ll enjoy her warmth, humor and practical advice. Any questions? Contact Deborah directly: [email protected]
Jeff Stadnick and his wife homeschooled their three children using Abeka Academy’s online program, with two completing the accredited track and graduating through Abeka Academy. One of their children attended the homeschool graduation in Pensacola, and all three have continued into higher education—one at Pensacola Christian College and another in the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Mercy College of Health Sciences. Jeff worked at Abeka for 18 years before coming to Faith Baptist Bible College where he currently serves as the school’s online and dual enrollment programs. With experience as both a homeschool dad and Christian college representative, Jeff enjoys helping families navigate the exciting connection between homeschooling, online learning, and Christ-centered college preparation.
Jen Mulvihill is a veteran homeschool mom to her 5 children, ages 7-16. She has been married to Josh for 20 years and together they are passionate about training children and families to know and love Jesus Christ. Jen considers it a privilege to be able to spend her days at home as a support to her husband and children. Jen has a degree in music education and has taught music for 20 years, most recently in launching Wings Homeschool Bands. In her spare time, Jen can be found sewing, tending to her pigs, chickens, and farm cats, and tackling a DIY project at their one hundred year old farmhouse in Lester Prairie, MN. Jen is the co-author of two books, Discipling Your Grandchildren, and 50 Things Your Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home. Her favorite things include growing deeper in her relationship with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, encouraging other moms in the trenches of parenting, and laughing out loud with good friends over coffee.
Josh Mulvihill is the Executive Director of Church and Family Ministry at Renewanation. He served as a pastor for over 20 years, has a PhD in Family Ministry, serves as the Vice-Chairmen on the board of Awana, is the Assistant Editor for The Review magazine, and is the author or editor of ten books on parenting and grandparenting including Biblical Grandparenting, Preparing Children for Marriage, Biblical Worldview, and 50 Things Every Child Needs to Know Before Leaving Home. He is married to Jen, homeschool their five children, and lives in Minnesota on a farm where they raise cows, KuneKune pigs, heritage breed chickens, and their black lab named Liberty. Josh blogs at GospelShapedFamily.com, enjoys camping with friends, reading a great book around a crackling fire, and catching fish in Minnesota lakes.
Emily Cano is the Director of PSEO at Crown College (MN). She has worked at Crown for over 20 years, 8 of them in this position. As an academic advisor for PSEO and Associate degree students, Emily has helped hundreds of students in their transition to college. Emily earned a BS in English Education and an MA in Educational Leadership. She has taught as an Adjunct Professor and developed curriculum in the areas of speech, composition, literature, and career exploration. Outside of Crown, she is married with three elementary-aged kids. She also serves as an HR Officer in the MN Army National Guard with two overseas deployments.
Rev. Dr. Seann Dikkers is an author, education researcher, design consultant, speaker, husband and homeschool father of two. Previously, Seann served as a middle school social studies teacher, high school principal, researcher, professor, and department chair of education. Recently, he was the interim executive director of MACHE, the Minnesota Association of Christian Home Educators, and is now the lead designer for Portals – a ‘check all the boxes’ homeschooling resource for parents. He now serves as the pastor of a Calvary Chapel in Lake Elmo, MN. His teachings are recorded for a chapter-by-chapter study of the Bible that has grown to over twenty thousand downloads on the podcast All In Gospel. As a researcher he studied the use of digital media for learning and advocates for full parent involvement and leadership for teaching and learning. His books TeacherCraft, Mobile Media Learning I & II, Real-Time Research, and other research publications explore play, project and quest-based pedagogy. His heart seeks after Jesus Christ.
Karra graduated from college with a BA in Neuropsychology and Music in 1991. Her senior thesis was on how learning music in therapy can shape the brain and critically alter how well a person can heal & function after a trauma. She started teaching piano students in 1995 and continued to use her passion for psychology to maximize the benefits of music for the children she taught. Karra first joined CMA as a parent through enrolling her youngest child in the program. She quickly realized she had found a complete curriculum that maximized how music alters and enhances our brain activities with CMA Brooklyn Park, and soon became a teacher! She never stopped accumulating research on how music changes and maps brain functions and loves to speak at music symposiums teaching others about how music maps the brain. She also has a passion in applied music therapy using the teaching and learning of music as a language to increase connections and remap brain centers for academically challenged children and those on the Spectrum.
