A Christian Home Education Instructional Program
K4 - 12th Grade
Home Education
Enrichment Day
HIGH SCHOOL INSTRUCTORS
HEED desires to assist home educating parents by locating and securing Christian expert instructors who are passionate about the subject they teach. The parent ultimately remains the teacher. The HEED instructor is a facilitator, instructing the student in class and asssigning the week's work, while the parent oversees and leads the student during the week.
HEED instructors include lawyers, scientists, engineers, pastors, college professors, psychologists, accountants, high school teachers, and more. Real life experience combined with an excellent grasp of the subject, and a passion to pour into the next generation are the characteristics that make HEED instructors the best!
Andrea Gardner
Brittnye Arthur
Cara Abbott
Angela Pelletier
Giovana Cavarretta
Jesus Villalobos
Chris Barber
Cara Abbott (Science)
Cara Abbott received a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Biology with a Virginia Teaching License in General Biology for grades 6-12 from Liberty University in 2012. While at Liberty University, she worked as a biology tutor, research assistant, and teaching assistant. Cara graduated Magna Cum Laude with a final GPA of 3.67. After graduating and marrying fellow Liberty University Alum, Robert Abbott, they moved to South Florida. She then received her Master’s Degree in Environmental Biology from Florida Atlantic University, where she was a teaching assistant in Comparative Vertebrate Morphogenesis, Human Morphology, and Anatomy and Physiology undergraduate labs. She is presently the Program Manager/ Education and Outreach Coordinator for the Institute for Regional Conservation in Delray Beach, FL. When not teaching, Cara volunteers with marking and excavating sea turtle nests along Singer Island during the summer. She and her husband, Rob, just had their first baby.
Brittnye Arthur (English)
Brittnye Arthur graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor’s in Secondary English Education. Since then, she has added Exceptional Student Education and Reading to her teaching certificate along with a certification from the Institute for Multi-Sensory Education. Her interests, in order, include Jesus, family, literature, and writing. Throughout 9 years of teaching experience in both public and private school, she’s discovered that proficiency in reading and writing is instrumental for future success. She enthusiastically helps students hone their literacy skills to equip them for college and beyond. Brittnye lives in Boynton Beach with her husband and four daughters.
Chris Barber (Logic, Bible Survey)
Chris Barber, a home-educating father of five, has been practicing law for over 30 years. He holds an undergraduate degree in journalism and a law degree from the University of Kansas. Chris also earned a Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies from Knox Theological Seminary in Fort Lauderdale. He is the co-author of The Story of Joseph and Judah, an in-depth study of the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Chris has a passion to teach and to instill in his students a love for learning and a love for God and His Word. Chris has taught Introductory and Intermediate Logic and Old Testament Experience at HEED for 17 years. His classes consistently remain student favorites.
Stephanie Buquo
Stephanie, a native of South Florida, started her music journey as a Suzuki student. Her favorite part of the Suzuki experience was performing for community events. Stephanie graduated with her Bachelors of Music, magna cum laude, and Masters of Music from Florida State University, studying under Karen Clarke and Corinne Stillwell Bowman, respectively. Stephanie continued further education at Indiana University String Program Pedagogy Workshop with Mimi Zweig as well as registered classes with the Suzuki Association of the Americas, Paul Rolland String Pedagogy, and IMTEX. Stephanie has a thriving violin studio at the Diane Bish Center for Music and the Arts in Fort Lauderdale, FL. She has two young sons studying piano and violin. Her focus as a music educator is developing and encouraging a love for music in her students.
Giovana Cavarretta (Spanish, World View, Social Studies)
Giovana Cavarretta is a passionate follower of Jesus Christ and a wife and mother of three. She and her husband, Sal, have served the Lord in full time ministry for over 25 years. For the past 20 plus years, she has enjoyed homeschooling and graduating her 3 adult children. Along with homeschooling, Mrs. Cavarretta has a passion for teaching and helping students of all ages to enjoy learning in fun and engaging ways. Moreover, having been born and raised in Lima, Perú and having moved to the United States as a teenager, she’s experienced firsthand how difficult it can be to learn another language. Therefore, she desires to help her Spanish class students learn to communicate in Spanish while having fun in the process. Mrs. Cavarretta attended Florida Atlantic University and graduated with Honors with a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work.
Heather Chada (Science)
Heather is a fully devoted follower of Christ, wife, and mother. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science, a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, and a Master’s Degree in Biology with a focus in Molecular & Cellular Biology and Marine Physiology. During Heather’s undergraduate research, she worked in an organic chemistry lab utilizing microbiology techniques to grow various strains of bacteria to test the antibacterial effectiveness of newly formed peptide chains. During her graduate research, she used molecular biology methods to extract and quantify proteins present in the tissues of green sea turtles suffering from fibropapilomatosis. In addition, she served as a contributing author to Practical Exam Review (PAR) by creating question sets for the anatomy & physiology test bank. Heather worked as the Biology TA Coordinator and taught Undergraduate Labs including: Comparative Vertebrate Morphology, Comparative Animal Physiology, and Anatomy & Physiology. After the completion of her Master’s Degree, Heather worked as the Biological Laboratory Supervisor at FAU and taught classes as an Adjunct Professor. Following the birth of her second child, Heather taught High School Science at Zion Lutheran and then Calvary Christian Academy. She taught high school AP Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy & Physiology, and Marine Biology. Heather also served as an Assistant Varsity Softball Coach and a Girls’ Small Group Leader. She currently loves homeschooling her children and helping other homeschool kids gain an understanding and passion for science.
Tim Day (College Government)
Tim Day has been a criminal trial lawyer for 26 years. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Florida and a law degree from Nova University. Tim has taught Adult Education courses at Calvary Chapel of Ft. Lauderdale on the Constitution, Christian worldview and the moral issues of today, and has taught government to HEED students for over 10 years. He is presently employed as an Assistant Federal Defender for the Southern District of Florida. He and his wife Sandy live in Boca Raton and homeschooled their son, Luke.
Amy Frank (English, College English)
(ajfrank@hotmail.com)
Amy Frank, HEED's Local English 10 Instructor and Dual-Enrollment College English Professor, earned her bachelor’s degree in English from King College and her master's degree in English Education from Vanderbilt University. She taught English in public high schools for eight years; she has taught and evaluated homeschooled students since 2011. In her own home, she has been homeschooling since 2013.
Andrea Gardner (English, Public Speaking)
Andrea Gardner has her professional Florida teacher certification for English 6-12 and is available for home school evaluations. She received a Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Temple University in secondary education with an English proficiency and minors in speech and Bible. Andrea graduated from The King’s Academy in WPB, attended college, taught at Berean Christian School for six years, home educated her three children through twelfth grade, and has instructed at HEED for over ten years and CEDAR for eight years. Teaching the Bible to adult ladies at church and conducting a neighborhood Bible club since 2000, Andrea finds the greatest joy in sharing God’s truth. Singing, performing, and writing are her passions as well. Working with teens is such a fulfilling and eternally significant ministry! With the home going of her pastor/teacher husband at thirty-six, Andrea has truly been blessed to see her faithful Savior take such good care of her and her now adult children all of which have also majored in education, two of whom instruct at Pensacola Christian College in the combined areas of speech and science.
Anne Holly (Chemistry, Physical Science)
Anne Holly has a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Fredonia in Recombinant Gene Technology and minor in Chemistry. She was on staff at Boca Raton Christian School from 2008-2020 where she taught science classes including AP Chemistry and Physics(H) and served as the advisor to the high school Robotics team. She is also currently teaching at Sylvan Learning Center and has tutored many students in both math and science including ACT/SAT test prep. Anne loves to teach especially the complexity of natural science and the beautiful intricacy of creation and how this directly reveals the wisdom of the Creator. Anne is married with four children and two grandchildren. She has lived in Florida since 1988 and enjoys mission trips, Bible studies, tennis and being with her family
Walter Jominy (Economics, College Economics)
Walter Jominy has a Bachelors Degree in Business from Ohio State University and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Nova Southeastern University. He is a Florida state certified teacher with over 25 years experience. Prior to working in academia he was President of a computer information provider that he sold to the Chicago Tribune. Walter did an internship with Christian author Josh McDowell to further his studies in Christian Apologetics. He is currently teaching Bible, Economics and Business at Westminster Academy and is an Adjunct Professor of Economics at Broward College and Palm Beach Atlantic University. Married to Jenny for over 47 years, he has two children and five grandchildren. He has completed 18 marathons, an ultra-marathon and an Ironman. Walter is a ruling Elder at North Creek Presbyterian Church where he teaches Adult Sunday School and preaches when his pastor is out of town.
Ron Noel (Graphic Design)
(ronoel.creative@gmail.com)
Ron Noel is a professional graphic designer with over 25 years of experience in the corporate marketing space. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from New World School of the Arts in Miami. From small startups to large corporations such as General Electric, Ron has worked in companies of all sizes. His breadth of knowledge in the industry is wide and he truly enjoys sharing that knowledge with aspiring artists. Ron and his wife homeschool three children in Boca Raton and have been a part of the HEED program for over 5 years.
Angelica Karas Pelletier (College Math)
Angelica Karas Pelletier holds a Bachelor of Science and Engineering degree and a Master of Science in Material Science and Engineering from Rutgers, The State University of NJ. She worked as a research engineer in Boston, MA where she was awarded several patents in material processing techniques and formulations, then left the field to raise her four children. She is a certified math teacher at Boca Raton Christian High School and a Dual Enrollment Instructor for Palm Beach Atlantic University. She was previously an adjunct for Palm Beach State College. She has been teaching math since 1993 to students ranging in age from middle school through college. She has a passion for teaching and seeks to convey math as the language of our Creator enabling us to explain the beauty and order of His Creation. She lives in Delray Beach. She is humbled and honored to be a part of HEED and seeks to bring glory to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through teaching.
Jesus Villalobos (History)
Jesus studied Mechanical Engineering at Florida Atlantic University. Jesus was born and raised in South Florida after his parents moved here from Lima, Peru in 1985. He serves as a Youth Pastor in his home church, Iglesia Hispana of Boca Raton, for over 15 years. In 2013 he married his wife, Melisa, and together they have had the privilege of traveling to Peru and assisting Missionaries to preach the gospel to underdeveloped regions and schools. Through his travels around the world, he developed a deep passion for history. His goal is to excite the future generations to study and experience history in our country and around the world in order to reach others for Christ. Jesus and Melisa have two children, Jonathan and Mia. He has a a passion for his two favorite hobbies: photography and soccer!
Rachel Suarez (Algebra 1 and 2, Geometry)
Rachel Suarez is a passionate disciple of Jesus Christ, a wife and mother of three. After graduating from Southeastern University with a Bachelor of Science, she became a math teacher. Rachel is currently tutoring students in math and homeschooling her three children.. Rachel has a passion to help students truly understand mathematics. She is excited to be working with HEED to help disciple youth in understanding math and growing closer to Jesus.