Instructors

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.

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.  

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.  

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, 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 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 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 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. 

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!​

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.

Danielle received a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering  and a Masters of Engineering in Potable Water Systems Design from the University of Florida.  She also has earned a Masters of Theology in Biblical Studies from Liberty University. 

She currently works as a professional engineer for her family's business, MWI Pumps, located in Deerfield Beach where my grandfather, Marlin Eller, started the business. While she has worn many hats in running the business with her brothers, her responsibilities have included research and design engineering, product development, OSHA safety programs, hazardous materials training, and environmental compliance. She also currently serves as a board member for an incredible organization called Design Outreach that serves to solve water related issues to the world's poorest communities through sustainable development solutions. She has five biological and two bonus children, an amazing husband, a cat, several rabbits, and a sufficient amount of chickens! She has been homsechooling since 2010. Her favorite subjects are science (with a strong understanding in apologetics), practical math, history, and Bible. 

Lynn Unruh is veteran homeschool mom of three and a passionate math teacher dedicated to making mathematics accessible and enjoyable for students of all ages. A graduate of the University of Delaware (Go Blue Hens!), she has a deep love for homeschooling and believes in the power of personalized education.

Lynn and her husband, Jim, of 26 years, met, dated, and married in the church - and are huge cheerleaders for Kim and Darlene Unrau (no relation). The Unruhs have been part of the HEED family since 2013. Second only to time with her family, Algebra is her happy place, and she is looking forward to sharing that place with your students.