Our Leadership Team
Our Leadership Team is made up of one leader, Heidi Sampson; a pair of assistant co-leaders, Bianca Moses and Diane McBride; and an Advisory Team of eight. The Advisory Team members are: Trish Raymond, Kerry Chamberlain, Rebecca Delano, Celeste Guay, Ann Farrington, Carolyn Ziebart, Carie McMahon and Karen Petrin. If you have an idea, concern or question, feel free to approach any member of the Leadership Team. We meet several times each year outside of the regular T.E.A.C.H. meetings, and our hope is to make this group the best it can be.
A short biography is included below to help you get to know the three primary team leaders better.
Heidi
Every individual is uniquely wired by God with specific interests and talents. Finding them in a child is key to their thriving. That internal flame has been placed within each individual by our creator and as parents our goal is to find it and then feed it. Find the flicker, fan the flame is a philosophy by which the Sampson's homeschool. As a result, all three of their children are well on their way to realizing their life's passion; two are now in college pursuing their dreams.
In 1993 when their oldest had just turned 9 the Sampson family began their homeschooling journey. It is a decision that has reaped tremendous rewards despite the many deep, dark valleys they encountered in the first several years. However, even during those times, the Lord was and still is more than faithful as he continuously teaches them this incredible principle Jeremiah 33:3 "Call on me and I will hear you and answer you, I will then show you great and marvelous things that you have never even dreamed of or even dared to dream of." (Paraphrase) The unfolding results have re-shaped their entire home life to what it is today; a vibrant, interactive, close-knit, hard-working, fun-loving, adventuresome family. Many of the homeschooling projects and experiments have actually become so much of a part of their lifestyle that they now are intricately woven into the very fabric of their family experience. Mentioning a few such activities one would have to include skiing/snowboarding, ski/snowboard instructing, performing arts in dance and theater, but the greatest undertaking has been the development of their farm with Nigerian Dwarf dairy goats along with many other critters. Every one of these activities has been the fanning of a flame that still burns brightly for one or all of the children.
Life is full of teachable moments - so keep your eyes and ears tuned and utilize every opportunity. Learning is an adventure with tremendous benefits, excitement and joy. There is no greater joy than watching your children grow to become resourceful, eager, enthusiastic young adults with a healthy, engaging attitude about learning. Children with multiple interests, desires and passions become young adults with a heart-attitude of excitement about life and what God has planned for them. They become pro-active in their learning which then becomes a life-skill. After all, life is a continuum of learning. An added bonus is children and young adults who become confident, enthusiastic and joyful people to have around. What a blessing!
Bianca
Please be patient as we collect and post a brief bio of who Bianca is, her family, interests, etc., and perhaps a few photos.
Diane
It is my desire as a homeschool parent to train our children to seek after God in all things, to be passionate about serving others and to develop life long learners. It has been a pleasure to homeschool our three children for over 10 years. Homeschooling has been a good fit for our family. As a pastor’s family, the flexibility in scheduling has afforded us opportunities that would not have been available otherwise to expand the children’s education.
God prepared me for the task of homeschooling long before we ever planned on having children. I graduated with a degree in education and a minor in special education. Each of our children has very different learning styles and educational needs. Homeschooling has afforded us the ability to teach each child in a unique fashion in order for each of them to reach their highest potential. Let me not minimize that there have been struggles and difficulties along the way. I must admit that some days that yellow bus looks awfully good. But God has seen us through with the encouragement and help of other like minded homeschool parents.
I am excited about being apart of the T.E.A.C.H. leadership team this year. I pray that I might be an encouragement to other moms in their homeschool endeavors. God had entrusted us with these precious lives and we have such a short time to guide them. Lets work together to enjoy the days we have. It is my prayer that God would be pleased with all we do as parents, homeschoolers and Disciples of Christ.