Christian Home Educators of Colorado (CHEC) exists to defend your family’s freedom and help you homeschool with confidence.
Since 1990, CHEC has served homeschoolers in Colorado and throughout the world via training conferences and seminars, publications and resources, legislative work, and more.
Vision
We envision families honoring Jesus Christ by embracing home discipleship that is Christ centered, parent directed, and free from government control.
Mission
Christian Home Educators of Colorado motivates parents to disciple the next generation of Christians to impact our state and beyond for Christ and His Kingdom by providing information, leadership, and resources.
Information: Our conferences and activities unify a Christian worldview for parents, children, volunteers, and staff alike to render every thought, word, and action captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ. Leadership: Our leadership and staff encourage parents to honor the triune God by integrating faith and learning into all facets of home discipleship, using the Bible as our starting point, and heeding the Biblical jurisdictions of family, church, and state. Resources: Our people, media, and programs assist families in the shepherding of their children to become competent Christian leaders in the years to come.
Adopted 10/08/1990
- The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God and constitutes completed and final revelation. The Bible, in its original autograph, is without error in whole or in part; including theological concepts as well as geographical, historical and scientific details.
- God has existed from all eternity in three persons; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ was God come in the human flesh being fully God and fully man, yet without sin.
- All men are in violation of God’s righteous requirements and His holy character, both by nature and act, and are therefore under His wrath and just condemnation. The central purpose of the coming of Jesus Christ was to pay the penalty for man’s sin through His substitutionary death on the cross, the successful accomplishment of which was attested to by His subsequent visible, bodily resurrection.
- Salvation is offered as a gift free to the sinner. This gift must be responded to individually, by faith, believing in God’s Word and not trusting in any personal good works whatsoever, but trusting only in the atoning sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.
Adopted 11/02/2002
Christian Home Educators of Colorado (CHEC) strongly encourages parents to diligently seek the Lord and search the Bible regarding the education of their children. CHEC stands firm in its conviction that parents have the Biblical authority and responsibility to direct and control that education. CHEC also acknowledges that the Constitution of the United States and the Revised Statues of the State of Colorado protect that authority.
Recognizing the above let it be known that:
Although many forms of home education have emerged, CHEC advocates the Biblical model where parents exercise direct control and authority over their children’s education;
Although many educational choices exist, CHEC recognizes that the statistical evidence shows the most effective option is where the child’s curriculum is chosen and taught by the parents;
Although certain aspects of a child’s education can be delegated, CHEC affirms that character training is best accomplished directly by the parents. CHEC cautions parents who use curriculum and/or instruction that is out of their direct control and supervision;
Although it is the intent of many to eliminate God from all public discourse, including education, CHEC advises additional caution when educational choices are:
- directly or indirectly funded or controlled by the government,
- and/or centered on a worldview other than Jesus Christ and the Bible,
- and/or taught by anyone other than the parent.
Therefore, while CHEC continues to encourage all who choose to home educate, CHEC’s central focus is to promote the most effective educational option, where the child’s curriculum and instruction are chosen and taught by the parents, and to defend the inalienable rights of the private, independent home educator.
Adopted 02/10/1997, updated 02/24/2015
We believe that, “In the beginning, GOD created the heavens and the earth.”
When we say created, we mean God spoke all things into existence from nothing. “God said, ‘Let there be light, and there was light.’” The world did not evolve over a period of millions or billions of years, but rather GOD created everything functionally mature. Just as Adam was created on the sixth day as an adult, we also believe the sun, moon, and stars were created in a functionally mature state on the fourth day.
When the Bible says that GOD created the heavens and the earth in six days, we believe these were six, twenty-four hour days (Exodus 20:11.)
We believe when GOD pronounced it “very good,” He meant that the world was perfect, and without death and suffering. Death and suffering entered the world as a result of the fall of man.
Since we believe the Bible is historically accurate in all aspects, and since we believe a day is and was a twenty-four hour period, then we believe the earth is less than ten thousand years old. Therefore, we believe GOD did not use any evolutionary mechanisms in the origins of the various species, but rather GOD created specific kinds with the ability to vary within the kind.
We’re grateful for God’s faithfulness through the years of homeschool freedom in Colorado! And we look forward with great expectation to the work He will continue to do through CHEC as we invest in the lives of families discipling their children to know and serve Jesus Christ.
Click here to learn the History of CHEC & Colorado Homeschooling
Click here to view CHEC’s annual Honorary Awards
Christian Home Educators of Colorado Board of Directors
Bill Roach, Board President
Bill Roach has been on the board of Christian Home Educators of Colorado for over 25 years and has served as President for a majority of those years. He and his wife Shalyn have been blessed to be able to disciple all five of their children and homeschooled them all since the beginning. Bill and his family work in various family businesses and enjoy the blessing and challenge of working with each other. Even as the older ones get married, the Roaches have been blessed to continue to minister and work together. The Roaches have served in various positions within CHEC including Conference Coordinators. Their heart’s cry is to continue to see more families draw closer together and closer to their church community as they grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Roaches moved to Elbert County recently, fulfilling a lifelong vision of living next to most of the children and grandchildren! To God be the glory, great things He has done!
Brenda Kelly
Brenda Kelly joined the CHEC team in 1994 as a board and conference team member. In 2008 she also began working in the office. The Kelly’s formal homeschooling began in 1989 but the fruit of that decision now means working alongside their adult children in a variety of ministries and watching their grandchildren being discipled to know and love God.
Chad Roach
Chad was homeschooled in Colorado his entire life and feels overwhelmingly blessed by the strong foundation his parents and mentors gave him early in life. He is passionate about encouraging and supporting families in discipling their children in the Christian faith. Graduating at age 16, Chad went on to pursue legal education and started several businesses. Now in his 30’s, he now owns numerous companies in the investment, financial, and real estate industries. Chad is married to his beautiful wife Becky — another homeschool graduate — and together they have 5 children.
Sam Rust, Board Vice-President
Sam grew up in Idaho being homeschooled with his seven siblings. Married to Bekah, also homeschooled, they have 6 kids and are enjoying the process of discipling their children at home as well. Sam is passionate about recovering biblical manhood and supporting families that seek to train and teach their children at home. In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors in real estate and technology, Sam and his family enjoy a variety of outdoor pursuits including Ultimate Frisbee, hunting, and farming.
George Sechrist
George and Tammy Sechrist homeschooled their four children, and they are now blessed with two grandchildren. They live in South Jeffco, where George owns an Allstate Insurance agency. George also serves as a deacon in his church. Passionate about liberty and godly government, George and Tammy create the Future Statesman program and serve on the Homeschool Day at the Capitol Committee each year. As a family they enjoy camping, hiking and canoeing. George considers himself blessed to have served on the CHEC board since 2000. He is excited to see the next generation building God’s kingdom by home discipling their children and serving as leaders of CHEC.
Ian Serff
Ian Serff has been part of CHEC leadership since 2004, working in and overseeing the creative department for many years. In addition to serving on the Board, he oversees marketing and design for the AME Program, a ministry partner of CHEC. He is the founder, president, and creative director of the design firm Serff Creative Group, Inc., where he creates company branding and advertising needs for a wide variety of clientele across the nation. Ian works from home as he and wife, Stephanie, share the vision of keeping Christ at the center in their homeschooling, raising their seven children, and running businesses. With several adopted children, they’ve enjoyed the blessing of being home together within a supportive and loving environment.
Mike Cheney
Mike and his wife, Roxie, homeschooled their children, Annie and Corey, through high school. They served as the CHEC homeschool Conference Coordinators for 11 years, a record number that has yet to be surpassed by any Conference Coordinator since. Mike has served in various capacities for CHEC, including Operations Director, and now serves on the CHEC Board.
Steven Vaughan
Steven Vaughan and his wife, Jennifer, raised their six kids in Colorado. They began homeschooling their oldest in kindergarten, first because of school safety and academic content concerns, and later caught a vision for home discipleship through attending the annual CHEC Conference. Because of the encouragement they received from Christian Home Educators of Colorado, Steven and Jennifer began volunteering for the Conference Committee in 2004, with Steven later becoming a CHEC Board Member. Steven owned and operated a nursing business for 20 years, which he sold in 2019. He currently owns CO-Inspire and Monument Publishing, through which he coaches high school students in speech and debate and publishes speech and debate resources.
Kevin Lundberg — Emeritus Board Member
Kevin Lundberg was a member of the Colorado legislature, representing much of Larimer County from 2003 to 2018. He continues in the political arena today as the executive director for the Republican Study Committee of Colorado and he works with David Barton and several Christian legal defense organizations across the country. Kevin lives with his wife Sandy in Larimer County, just west of Berthoud. Their three children have all grown up. Two are married and now Kevin and Sandy have four grandchildren! In 1990, Kevin and Sandy helped start Christian Home Educators of Colorado and Kevin actively served on the CHEC board of trustees from 1990 to 2018. He is also a trustee for Colorado Christian University.
Christian Home Educators of Colorado Staff
Steve Craig, Executive Director
Steve and his wife, Tara, were both homeschooled for all of their primary and secondary school years. Steve’s father, Neil Craig, is the Executive Director of Christian Heritage Home Educators of Washington, making Steve both a second-generation homeschooler and homeschool leader. One of Steve’s primary life goals has been to raise a godly family for the glory of Christ and he has a strong belief in the significance of home discipleship toward accomplishing that end. Prior to moving to Colorado in September of 2014 to take on the leadership of CHEC, Steve lived with his family in Washington State where he worked as the corporate controller for a hotel management company. Steve & Tara live in Parker with their six children, Carson, Christiana, Angelina, Jewel, Ariel, and Michelle.
Sarah Bryant, Graphic Designer
Sarah is grateful for how home education prepared her to be part of the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom through the local church body, event coordination, music, and community outreach. She is passionate about seeing the vision of Christ-centered home discipleship passed on to the next generation through the ministry of Christian Home Educators of Colorado. During her high school years, Sarah developed an interest and skill set in creative design, and became CHEC’s graphic designer in 2015.
Kashia Davis, Outreach Director
Kashia joined the CHEC family in Spring of 2023. She and her husband, Brandon, homeschooled their children and are delighted to see them pursuing homeschool with the second generation. Kashia’s primary focus was on being a stay at home mother who homeschooled her children, but like many homeschool families involved herself in various ministries and part time work. Kashia served as the administrative assistant for her church, coordinated many homeschool co-ops, was on the board for a local inner city ministry, and worked in various small business endeavors. She worked with a biblically based direct sales company for 13 years. In this, she too was able to disciple and encourage women. She will tell you that redeeming the time for the Lord is important to her. In fact, working for CHEC has felt like a calling. She is passionate about encouraging families to invest in their children by homeschooling.
Julianna Duerksen, Marketing Assistant
As a second generation homeschool graduate, Julianna Duerksen grew up volunteering at CHEC with her family, and is so grateful for parents who were dedicated to giving her and her siblings a Christ-centered education. After serving as CHEC’s Marketing Assistant and authoring Colorado Civics, Julianna continues to help CHEC with the marketing. Julianna and her husband, Barry, have one daughter, Zoey, and are active in ministry in their local church.
Josh Erber, Events Coordinator
Both Josh and his wife Abbey were homeschooled by their parents, and are now raising their 5 kids in Calhan, CO. After graduating high school, Josh started a small Audio/Visual company which he still operates today. As a second generation homeschooler Josh is excited to help and encourage other homeschoolers as CHEC’s Event Coordinator.
Chris Galanek, IT Manager
Chris, Jenny and three of their five children live in rural Elbert County, Colorado. When not working for CHEC as IT Manager, Chris works in technology in the financial services industry. Jenny works daily with their three kids at home shepherding them, focusing on Christ as the center of their education, and working to build character and a strong love for their Lord. They have graduated their eldest two children. Chris and Jenny have been serving CHEC in multiple different roles since 2008, including as Conference Coordinators.
Brandee Gilham, Conference Coordinator
Brandee Gillham left the world of teaching collegiate anatomy to become a full-time mama. The Lord called her to homeschool her four sons (with one of those precious boys already in heaven) and encourages others by telling them that no time invested in our children will ever be wasted. Her deepest prayer is that she will raise these men to be warriors for Christ and passionate learners. She and her cowboy enjoy serving as 4th generation ranchers in Northeast Colorado. If she is not at home teaching her children, she might be working on the ranch, serving at her local homeschool co-op, delivering a baby, speaking, writing, gardening, taking pictures, or baking a yummy treat. She believes in Jesus Christ, home discipleship, patriotism, agriculture, hard work and speaking the truth with love and laughter.
Christian Horstmann, Copywriter
Christian hails from the sunny Southwest but currently calls Eastern Iowa home. He’s the oldest of six children who were all homeschooled from the very beginning, in multiple states across the country; and he looks forward to becoming a second-generation homeschooler himself when the Lord blesses him with a family of his own. He’s worked with several ministries and Christian publishers over the years, and he’s excited to be a part of the team at CHEC, helping to equip and support homeschooling as they disciple the next generation for Jesus. In his free time, Christian enjoys playing board games with his sisters, and he’s always up for a road trip across America the beautiful, especially if it involves hiking boots, mountains, and national parks; but when he’s at home, he also enjoys having conversations on the Family Discipleship Podcast and traveling back in time through the pages of a good history book.
Ted Jones, Marketing Director
Ted joined the CHEC team in 2021. He and his wife Erin have been married since the year 2000. They have 7 kids, whom they have homeschooled from the beginning and graduated their oldest in 2021. They are passionate about home education and seeing the family strengthened. Ted’s past work experience has involved serving in the local church, working at a Christian camp in the Sierra Nevadas, and owning a magazine franchise. In his free time, Ted enjoys yardwork, camping, family game nights, and ice cream. Ted and his family live in California’s Central Valley, where they are very active with their church.
Brenda Kelly, Accounting & Office Administration
Brenda Kelly joined the CHEC team in 1994 as a board and conference team member. In 2008 she also began working in the office. The Kelly’s formal homeschooling began in 1989 but the fruit of that decision now means working alongside their adult children in a variety of ministries and watching their grandchildren being discipled to know and love God.
Caitlyn Kelly, Homeschool Summits Customer Service Coordinator,
CHEC IS assistant, and Office assistant
As the youngest graduate of Les and Brenda Kelly’s six children, Caitlyn is extremely grateful her parents made the decision to homeschool. They taught her to work hard to the best of her ability, but more importantly instilled in her a love for the Lord and His Word that is to be applied to everyday life. Caitlyn started working for CHEC a few months after graduating in 2018 and loves her responsibilities with the CHEC Independent School, Homeschool Summits Customer Service, and various other CHEC projects. She enjoys traveling and is passionate about serving in her local church through AWANA, VBS, in the church office, and enjoys helping out wherever is needed.
Elizabeth Larsson, Marketing Assistant
Elizabeth grew up homeschooled along with her seven siblings. After she graduated high school, she attended California State University, Stanislaus where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in 2022. While attending Stanislaus State, she worked as a Graphic Designer and attended InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Upon graduating, she became a staff member with InterVarsity discipling college students, training students to become leaders, and overseeing their social media and various graphic design projects. She and her husband, Nathan, who was also homeschooled, are planning to homeschool their son, who was born in May, and becoming part of the next generation of homeschooling families.
Carolyn Martin, Director of Government Relations
Carolyn, wife to Todd and mother to Grace, Hope and Jesse, lives in Colorado Springs. She homeschooled her children in New York for several years before moving to Colorado in 2004. Carolyn’s interest and involvement in legislative issues has grown as her children grew. Her passion and aim is to help keep our homeschooling freedoms intact in Colorado. Carolyn will also be keeping the watch on attacks to parental rights and religious freedom. Prayer is essential, so please, join us in praying for the Lord’s protection and grace!
Shari McMinn, Advertising Manager,
Homeschool Update Editor, and Conference Exhibitor Chairman
Shari Howard McMinn is a mother to 11 children through marriage, birth, and adoption. An advocate for adoption, homeschool, nurtured childhoods, and unique learners, she enjoys mentoring parents and serving others in her church and community circles. Widowed while still raising and homeschooling her five youngest children, Shari was invited to work for CHEC in 2015 to supplement her family’s income. She currently is CHEC’s Advertising Manager, Homeschool Update magazine Editor, Unique Learner blogger, and the Exhibitor and Sponsor chair for CHEC’s annual in-person Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference and Homeschool Summits biannual virtual events.
Yvonne Strachan, Communications Coordinator
Yvonne Strachan delights in expressing the innate qualities God instilled in her to help and encourage others. Grateful for the refining process through homeschooling her children, including her child with special needs, she almost immediately embraced opportunities to help others. She started by running a homeschool art co-op for almost ten years and enjoyed consulting with homeschooling families professionally for seven years. Yvonne went on to author a book, blog posts, and published articles for homeschool magazines while supporting the homeschool community by interviewing others as a radio show host. She also enjoys encouraging and teaching others as she speaks at homeschool groups, churches, and conventions. In addition to helping and supporting the youth ministry at her church, she co-founded and helps lead a homeschool group there. While fulfilling her greatest mission to disciple her children alongside her husband, her passion is to inspire and empower parents as they disciple their kids while raising and educating them at home. What joy it brings her to combine all these passions as she serves homeschool families with CHEC!
Kevin Swanson, Generations Director
Homeschooled himself in the 1960’s and 70’s, Kevin Swanson and his wife, Brenda, are now homeschooling their five children. Kevin has 43 years of experience in the homeschooling movement; he served as executive director for CHEC for 10 years before becoming the director of Generations (an affiliate of CHEC) – a ministry he founded to strengthen homeschool families around the country. Kevin’s passion is to strengthen and encourage the homeschooling movement all over the world. Kevin hosts a daily radio program – Generations Radio, and he has authored several popular books including Freedom, Apostate, Upgrade: 10 Secrets to the Best Education for Your Child, and others. Kevin Swanson also serves as a teaching elder at Reformation Church of Elizabeth.
Katie Ward, Homeschool Summits Coordinator
As a homeschool grad herself, Katie is passionate about encouraging parents to intentionally invest in their children through home education and discipleship. She began volunteering for CHEC in high school, coming on staff in 2015; she’s currently part-time on the Homeschool Summits team. Katie lives in downtown Kansas City, Missouri where she works full-time at her local church, sharing in the joy of the Gospel and equipping disciple-makers to know Christ and make Him known.
Emily Werner, General Marketing Assistant
Emily is the proud mom of two wonderful children, ages 15 and 20, and a precious daughter in heaven. She and her husband, Chad, just celebrated 27 years of marriage in July. The Lord first called Emily to homeschool when her son was in kindergarten after discovering he had sensory processing issues and she homeschooled him all the way through high school. Her daughter, who is also on the sensory processing spectrum, will be homeschooled through high school as well. Emily and Chad are passionate about the benefits of homeschooling and are grateful they have been able to disciple and teach their own children. They have homeschooled in 3 states and Emily was the support group administrator for one of the largest homeschool co-ops in Colorado where she had the privilege of mentoring new-to-homeschooling moms and encouraging others who were further along in their journey. She has a degree in Communication Arts and a background in marketing, administration, data management, and vocational ministry. Emily enjoys nature, hiking, camping, serving at Celebrate Recovery with her husband, being a Hope Mentor for the MISS Foundation, and (her favorite) family time!
Katrina Wright, Independent School Registrar
Katrina and her husband, Rich, enjoyed the homeschooling journey with both of their children, starting in preschool and going all the way through high school. The Wrights moved to Colorado in 2017 after a career in the Air Force and love being out in God’s creation any chance they get. In her free time, Katrina enjoys being creative with any art supplies she can get her hands on, gardening, and going to car shows with Rich. As a family, the Wrights consider it a privilege to be active in their church and community, sharing God’s love with others.
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