Behind the Scenes of CHEC

Interview with staff member Brenda Kelly

I’m excited to introduce you to Brenda Kelly, CHEC’s office manager (really, jack-of-all-trades). I think I can safely say that CHEC couldn’t keep going without Brenda’s hard work and ingenuity!

1. Brenda, can you tell us a little about your family and how you started homeschooling?

My husband and I met at Philadelphia College of Bible and were involved in full-time ministry after marriage. While at a church in Texas, we worked with a pastor and his wife who were public school educators and who were totally against homeschooling. They really influenced my thoughts on education until my firstborn turned five years old, and I realized I wasn’t ready to have someone else start teaching him the things I was already having so much fun teaching. Six children and three states later, I was totally committed to home education and even more, to home discipleship.

2. How long have you been involved in CHEC, and what are some of the different roles you have played over the years?

CHEC and a few like-minded families that we met when we moved to Colorado in 1991 are the biggest reasons our commitment to home education grew. I joined the CHEC conference committee team in the spring of 1994 and the CHEC board at the close of the same year. Working with visionary people in this organization has opened our hearts and minds to the importance of discipling our children – and what better way, but to spend 24/7 with them? I joined the CHEC office team in 2007 and continue to work two days a week as office manager and in accounting.

3. What does your job look like as office manager? Do you have an aspect that you enjoy most?

The best part of working for CHEC is spending time doing things that I love to do: working with numbers and administration responsibilities and talking with people about home education! As office manager I oversee the office volunteers, details like phones, mail and email, data management, content proofing, maintaining supplies, insurance policies, etc. As bookkeeper I am responsible for accounts receivable and payable, payroll, cash and donor management, IRS report filing and keeping our Executive Director, Steve Craig, current on all things financial.

4. Now for some fun! What are some of your favorite things?

Favorite activities always include family, and I am blessed to have my grown, married children living nearby! Since I love God’s beautiful creation, some of my favorites include our annual Mother’s Day picnic and hike (complete with a family picture) as well as a family camping trip to the mountains each summer. I also love tea and scones with my daughters/daughters-in-law, cousin’s camp with my grandchildren out on the prairie, or snuggling up with an afghan, a cup of tea, and my youngest daughter – who is now 17 – and reading a book aloud together, especially if it is snowing outside!

Thank you, Brenda! For any of you interested in joining the CHEC team as a volunteer, we have many opportunities both at events and throughout the year to get involved and make a difference in the lives of homeschool families.

Yes! I’m Interested in Volunteering