Instructors
Ruth Butler
Ruth Butler – Mrs. Ruth Butler is a certified teacher who graduated with a B.S. degree in education with a minor in English from Duquesne University. Her special education degree from La Roche College was obtained in 2007. She has over 26 years of experience tutoring and teaching all ages reading, study skills, writing, creative writing, literature, and English. In 2007, she was named as an American Honor Roll teacher and was also honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2020 for having her students win their annual essay contest consistently since 2004. The Northern Connection magazine and the Pittsburgh Tribune Review featured her for her work with students. She was a speaker at the Association of Christian Schools International in 2006 and a panel speaker in 2023 for the Outschool Adventure conference. In addition, Mrs. Butler has served the homeschool community since 2007 as a teacher, tutor, and homeschool evaluator. Her passion is teaching students how to write well and analyze literature.
Tami Caraway
Tami Caraway - and her husband, Jimmy have been married for nearly 30 years and been involved in multiple ministries before coming to Pennsylvania in 2005. Jimmy is the pastor of Christ Bible Church in Cranberry Township. They are the parents of two children, Lara and John, whom they homeschooled from kindergarten through high school. Lara recently graduated from Penn State University (2016) and John is in the US Navy. Tami was a math major in college and has tutored, coached volleyball, and enjoyed a full-time career as wife and mother.
Maria Foster
Maria Foster studied Pre-Medical Biological Sciences and Chemistry at both St. Vincent College and the University of Pittsburgh. During her undergraduate studies she conducted extensive research in pre-clinical, laboratory pediatric anesthesia trials as well as conducted genetic studies related to plant evolutionary ecology. Upon graduation, she continued her scientific career in Clinical Medical Research at the University of Pittsburgh Magee Women’s Hospital, The Veteran’s Administration Hospital Department of Surgical Services, and The Magee Women’s Research Institute and Foundation. After serving as the Director of Regulatory Affairs and FDA Liaison for an International Clinical Research Network under the NIH Department of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Branch, she “retired” in 2016 from the amazing world of Clinical Research to serve in her most important role as homeschool mom to her two wonderful children. Over the past 7 years of homeschooling, Maria has enjoyed teaching at her church and at various levels at local homeschool co-ops and is thrilled to bring her love of learning to HELP. In her spare time, she enjoys all things domestic: cooking, baking, sewing, quilting and spending time on her micro farm and garden market stand. Most of all, she enjoys spending time with her family and studying God’s Word. She and her husband, Adam, have been together since early college and have been married for 20 years. They are both huge supporters of the military, and Adam serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. Maria is passionate about homeschooling from a Christian worldview and imparting critical thinking skills into all of her teaching.
Kate Funk
Kate Funk - Kate is a former special educator and mom to 5 children. She has homeschooled for 19 years and is about to graduate her fourth child. She was the creator of Ready-Made Preschool, an all-inclusive early childhood (preschool-3rd grade) curriculum program that included lesson plans and all the necessary materials to make school fun for kids and easy for parents. She feels it is important to instill a love of learning in children early on and that this is best done by implementing a hands-on approach to learning. Kate is passionate about teaching and has a passion for working with students with special needs and struggling learners.
Wendy Gallagher
Wendy V. Gallagher – graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Finance from Youngstown State University and received her J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Gallagher practiced law for twenty-three years in both public and private practice. She spent sixteen years with the Adoption Legal Unit of Children, Youth and Families in Allegheny County, and has practiced extensively in Common Pleas Court and the appellate courts in PA. Mrs. Gallagher and her husband have homeschooled their two daughters since kindergarten. She has also taught children's Sunday School, Women's Bible studies and has been a retreat speaker. Mrs. Gallagher attends Orchard Hill Church in Wexford.
Winkie Ilic
Winkie Ilic - Winkie (a.k.a. "Miss Winkie") has been teaching for 33 years and specifically in the homeschool community for the past 13 years. Originally from Chicago, she earned her B.A. from the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign) (German, Russian and a minor in music) and her M.A. in Modern Foreign Languages (German and Russian) at the University of Tennessee. Her teaching background includes teaching a variety of courses at UT and extensive academic and professional advising for undergraduate students. While most of her professional experience prior to becoming a homeschool mom was international, she also enjoys teaching analytical and executive skills through history subjects, such as the U.S. History the Presidents course which she has taught in one form or another, on and off for the past 8 years. Besides homeschool students, Winkie teaches the pre-K through Kindergarten Sunday school class at her church and gives piano lessons out of her home studio in Seven Fields. One could summarize her teaching goals down to these three points: Trust in God, don't squander freedom and apply yourself.
Jenny Lafferty
Jenny Lafferty – Jenny received a bachelor's degree in Plant and Soil Science in 1995. She has pursued a Bible degree and masters work. She worked over 10 years in agricultural research while working toward her master’s degree in agricultural education. After her educational studies and career, Jenny married a minister. Shortly after that, their family began to grow. They home educate their six children. One of Jenny’s top educational goals is to encourage children's natural love of learning, which can lead them their whole life. “Children are our future, teach them well.”
Terry Lafferty
Terry Lafferty - began working with teenagers in 1984. He has been a minister, preacher and teacher for over 30 years. He was very involved in speech, debate and drama throughout high school and college, performing and competing at events throughout eastern United States. He is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University. He is married and the father of 6 children. His passion is his family and teaching and helping others discover who they are in Christ.
Dr. Connie Lee
Connie Lee – and her husband Michael immigrated from China 14 years ago and they have three children. Connie earned her Ph.D. in Material Science, from the Chemistry Department of Indiana University, Bloomington in 2010 (we are Hoosiers!). After that, she did another year of post-doctoral training in brain cancer research at the University of Chicago Hospital. Connie is right now a full-time mom and by God’s grace, she is entering her sixth year of her homeschool journey. She has taught a number of undergraduate-level chemistry lecture/lab courses during her doctoral program. She also has tutored middle/high school students on various science subjects. Teaching is always a passion of hers. In her spare time, Connie enjoys playing piano and sports. She loves spending time with her family and church friends.
Laura Murrell
Laura Murrell is a wife, mother, and a graduate of Geneva College with Elementary and Special Education Degrees. She has homeschooled her two daughters and two sons from Kindergarten to high school. Other teaching and ministry opportunities include teaching a second and third grade class in a small private school in Virginia, teaching Sunday School for ages ranging from Preschool to second grade, and helping at their church’s summer camp program. Laura loves children and desires they know Christ’s love and wisdom, and the beautiful world around them.