Luz Shosie writing about herself and Ned Vare:

As we looked into alternative schools, I came to the writing of John Holt and was convinced that “schooling” was unnecessary. 

Kim Ashby earned a BS in Nursing from The Catholic University of America and, when she worked outside the home, was a Certified Emergency Nurse with a special interest in trauma nursing. She lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband and sons. The Ashbys began home educating their children in 1999. They graduated their oldest son in May 2007. He is attending UNC Wilmington. Kim continues to home school her younger boys.

Her oldest son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was in the public school system in the second grade. Her second son has cerebral palsy which has resulted in multiple/global developmental delays. Her youngest son has undiagnosed, mild auditory processing issues.

Tara Williams is a homeschooling mom of 4 children, ages 7,9,11 and 17.  She and her family have homeschooled in 4 different states, over the course of almost 12 years. 

 While this is the Williams family's 12th "official" year of homeschooling, Tara believes that the opportunity to learn and grow is ever present, just waiting to be discovered. recognized and nurtured. 

Bobbi Gillette is a homeschooling mom of 20+ years to four children and wife of 25 years to Brian.  Bobbi earned a B.S. in Mathematics Education from Liberty University.  Bobbi’s oldest, Megan, just graduated with honors from Western Carolina University and David, Bobbi’s oldest son, is preparing to enter the US Air Force Academy in June. She has two sons still at home, both of whom will be in high school this coming year.  Sharing her experience in homeschooling during the high school years is a pleasure for her.

Cindy Gaddis is the mother of seven children, ages 8-22, whom she has been living and learning from through homeschooling since 1992 with her husband Weston.  Her family has recently settled on 15 acres in a log home in central North Carolina where they are enjoying all that country living offers.  She has been published in Home Education Magazine and Growing Without Schooling.  Cindy has been moderating an e-mail list for families homeschooling their children with autism (aut-home-fam) since 1999, and another e-mail list for families homeschooling creative right-brained learners (homeschoolingcreatively) since 2005.  Cindy continues her extravert ways by sharing her experiences and perspectives as a featured author at the Life Without School blog as well as at her own homeschool journal blog, Applestars.

Kelly Lovejoy and her military husband, Ben, had a very traditional life in Columbia, SC until the day they decided to take their older son, Cameron (now 21), out of private school at the end of sixth grade. They took a sharp left turn into unschooling and plunged headlong into this lifestyle. Cameron has now aged out of compulsory schooling and is a strong unschooling advocate. The Lovejoy's younger son, Duncan, just turned 13 and is enjoying unschooling teenage-hood and all its freedom.

Kelly started the Live and Learn Unschooling Conference (which has blossomed into more conferences than one family can attend in a year!) as well as the School's Out Support Group for unschoolers in SC and the Third Option School's Out Support Accountability Association for homeschoolers in SC.

Debbie Thompson: Helping parents understand how to traverse the world of testing, how to meet North Carolina homeschool law, and how to ascertain their children’s achievement levels are passions of Triangle Education Assessments Director, Debbie Thompson.  Her business consults private, public and home schools across the nation.  Triangle Education Assessments, has been in the education consulting business since 1999.  They provide achievement testing with nationally standardized tests including the Woodcock-Johnson, and Iowa Tests.  They also provide career testing with instruments like the Interest Explorer, and Career Direct.  Cognitive testing is provided with the CogAT.  These tests plus practice tests are available through their website, www.TriangleEd.com.  If you have further questions, please email Debbie at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For years Lori has enjoyed teaching people how to invest their personal energy for a greater yield. As a Certified TAT® (Tapas Acupressure Technique) Trainer and a speaker at local, national, and international conferences and workshops she specializes in sharing practical tools to empower individuals of all ages.

Dr. Bugaiski was born in New York and first developed an interest in optometry as a result of childhood vision challenges, requiring vision therapy. Graduating from Penn State with honors, he was awarded one of six national scholarships for optometry from the US Air Force.  He attended State University of New York College of Optometry, attaining his Doctorate. After graduation, he was commissioned as an Air Force Captain, and served at Pope AFB, NC and Lakenheath RAF, England.

 With an honorable discharge, Dr. Bugaiski settled in Charlotte.  He worked as Chief of Pediatrics and Vision Therapy for a multi-doctor practice until he founded The Developmental Vision Center, specializing in Vision Development, Vision Therapy, Pediatric Optometry and Vision Rehabilitation.

 Dr. Bugaiski is a member of the Academic Services Committee of The College of Optometrists in Vision Development, and serves on the Penn State College of Science Alumni Board of Directors.  He is a sought after guest speaker for various groups on a local, national and international level. 

 Dr. Bugaiski is active with his church, St. Thomas Aquinas, volunteering with the music ministry and with the ministry for the homeless. He also sings with the Oratorio Singers of Charlotte, and is a member of their Board of Directors.  He also directs charitable vision missions to Mexico.

Jennifer J. Gowan is mom to 3 daughters (07/94; 11/96; 12/99), 4 dogs, 6 cats, and several other critters that come and go. She began to realize that we ARE what we eat when the girls’ father discovered a sensitivity to dairy products shortly after they were married. But it wasn’t until 7 years later, when doctor #7 suggested that perhaps the reason for her then 3-year-old daughter’s chronic illnesses, slow development, behavioral issues, and possible  autism diagnosis, was the food she was eating, that Jennifer discovered the Gluten-Free, Casein-Free diet. That is when the fun started for this family – multiple food sensitivities were found to be affecting the girls’ behavior, learning, and health, and slowly over the course of several years, via food diaries, observation, and trial-and-error, the family’s diet was streamlined and refined.

Jennifer graduated from William and Mary in 1991; she acquired NC Teacher Certification through UNC-Charlotte in 1993, and taught for a time in the Mooresville public school system. Jennifer has most recently worked full-time in food service, in addition to homeschooling her daughters, running around on field trips, and frequently eating out!

Jennifer says: It is possible to improve your children’s behavior and ability to learn with a few simple, easy-to-manage changes in their diet. You ARE what you EAT!

Lisa Blocker has been married to James for 19 years and has 4 children ages 18 to 7 years, together they have been homeschooling for 12 years.  Lisa has a background in Science Education and Special Education, children with autism, sensory integration issues to Learning Disabilities.  Lisa believes in honoring each child for who they are.