Instructors
Steffanie Culp
Steffanie Culp has been homeschooling her three daughters since 2007. Steffanie has been teaching classes to homeschoolers since the fall of 2014. An avid reader, traveler, knitter, and learner, Steffanie enjoys teaching how history intersects with many parts of our lives - especially in Art History. She has a bachelor's degree in Art History. She loves teaching and being part of the homeschooling community.
Sandy Laker
Sandy has been married for over 33 years and is the mother of 4 children. She homeschooled her children for 16 years, and her youngest son graduated in May 2016. She has taught high school credit classes in a co-op setting for over 14 years. She has taught science, math, and American Sign Language as a foreign language. Prior to teaching high school classes, she taught elementary and Jr High classes for 5 years. She loves science, math, and creative expression. She has a passion for teaching, both in the homeschool setting and at her church. Sandy has a BSN and has worked as an RN in hospital and home care settings. She quit work when her kids were young to be a stay-at-home mom. She enjoys spending time with her family and being a mentor for a robotics team in Elgin.
Nicci Shutters
Nicci feels blessed to have seen the transforming power of God’s grace and the hope found through understanding one’s identity in Christ; she is passionate about equipping both children and adults in the truth of the gospel. She has been very involved in her church for over the last 17 years, serving in both the children’s ministry and alongside her husband, as small group leaders. Nicci has three children, one has graduated, two are still homeschooled. She has been homeschooling since 2013.
Jenny Swanson
Jenny Swanson is married to Jeff and is Mom to Mia, TJ, and Toby. She's been homeschooling her kids for over 12 years and has been part of the co-op world for the last 8 years. Jenny and her kids enjoy the friendships that have developed at Hilltop.
Katie Withrow
Katie Withrow, 35, lives in Island Lake and has been teaching piano for over 10 years. She believes reading music and making music is a gift every child should be given and loves to teach music via the piano. She has a BA in Church Music, Vocal Performance, from Indiana Wesleyan University and has been playing piano since she was 6 years old. Katie gives classical piano instruction while utilizing some methods of Suzuki and other contemporaries. She also teaches theory and chord understanding for those who are interested in playing piano in contemporary worship. Katie was a Worship Pastor for 4 years before following God's call to move with her family to the area. She is excited to continue to spread the love of music with you!