Instructors
Mrs. 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 24 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.
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 Sunday School for over twenty years at New Community 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.
Mrs. 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.
Kim McClellan
Kim McClellan - has been married for over twenty years and has a young adult son and a teenage daughter. She graduated from Liberty University with a degree in elementary education with state certifications in both Virginia and Pennsylvania. Kim has worked professionally as a day-to-day substitute teacher, long term substitute teacher, 5th grade classroom teacher, and as a preschool teacher. She enjoys being involved in ministries such as leading small group Bible studies, prayer teams, and marriage mentor teams. Kim has a love of children and a passion for teaching in a positive atmosphere where students can thrive and learn.
Mrs. Angela Singh
Mrs. Singh has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Robert Morris University (class of
’99). Post college, Angela worked for The Nielsen Company, a global market research firm with local
clients such as Heinz, GlaxoSmithKline, and Giant Eagle. She currently works part time as the Director of
Instructor Development for The Little Medical School of Greater Pittsburgh where she recruits, trains,
and manages the instructor base for the STEM based franchise. Angela resides in Valencia, PA with her
husband of 26 years and their six kids. She homeschooled 5 of 6 her kids at some point in their academic
career, with the oldest two now in college. When she decided to stay home full time, she felt called to
home educate her children. Angela is a strong proponent of the homeschooling community and feels
HELP is a great place for kids to learn and connect. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, cycling, hiking,
and reading.