The Learning Vine Homeschool Extension Program

A great teacher, with a passion for his or her subject matter, can stimulate learning and inspire students to excel. The teachers at The Learning Vine are tested professionals who meet our high standards for excellence. Professional experience is combined with an understanding of the homeschool mindset to bring these two worlds together for you.

Sheila earned her BA in Liberal Studies with a teacher credential (K- adult education) from California State University, Northridge. She has taught preschool through high school in California and Illinois, and adult education at Waubonsee Community College (GED program). During her summers she has private tutored, taught Sunday school, and was a youth leader at her local church. Sheila has also been a Spelling Bee coordinator, Math Bee coach, science teacher, and a drama director. Mrs. Broeker believes that each student, whether a high achiever or one who finds learning a challenge, is an amazing gift from our heavenly Father. She looks forward to passionately serving in the Learning Vine community. Sheila and her husband, Jonathan live in Aurora and home school their three sons Samuel, Josiah and Zechariah.

Faith has been working with kids as long as she can remember!  Babysitting since the age of 11 created a desire to work with children as a career.  She has a BA in Elementary Education and English Literature from North Central College in Naperville.  She taught for one year as a certified teacher in Oswego until coming home to be with her daughter.  The desire to provide a more personal, Christ-centered education led to the decision to homeschool.  She has homeschooled her two girls for 3 years and enjoys directing the Awana Cubbies at her church.

About 10 years ago, Chris Digweed was honored to be able to start a homeschool co-op in the Naperville area--now known as the Learning Vine. She holds a B.S. degree in Nutrition and Medical Dietetics from the University of Illinois at Chicago. For the past 14 years, she has been abundantly blessed in her roles of wife and mother as well as homeschool teacher to her own two children--now 20 and 17. Currently, Chris works as both a Learning Vine instructor and Academic Coordinator. Through years of teaching and working with homeschool families, she has acquired a true passion for education and the importance learning plays in each student's life.
Chris has a love and depth of understanding of many subjects. From the age of 4, Chris has loved the piano, and each week she imparts this beautiful skill to each of her piano students. Her commitment to nutrition and science can be evidenced by her college degree in this area, but mathematics has come to be one of her favorite subjects. She strongly believes that math—like music and art--can cultivate one’s appreciation for the wonderful order and beauty of God’s creation and it can open doors for a student's future. All her students are encouraged to consider the relevance of each subject in their life and to attain their full God-given potential.

Gladys graduated from Loyola University of Chicago in 1994 with a B.S. in Biology, a B.A. in Theology, and a B. S. in Nursing.  She worked as an R.N. for 10 years specializing in gastroenterology, outpatient and minor surgical procedures, pre and post anesthesia care, home health and hospice. During these years, she was given charge of patient teaching and family education and functioned as the unit’s Charge Nurse and Nurse Preceptor or Trainer.

Gladys grew up in a family that owned a private piano school in the Philippines, and she is a third generation virtuoso pianist. She has been teaching piano since age 11, and enjoys taking students at any age to attain virtuoso level in as little time as 6 years. She is now accepting piano students at the Learning Vine.   Gladys has enjoyed every minute of homeschooling her daughter for the past seven years. She also enjoyed teaching Apologia Biology + Lab and Apologia Chemistry + Lab at the Heritage and H.O.P.E. homeschool coops.  Teaching is her passion and her greatest rewards are the precious “A-ha!” moments--when she knows that a student has just learned something amazing and unforgettable.

Christine McCormick has a BS from IL State University with a Major in Computer Science (Programming and Logic/Structures) and a Minor in Mathematics. Her 17 years in the Computer industry included both government, private and consulting jobs. In 2001 she came home to be with her two wonderful children full time. Since then she has been active in scouting, including teaching Girl Scout Camp every summer. She loves sneaking in the science when the Scouts think it is play time!

For the last 6 years she has been Substitute Teaching with SD129. Last year she joined LearningVine, putting her love for Mathematics to use teaching. This year she continues to show students that although Mathematics may not be your favorite subject, it is a subject you can learn and understand. I cannot wait to see the twinkle in your student's eye when they understand a new concept.

Betsy Olson was born and raised in Ecuador, South America, in a missionary home. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Grace University in Omaha, Neb., in Christian Education and Music and obtained her state teacher's certificate from the University of Nebraska—Lincoln, which she transferred to Illinois. Betsy enjoyed teaching second grade for four years and also being principal for a half-year in Lincoln Christian School before ending her employment to be a stay-at-home mom. She and her husband, Norm, have spent 20 years homeschooling their four children. Their youngest is still at home and will be in 10th grade this fall. Teaching is a passion for Betsy, not only to impart knowledge, but to challenge students to think and live Biblically.

Lisa Olson has just finished teaching six years of teaching students in the fourth and fifth grades at Schaumburg Christian School. Lisa received her B.S. degree in Elementary Education and Iowa state teaching certificate from Faith Baptist Bible College, Ankeny, Iowa. More recently, she earned a Masters degree through Walden University, specializing in Reading and Mathematics. One of the most enjoyable aspects of teaching for Lisa has been the opportunity to mentor two student teachers as they prepared for ministry in Christian education. She has a passion for counseling children and teens of all ages through local churches and Bible camps. As a former homeschool student, Lisa looks forward to teaching and encouraging these students in their academic pursuits and helping them to integrate Biblical principles into their learning.

Colleen Williams and her husband Tom are the proud parents of three young sons; Benjamin, Jonathan, and Nathan.  Colleen is a graduate of Milligan College where she double majored in Humanities and Communications and minored in Youth Ministry.   Employed during college as the Children and Youth Pastor of a Tennessee church, Colleen has experience teaching and leading a variety of age levels.  After college Colleen pursued a career in Marketing; first by working as the promoter of a touring motorcycle racing series and later managing the marketing department for a group of TV stations in downtown Chicago.  Colleen currently works part-time from home as the hotel planner for the staff of several touring shows.  Growing up in a large homeschooling family, Colleen is one of the first “graduates” of the South Suburban Home School & Gym Group, which her mother helped to found.  Colleen later taught communication classes to S.S.H.G.G. students and has been a guest speaker at some of their special events.  She is excited at this opportunity to contribute to the thriving education program offered at the Learning Vine.  From first-hand experience she has found that the HOMEschool is the best place to light the spark of lifelong learning in a child’s life.