Enrichment Teachers
Karine Bauch (Art Teacher, Director)
Karine Bauch is the founder of Masterpiece Art Instruction in North Aurora. She attended The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City where she received her AAS in Illustration. She teaches local art classes to students from ages 5 through adult and conducts art workshops on location for all ages. She is also a freelance illustrator and the creator of all the Masterpiece Art Instruction CDs and free projects. Her comprehensive drawing program, The Phonics of Drawing, was voted Best Interactive Art Curriculum by readers of the Practical Homeschooling website. Her products and artwork can be seen at her website. She also co-wrote Creative and Crafty Writing with Jan May.
Email Karine Bauch
Faith Bruck (Science and Language Arts Enrichment Teacher)
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.
Email Faith Bruck
Pauline Cardenas (Social Studies Enrichment Teacher)
Pauline has homeschooled her own two children for the last four years and has been teaching at Learning Vine for two years. She enjoys working with children and finds teaching at Learning Vine to be an exciting way to bring subjects to life in a group setting. She is also a licensed financial planner who works part-time as a financial planner and accountant. Pauline has an MBA from De Paul University and her BS in Finance from Illinois State University.
Email Pauline Cardenas
Dorothy Forberg (Preschool Teacher)
Even as a child, Dotty Forberg knew she wanted to be a teacher. In 1992, she graduated from College of DuPage with an A.A. in Art and Early Childhood Education. With her certification, she worked as an assistant preschool teacher and a nanny. After having children, she began to run daycare out of her home. When her children were in elementary school, she felt a strong need to teach her children which soon grew into the desire to teach other children. She started at The Learning Vine as an art class assistant which opened the door to teaching academic classes. She loves the atmosphere of The Learning Vine and is blessed with an opportunity to teach children that are excited to be in class and motivated to learn.
Email Dorothy Forberg
Zach Goforth (Private Music Teacher)
Zach has a BA in voice from Trinity Christian College and has been teaching and performing in Chicagoland for over 12 years. For the past 3 years, Zach was the adult and student Arts Director at Community Christian Church's Montgomery campus. In addition to teaching, Zach frequently performs and records for local songwriters and bands like Andrea Dawn, Jeremy Keen, and Jeremiah Higgins. Zach teaches all ages and skill levels and all styles.
Email Zach Goforth
Ruth Hernandez (Life Skills Teacher)
Ruth Hernandez is a Christian wife and mother who has recently completed the homeschool journey after fifteen years of educating her two daughters. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in home economics education from Olivet Nazarene University, Ruth taught sewing at Aurora Christian School for several years, and then taught cooking at a rural Illinois high school. Over the past academic year, she has delighted in teaching three sewing classes for homeschool girls. On top of her teaching experience, she has a home sewing business in which she creates original, custom-designed wedding gowns for the bride and her attendants. Ruth thoroughly enjoys sewing and cooking, and she looks forward to being able to pass that joy on to your children!
Email Ruth Hernandez
Gladys Hoover (Piano Teacher)
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. 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.
Email Gladys Hoover
Bev Larkin (Voice and Guitar Teacher)
Bev Larkin leads worship teams with her guitar and singing. She graduated from Indiana University with a BS in
voice performance and has been playing guitar since she was a teenager. She has home schooled her three children, who are now grown up. Bev has given private lessons for many years and has had 8 years teaching experience with The Learning Vine. She loves to help people of all ages discover and develop the musical gifts God has given them.
Email Bev Larkin
Deb Martin (Pottery Teacher)
Deborah Martin is a former home schooling mother of 5 grown children. She founded the first home school support group in the state of Illinois called HOUSE, (Home Oriented Unique Schooling Experience). Her undergraduate degree is in elementary education K-9 with a minor in art from Elmhurst College. She also has obtained a masters degree in outdoor teacher education. She has led teacher institutes in outdoor education, workshops for Girl Scout leaders, and Precept Bible Studies for adults. After all her children entered public school in 5th grade, she completed her special certification in art education K-12 and began teaching art part time in elementary schools in Naperville. There she team taught with Mary Parks, national art teacher of the year award recipient. She has been an art teacher at Lisle Junior high, Naperville Christian Academy, and St. James the Apostle Schools. Her specialization in art is ceramics and jewelry making. She has taught private summer art camps in her home and is excited to be able to teach Learning Vine students ceramics, the medium of art she loves the most.
Email Deb Martin
Jan May (Creative Writing Teacher)
Jan May is a gifted writing teacher and veteran homeschool mother of fifteen years. She has a college background in Biblical Studies and Christian Education from North Central University and a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature. She has authored a fun writing curriculum for girls called Creative Writing Made Easy with Isabel, and coauthored Creative and Crafty Writing, the Fun Way to Get Kids to Write, with Karine Bauch. She has also authored a new fiction series for girls called: The New Millennium Girls, inspiring girls to have a strong faith in God. Her website for homeshool families includes free writing projects, resources and craft ideas.
Email Jan May
Betsy Olson (Preschool Teacher)
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 has been a private piano teacher for over 15 years. 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.
Email Betsy Olson
Kerry Adams (Physical Education Teacher)
Kerry really enjoys teaching students from a Christian worldview while having loads of fun in the physical education and dance settings! Kerry is a certified teacher in the State of Illinois in dance, theater arts, and physical education. She has taught dance and physical education K-12 in Illinois schools, private studios and academies. She is also CPR certified. Kerry currently is working with home school students in conjunction with Light and Life Ministries and PraiseDance Project. She is looking forward to teaching and sharing her love of Jesus at the Learning Vine!
Email Kerry Overlin
Rev. Dave Pearson (Karate Teacher)
Reverend Dave Pearson “Karate Dave,” founder of Master's Academy, has a 5th degree Black Belt and is very gifted with children. He has appeared on television and on video featuring his unique and godly approach to martial arts. His radio program, Inspirational Moments with Rev. Dave and Evelyn can be heard on 1530 AM at 9 AM on Saturdays.
Email Dave PearsonKathleen Sprandel (Piano Teacher)
Kathleen Sprandel has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in music. She is a mom to 3 children and has been giving piano lessons in her home for 18 years as well as teaching at a school in Hinsdale. She is currently studying at Roosevelt University for her Masters and is the accompanist for school district 66 in Darien. Those choirs placed first at the Great Smokey Mountain Music Festival in Tennessee in spring of 2011. She is currently mentoring a young student teacher who will eventually teach at another school in Arlington Heights. She loves working with her students and believes that music should be joyful. Lessons are individualized with a foundation for all students that includes, note reading, rhythm, theory and exposure to a variety of music genres.
Email Kathleen Sprandel
Donna Tate (Team Building Gym Teacher)
Donna has been blessed to homeschool her children and put them through daily physical education for the past seven years and counting. She is an avid exercise enthusiast and has worked in the Learning Vine gym classes for the past three years.
Email Donna Tate
Susan Thomas (Student Council Leader)
Susan Thomas has been homeschooling her 2 children for 10 years. She attended Anderson University and received a BA degree with a major in Sociology and minor in Music. Working in the social work field for several years and being involved with Toastmasters gave Susan lots of opportunities for public speaking on various topics to many age groups. In 1993, she co-founded Dove Harbor, an extended stay transitional shelter for women and their children in Anderson, Indiana. Just before leaving the work force to stay home with her children, Susan also spent time as a customer relations specialist in the travel industry. Music and reading are her interests and sharing that love with children of all ages is a passion. She is really looking forward to teaching LV’s youngest preschool students and the oldest high schoolers this semester.
Email Susan Thomas
Shelly Weiser (Wood Carving Teacher)
Mr. Weiser is the president of the North Suburban Woodcarvers Club and leader of the Naperville Park District Woodcarvers. He has received numerous woodcarving awards including 1st place in the International Woodcarvers competition 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. He has been teaching woodcarving to adults and children for the Naperville Park District for 3 years and has been featured in the Naperville Sun, Daily Herald, and NCTV.
Email Shelly Weiser
Karine Bauch is the founder of Masterpiece Art Instruction in North Aurora. She attended The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City where she received her AAS in Illustration. She teaches local art classes to students from ages 5 through adult and conducts art workshops on location for all ages. She is also a freelance illustrator and the creator of all the Masterpiece Art Instruction CDs and free projects. Her comprehensive drawing program, The Phonics of Drawing, was voted Best Interactive Art Curriculum by readers of the Practical Homeschooling website. Her products and artwork can be seen at her website. She also co-wrote Creative and Crafty Writing with Jan May.
Email Karine Bauch
Faith Bruck (Science and Language Arts Enrichment Teacher)
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.
Email Faith Bruck
Pauline Cardenas (Social Studies Enrichment Teacher)
Pauline has homeschooled her own two children for the last four years and has been teaching at Learning Vine for two years. She enjoys working with children and finds teaching at Learning Vine to be an exciting way to bring subjects to life in a group setting. She is also a licensed financial planner who works part-time as a financial planner and accountant. Pauline has an MBA from De Paul University and her BS in Finance from Illinois State University.
Email Pauline Cardenas
Dorothy Forberg (Preschool Teacher)
Even as a child, Dotty Forberg knew she wanted to be a teacher. In 1992, she graduated from College of DuPage with an A.A. in Art and Early Childhood Education. With her certification, she worked as an assistant preschool teacher and a nanny. After having children, she began to run daycare out of her home. When her children were in elementary school, she felt a strong need to teach her children which soon grew into the desire to teach other children. She started at The Learning Vine as an art class assistant which opened the door to teaching academic classes. She loves the atmosphere of The Learning Vine and is blessed with an opportunity to teach children that are excited to be in class and motivated to learn.
Email Dorothy Forberg
Zach Goforth (Private Music Teacher)
Zach has a BA in voice from Trinity Christian College and has been teaching and performing in Chicagoland for over 12 years. For the past 3 years, Zach was the adult and student Arts Director at Community Christian Church's Montgomery campus. In addition to teaching, Zach frequently performs and records for local songwriters and bands like Andrea Dawn, Jeremy Keen, and Jeremiah Higgins. Zach teaches all ages and skill levels and all styles.
Email Zach Goforth
Ruth Hernandez (Life Skills Teacher)
Ruth Hernandez is a Christian wife and mother who has recently completed the homeschool journey after fifteen years of educating her two daughters. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in home economics education from Olivet Nazarene University, Ruth taught sewing at Aurora Christian School for several years, and then taught cooking at a rural Illinois high school. Over the past academic year, she has delighted in teaching three sewing classes for homeschool girls. On top of her teaching experience, she has a home sewing business in which she creates original, custom-designed wedding gowns for the bride and her attendants. Ruth thoroughly enjoys sewing and cooking, and she looks forward to being able to pass that joy on to your children!
Email Ruth Hernandez
Gladys Hoover (Piano Teacher)
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. 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.
Email Gladys Hoover
Bev Larkin (Voice and Guitar Teacher)
Bev Larkin leads worship teams with her guitar and singing. She graduated from Indiana University with a BS in
voice performance and has been playing guitar since she was a teenager. She has home schooled her three children, who are now grown up. Bev has given private lessons for many years and has had 8 years teaching experience with The Learning Vine. She loves to help people of all ages discover and develop the musical gifts God has given them.
Email Bev Larkin
Deb Martin (Pottery Teacher)
Deborah Martin is a former home schooling mother of 5 grown children. She founded the first home school support group in the state of Illinois called HOUSE, (Home Oriented Unique Schooling Experience). Her undergraduate degree is in elementary education K-9 with a minor in art from Elmhurst College. She also has obtained a masters degree in outdoor teacher education. She has led teacher institutes in outdoor education, workshops for Girl Scout leaders, and Precept Bible Studies for adults. After all her children entered public school in 5th grade, she completed her special certification in art education K-12 and began teaching art part time in elementary schools in Naperville. There she team taught with Mary Parks, national art teacher of the year award recipient. She has been an art teacher at Lisle Junior high, Naperville Christian Academy, and St. James the Apostle Schools. Her specialization in art is ceramics and jewelry making. She has taught private summer art camps in her home and is excited to be able to teach Learning Vine students ceramics, the medium of art she loves the most.
Email Deb Martin
Jan May (Creative Writing Teacher)
Jan May is a gifted writing teacher and veteran homeschool mother of fifteen years. She has a college background in Biblical Studies and Christian Education from North Central University and a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature. She has authored a fun writing curriculum for girls called Creative Writing Made Easy with Isabel, and coauthored Creative and Crafty Writing, the Fun Way to Get Kids to Write, with Karine Bauch. She has also authored a new fiction series for girls called: The New Millennium Girls, inspiring girls to have a strong faith in God. Her website for homeshool families includes free writing projects, resources and craft ideas.
Email Jan May
Betsy Olson (Preschool Teacher)
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 has been a private piano teacher for over 15 years. 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.
Email Betsy Olson
Kerry Adams (Physical Education Teacher)
Kerry really enjoys teaching students from a Christian worldview while having loads of fun in the physical education and dance settings! Kerry is a certified teacher in the State of Illinois in dance, theater arts, and physical education. She has taught dance and physical education K-12 in Illinois schools, private studios and academies. She is also CPR certified. Kerry currently is working with home school students in conjunction with Light and Life Ministries and PraiseDance Project. She is looking forward to teaching and sharing her love of Jesus at the Learning Vine!
Email Kerry Overlin
Rev. Dave Pearson (Karate Teacher)
Reverend Dave Pearson “Karate Dave,” founder of Master's Academy, has a 5th degree Black Belt and is very gifted with children. He has appeared on television and on video featuring his unique and godly approach to martial arts. His radio program, Inspirational Moments with Rev. Dave and Evelyn can be heard on 1530 AM at 9 AM on Saturdays.
Email Dave PearsonKathleen Sprandel (Piano Teacher)
Kathleen Sprandel has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in music. She is a mom to 3 children and has been giving piano lessons in her home for 18 years as well as teaching at a school in Hinsdale. She is currently studying at Roosevelt University for her Masters and is the accompanist for school district 66 in Darien. Those choirs placed first at the Great Smokey Mountain Music Festival in Tennessee in spring of 2011. She is currently mentoring a young student teacher who will eventually teach at another school in Arlington Heights. She loves working with her students and believes that music should be joyful. Lessons are individualized with a foundation for all students that includes, note reading, rhythm, theory and exposure to a variety of music genres.
Email Kathleen Sprandel
Donna Tate (Team Building Gym Teacher)
Donna has been blessed to homeschool her children and put them through daily physical education for the past seven years and counting. She is an avid exercise enthusiast and has worked in the Learning Vine gym classes for the past three years.
Email Donna Tate
Susan Thomas (Student Council Leader)
Susan Thomas has been homeschooling her 2 children for 10 years. She attended Anderson University and received a BA degree with a major in Sociology and minor in Music. Working in the social work field for several years and being involved with Toastmasters gave Susan lots of opportunities for public speaking on various topics to many age groups. In 1993, she co-founded Dove Harbor, an extended stay transitional shelter for women and their children in Anderson, Indiana. Just before leaving the work force to stay home with her children, Susan also spent time as a customer relations specialist in the travel industry. Music and reading are her interests and sharing that love with children of all ages is a passion. She is really looking forward to teaching LV’s youngest preschool students and the oldest high schoolers this semester.
Email Susan Thomas
Shelly Weiser (Wood Carving Teacher)
Mr. Weiser is the president of the North Suburban Woodcarvers Club and leader of the Naperville Park District Woodcarvers. He has received numerous woodcarving awards including 1st place in the International Woodcarvers competition 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007. He has been teaching woodcarving to adults and children for the Naperville Park District for 3 years and has been featured in the Naperville Sun, Daily Herald, and NCTV.
Email Shelly Weiser
