Therese deSpelder

K Art, 1-4 HIStory, 1-4 Life Skills

As a child I regularly attended church, but it wasn’t until high school that I learned about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  My sister invited me to attend a prayer meeting when I was in 10th grade.  I went, not realizing that my life would never be the same.  Through these new Christian friends, I learned that God wanted more than weekly church attendance, He wanted my whole life.  I eventually surrendered to Christ and this decision has impacted every other decision moving forward.  Following Christ has been the greatest challenge as well as the greatest blessing of my life!

My husband Jim and I have been married for over 35 years.  We were blessed with three boys.  When our oldest son reached kindergarten age, my husband Jim (a former elementary teacher) suggested we look at homeschooling. I thought he was crazy!  After many discussions, I agreed to try it for a year.  Well, one year turned into twenty and all our boys ended up being homeschooled.  I found I enjoyed homeschooling (at least most of it), especially the interactions and discussions it allowed with my boys and the opportunity it gave for us to choose what our children were taught.  

I have always loved U.S. history and majored in American History and English at Michigan State University.  I have used my education, not only in teaching my own sons, but also in teaching many homeschool history and English co-ops and classes.  When my youngest son was in high school, I started working for LAHA as a teacher’s aide.  Having always been an artsy, crafty person, I was excited two years later to begin teaching the Kindergarten Art and Life Skills classes.   I eventually added U.S. History and Geography to my teaching schedule.  One of my greatest joys in teaching has been to help students see how God works through individuals and circumstances in history, art, and in our daily lives.  I love helping students see the “handprints” of God in their curriculum and in their own lives.