The Director of CHEC oversees all aspects of the program. They set the schedule, seek counsel and make decisions that align the offerings each year with the Mission and Vision of the community.   
 
Born and raised in South Florida, Cindy had the privilege of attending one of the finest private schools in the state for 9 years. At that institution she developed a passion for learning that is never satiated. As an adult, she realized how much of that was due to the environment cultivated at school.  When your passion collides with your gifts and talents you have found your place. Children, education and homeschooling are her passions and organizational leadership is her gift.  

“I pray for God’s guidance over CHEC and firmly believe that He is our true leader.  I strive for CHEC to maintain a standard of excellence in all we do and that everything we do bring as much value to the students as possible on a part time basis. It is very special to be part of a group where everyone is committed and focused on what is best for their children and their families.”

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Contact: info@checthecenter.com

The Director of Operations manages the center's budget, assists in the admissions process and coordinates the master school schedule. Preparing students to be competitive in the college admission process starts well before high school; our Director of Operations oversees the school’s role in assisting families through this process. 

Jessica and her husband, Javier, are from Puerto Rico and met in college on the island. After graduating from University of Puerto Rico as engineers, they both left Puerto Rico and headed to California to pursue their master’s degrees in engineering at California Polytechnic State University. Jessica worked as an engineer moving around the country for different opportunities until they made their home in Lake Worth shortly after welcoming their daughter.  Jessica oversees CHEC's STEM & Math program and ensures our students are preparing themselves for STEM careers if that is their area of interest.

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Contact: info@checthecenter.com

CHEC’s view of Fine Arts is that it is fundamental to a whole education, which distinguishes us in Palm Beach County homeschool communities. Our artistic director teaches an array of subjects and classes to the students and coordinates the yearly schedule to guarantee exposure to as many skills as possible in the arts.

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Lorianne graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Theatre from Union College in Kentucky and received a 2nd bachelor’s degree from PBA in Ministry. She has been a professional actress for over 30 years working in New York, abroad and all over Palm Beach County. She lives in Lantana with her husband, Daniel, and their two children.   

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Contact: info@checthecenter.com

Justina graduated with a bachelor's degree in Biochemistry and a Master's in Medical Science. She has a passion for learning and teaching about God's creation. An active member in her Church community, Justina has been teaching children for over 15 years. She is a proud mother of 3 beautiful children and devoted wife of a pastor. She also shares her love with her sweet canine Kenya. In her spare time, she loves to train for races and bake (and eat) yummy cookies. 

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Contact: info@checthecenter.com

Abby holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from the Laboratory Institute of Merchandising in New York. Her career began in the fashion industry with prominent brands such as Betsey Johnson and Perry Ellis International Inc. In 2016, Abby relocated to Austin, Texas, with her husband Reggie. In 2018, she shifted her focus to family life and welcomed her oldest daughter. After the birth of her second daughter, Abby moved to Florida to be closer to family. She enjoys an active, outdoor lifestyle and homeschools her daughters, embracing this new chapter. She is excited about bringing her unique skills and experiences to support the center’s mission of providing exceptional education and care.​

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Contact: abby.lopez@checpalmbeach.com

Heather grew up in south Florida, and always knew she wanted to be a teacher from a young age. She attended Palm Beach Atlantic University, where she received a degree in Elementary Education. She has experience teaching elementary in private schools in Palm Beach County. Being a mom to her own three children has also given her invaluable teaching experience; she truly loves working with children! 

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Contact: heather.wells@checpalmbeach.com

Kerstyn has been with CHEC since 2020. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Palm Beach Atlantic University with her Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Before determining her major, she was a substitute teacher for the School District of Palm Beach County. While attending PBA she spent time in Guatelamala with a group of colleagues. Their mission was to share God’s word through songs and stories in a newly established and constantly expanding school in Escuintla. She has a passion for having a hand in developing young human minds and being a strong supporter to them in the process. She was born and raised in Palm Beach County and now lives in Lake Park. She is dedicated to her students, plants and animals and in addition hopes to have children of her own in CHEC one day. 

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Contact: kerstyn.pacillo@checpalmbeach.com

Robyn graduated from the University of Vermont with a B.S. in Early Childhood
Education and from Lesley University with a M. Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction with a
specialization in Literacy: Language, Reading and Writing. She is from Massachusetts
where she taught in a public school as a classroom teacher for over 18 years. Robyn is
passionate about discovering all the different ways children learn and creating a safe,
happy, and inspiring place to grow. She recently moved to Florida with her son to be
closer to family and sunshine. Robyn loves watching sports, especially football,
baseball, and golf. She is very excited to be teaching math and helping students thrive
as lifelong learners.​

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Contact: robyn.russo@checpalmbeach.com

Skylar was born here in south Florida and was homeschooled up until middle school. She was also a part of CHEC for three years including  CHEC’s inaugural year.  She attended BAK Middle School of the Arts where she studied dance as her major. Continuing her passion for dance, she then moved on to be a dance major at A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts for her first two years of high school.   Wanting to move forward in her education at a faster pace, Skylar decided to homeschool yet again. She is really looking forward to teaching math as it has always been her strong suit, and she enjoys the learning process math has to offer.  Her upper level math studies have included Algebra 2 honors and AP Pre-Calculus.  She has also spent countless hours as an upper level math tutor.  Taking her love of math into the classroom to help young students find confidence in their math skills is a joy! 

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Contact: skylar.garnett@checpalmbeach.com

Virginia Kraljevic is a contemporary artist and designer from New York City, renowned for her whimsical pen and ink drawings. She has collaborated with esteemed companies such as The L.A. Times, Chanel, IKEA, Vogue, Anthropologie, Etsy, Whole Foods, and West Elm. Her award-winning designs have been commissioned and licensed for books, apparel, fabric, ads, newspapers, magazines, catalogs, wall decor, giftware, accessories, stationery, and even automobiles.

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Her artwork, represented by Rosenstiels in London, has been showcased in galleries, shows, private collections, and stores worldwide, garnering press coverage on ABC, HGTV, Apartment Therapy, The Jealous Curator, and TimeOut. Virginia has lectured at The School of Visual Arts, participated in panel discussions at design conferences, and led pop-up events, classes, and workshops in New York, Greenwich, and Boston. Additionally, she continues to create new collections from her home studio, making guest appearances at industry events, livestreams, and podcasts, while continually expanding her portfolio and forming new partnerships.

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With a lifelong passion for the arts and over twenty years of professional experience, Virginia aims to inspire students in the classroom to embrace and develop their innate talents and creativity. Her extensive background in the art world provides a unique perspective and enriches her teaching approach.

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Contact: virginia.kraljevic@checpalmbeach.com

Angie Mondragon is a dedicated professional and a passionate advocate for children with autism. Her journey began with her studies in psychology at Nova Southeastern University, leading to seven years of experience in a special needs preschool. Beyond the classroom, she extended her support as a behavior therapist, emphasizing home and community-based care.

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In 2014, Angie married Miguel, and they started a family that grew to include three girls. Recognizing the benefits of homeschooling, Angie co-founded a co-op with like-minded moms, fostering social interaction and unit studies. During this time, she authored "Simple Connections: Our Journey Navigating Autism from the Heart," amplifying her influence as a speaker for homeschooling special needs groups.

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Angie's collaboration with UM-NSU CARD highlights her commitment to empowering families in homeschooling children with autism. She later discovered CHEC, enriching her family's homeschooling experience. Outside of academics, Angie and her family enjoy game and movie nights, where they enthusiastically engage in UNO, Spot It, and Monopoly, showcasing their competitive spirit and bonding over shared activities.

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Contact: angelica.mondragon@checpalmbeach.com

Hilary was born and raised in Missouri and went to college at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA where she met her husband Aaron.   After getting married in 2008 they moved to northern Virginia where Hilary worked for George W. Bush’s administration.  Later she worked at Virginia International University as an Admissions Counselor and a Program Manager for the School of Business.  Hilary and Aaron had their daughter Taylor in 2018 and their daughter Bailey in 2020.   Soon after Bailey was born they moved to Florida to be closer to Hilary’s parents. 

Hilary is the elementary art teacher at CHEC Academy and is excited to bring creative ideas and fun projects to our enrichment programs at the Center.   Hilary uses her creativity to foster engaging learning environments for young students.  Hilary lives in Delray Beach with her husband Aaron and homeschools their two young daughters.

Contact: hilary.kozikowski@checpalmbeach.com

Gina has been working with children for over 20 years to include teaching children with special needs abroad in Thailand and after school program director for Palm Beach County. She enjoys nature, animals and hands on learning. In her spare time she loves to snorkel and go camping. 

Contact: gina.evans@checpalmbeach.com

Ashlee has a psychology degree specializing in child development from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). Since then, she has had 4 small children, 2 goats, dogs, and some chickens. She spends the majority of her time taking care of little bodies and is excited to teach the students all about their own bodies - from what they can see to what they can't see!

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Contact: ashlee.saurus@checpalmbeach.com

Michael is a self taught musician / songwriter who started out at 10 years old. Over the years he has enjoyed mastering a variety of different instruments. Some of his favorite include guitar, piano, and drums. In addition to being a production director for multiple churches in the area, he also enjoyed a career as an audio-video technician. Outside of music, Michael's favorite thing in the world is spending time with his wife and 4 small kiddos.

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Contact: michael.saurus@checpalmbeach.com

Lauren has a Bachelor of Biological Sciences degree from Florida Atlantic University and a Master of Biomedical Sciences degree from Nova Southeastern University. She has  worked with children since 2018 and truly enjoys watching little minds burst with creativity. Lauren likes to explore working with all types of materials and on many different scales. When she was in High School, she painted a mural for her Travel and Tourism class that is still there to this day. She also made many parade floats and has lots of indoor and outdoor art activities up her sleeves. When students are allowed to be creative and express themselves through art, magical things happen.

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Contact: lauren.wilt@checpalmbeach.com

Yuliet was born and raised in Colombia and moved to the United States in 2007 after she married her husband Michael. She is a dedicated wife and mother to her daughter, Isabella. 

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She has made a 16-year career in the healthcare industry and began homeschooling in 2020 when she discovered her passion for education. She has a deep love for traveling, history, technology and hands-on activities, which she integrates into her teaching. 

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Yuliet will be teaching STEM at The Center and The Academy. Her classes are known for being engaging, interactive, and designed to inspire a love for learning in all her students.

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Contact: yuliet.seda@checpalmbeach.com