Welcome to CHECH
Catholic Home Educators Collective Houston
Our mission is to create a Catholic homeschool community in Houston, connecting families and groups to one another and providing resources for Catholic education. We exist to connect, enrich, empower, and engage home educating families.
Our Lady of the PillarÂ
In 40 A.D. Our Lady appeared to St. James on a pillar encouraging him to spread the Gospel. Inspired by this event, CHECH’s logo features a letter M in a column, in honor of our Blessed Mother.
May she intercede for us in our task of educating and spreading the Gospel in our homes and communities. Her feast day is celebrated October 12.
Holy Virgin of the Pillar: increase our faith, strengthen our hope, revive our charity. Help those who suffer misfortune, those who suffer from loneliness, ignorance or hunger or lack of work. Strengthen the weak in faith. Arouse in the young an availability for a total surrender to God.
-St John Paul II
Our Logo
A column signifies standing on the strength of the past, embracing tradition, and looking into the future. A column supports, creates structure, and beautifies even in its function.
This is the aim of CHECH: to strengthen, build on the past, and work towards the future—making it all beautiful, inspiring, and long-lasting.
"Stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught... May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word."
— 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17
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Our Team
Caroline Testa
President
The Woodlands · Charlotte Mason
Caroline has homeschooled her three teenage daughters from the beginning using the Charlotte Mason method. She has coordinated Holy Family HMNS classes since 2019 and holds degrees in Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Management.
Casey Torello
Chair & Treasurer
The Heights · Regina Caeli Academy
Casey is a revert Catholic mother of 8 with degrees from UT Austin (Chemistry) and Notre Dame (Law). She has been involved with CHECH since its inception, drawn by its mission of connecting homeschool families across Houston.
Jessica Counts
Secretary
Galveston · Catholic Heritage Curricula
Jessica and her husband Barrett homeschool their seven children. A UST alumna in Spanish and Catholic Studies, she believes good books and good conversation change the world—and that family-friendly events connect families in meaningful ways.
Katherine Tully
Board Member
Rice Village/West U · Eclectic
Katherine has three boys and uses an eclectic approach including Homeschool Connections and HMNS classes. A Texas A&M English graduate with an M.Ed. from UH, she fell into homeschooling unexpectedly and never looked back.
Ava Camara
Board Member
Spring Branch · Eclectic
Ava is a former homeschooler married to another one. Mother of six (five on earth, one in heaven), she delights in curating the family library and dreams of opening a private library someday. She loves connecting with Catholic home educators across Houston.
Past Board Members
Diane Aquila · Founder & President Emerita
Diane and her husband Dominic spent 40+ years raising and home educating their 11 children. She founded and ran a tutorial program for 15 years before establishing CHECH to support Catholic homeschool families across Houston.
With gratitude to Diana Hayes, Olivia Kirwan, and Debbie Harne for their service.
Join Our Team
Do you believe in connecting, cultivating, and supporting home educating families? We need volunteers with skills in web design, event planning, social media, mentoring, and more.
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Get InvolvedGet in Touch
Catholic Home Educators Collective Houston
3262 Westheimer Rd, Suite 402
Houston, TX 77098
CHECH is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donate here.
