Catholic Home Educators Collective Houston
Connect, enrich, empower, engage
Our mission is to create a Catholic homeschool community in Houston, connecting smaller groups to one another and assisting families with resources concerning Catholic education.
Our Lady of the PillarÂ
In 40 A.D. Our Lady appeared to St. James on a pillar encouraging him to spread the Gospel.
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
Caroline has cultivated a personalized, Charlotte Mason-inspired education for her three teenage daughters since their earliest years. Coordinating Holy Family HMNS classes since 2019, she's passionate about connecting families with rare and enriching opportunities.
Casey Torello
Chair & Treasurer
The Heights
Casey homeschools her eight children because being their first educator has been the most rewarding and intuitive role she's known, even amid the organized chaos of home. Drawn to CHECH since its inception, she wants parents to see the broad landscape of educational experiences in our area through the lens of a Catholic culture.
Jessica Counts
Secretary & Editor-in-Chief
Galveston
Jessica and her husband Barrett home educate their seven children, drawing on the riches of the Catholic tradition. A believer that good books and good conversation change the world, she finds that gathering families in person is where community takes root.
Katherine Tully
Board Member
Rice Village/West U
Katherine fell into homeschooling unexpectedly and never looked back, raising three boys with a love for following their curiosity wherever it leads.Â
Ava Camara
Board Member
Spring Branch
Ava and her husband were both homeschooled and are now raising their children the same way. A lover of good books, she delights in curating their family library and connecting in person 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 eleven children. After founding and running a tutorial program for fifteen years, she established 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.
Get InvolvedGet in Touch
Catholic Home Educators Collective Houston
3262 Westheimer Rd #402
Houston, TX 77098
CHECH is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Donate.
