Meet our Teachers
I’m Joy Ahlman, mom to Devric (17), River (15), Kelvin (11), and Ender (9). We have always homeschooled. I have a degree in K12 education and my husband was homeschooled, so it was an easy decision for us. I have started co-ops in other places that we have lived and was so happy to find CHEC in this move so I didn’t have to start another one! I always love teaching as well as encouraging others in their homeschool journey!
Mary Ahlman is an award-winning MFA Documentary Filmmaker who specializes in finding hidden stories all around the world. She's worked on documentaries, podcasts, and ad campaigns that explore real-world stories through creative storytelling. As a teacher, she encourages curiosity and collaboration, helping students build the storytelling and digital skills they need to turn strong research into meaningful stories.
My name is Erica Barga, and I have been teaching kids and adults in many forms of movement since 2002. I started at The Little Gym, then moved to teaching social dance and finally Aerial dance. As a child, my focus was classically focused (ballet, jazz, tap, and modern). I then studied at East Carolina University, where I earned my BFA in Dance Performance in 2023. I opened The Phoenix Dance Studio in 2012, where we teach adults and kids to transform while taking flight with us. I love seeing my students grow though this art; helping them push through their insecurities and their perceived limitations as I show them that yes, this is hard AND you CAN do hard things! I like to balance the hard work in the class with some fun and self expression. We are helping to foster students who aren't afraid to try new things, to mess up and thus to grow! I have two high energy boys of my own, ages 6 and 9 and we have a 6 month old cat, Ce Ce. The kids in my classes will tell you that while I push hard to get you to "point your toes!!" I also have a silly side, and will ham it up with my students any time the opportunity arises.
Lain Bowman is a teacher and the Head of Operations at Blue Ridge Boost, and a 2024 UVA grad, where they double majored in Physics and Computer Science. At Blue Ridge Boost, Lain teaches physics, math, computer coding, robotics, and video game development. They love video games (especially Minecraft!), drawing/animating, and playing with their young kid-siblings: 10 year old Tenley, and 7 year old twins Ada and Connor!
Becky Calvert is a culinary educator and writer, which she uses to justify her large collection of mostly older cookbooks. She has focused on teaching kids to cook for a dozen years at several area schools and programs. She uses the same approach to her class menus as she does for her family: seasonal, mostly healthy with a few treats thrown in for variety. Her favorite foods are pizza and totchos.
Hi! I am Carol Greene and a homeschool mom of 6 years to my 14 year old daughter. I graduated from VCU with a BFA concentration in textiles. I have been a substitute teacher at Hillside pre-school, volunteered as a classroom assistant at Clark elementary and Free Union Country school. I taught handicrafts, nature study and Plutarch at a Charlotte Mason inspired co-op. I am a compulsive crafter and find joy in our homemade life. I love that learning can be approached from a place of curiosity and guided exploration. Nature always plays a part in our homeschooling and our lives.
In my spare time I love hanging out with our chickens! I also love hot tea and reading books and sewing and baking and most of all I love learning!
Pets I have had include lots of cats, dogs, guinea pigs, lots of ferrets, mice, hamsters, hermit crabs, fish, rabbits, and a pet Tarantula named "Ye Ole Sticky Feet" because her tarsal claws made her feel like she was sticking to you! My daughter and I love the Great British Bake-off and Bob Ross Painting. Lately we have been trying to become more accomplished at crocheting, I am sometimes a slow learner so patience and perseverance are wonderful qualities to embrace!
Rebecca George is a Charlottesville-based professional photographer who specializes in branding, food, and portrait photography with a storytelling twist. With a warm, creative approach and years of experience behind the lens, she’s passionate about helping students see the world more deeply and express their unique perspective through the art of photography.
I'm Katie Harper and I love finding the joy in learning and helping kids explore new ideas while spending time with friends at CHEC. I have a master’s degree in teaching and have taught in many local private and public schools in everything from preschool to middle school classrooms. I welcome all kinds of learners and believe everyone brings something special to our group. When I’m not teaching, I love going on long hikes in the woods with my two german shepherds, Balto and Zuzu. A fun fact about me is that I have 9 chickens and my favorite one is a tiny chicken named Masha. I am also a homeschool parent to an 11th grader!
Hey friends, I'm Melissa Kirkpatrick. In addition to being the CHEC Registrar, I'm also a CHEC teacher! I have taught all ages and have found myself really drawn to the 5-7 age group, although my favorite class to teach so far has been Insect and Butterfly Taxidermy with the teenagers! I'm a firm believer in controlled chaos and brain breaks for kiddos, as well as setting achievable expectations. Almost all of my classes will get some amount of homework, aimed to be something the kids will enjoy and WANT to do. Fun fact: We have two dogs, a chocolate lab and a rottie, both with dragon themed names! (Trogdor and Khaleesi)
Tim Jones has been performing & writing music for 25 years. His guitar background includes performing rock, pop, jazz, blues, & bluegrass. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Mary Washington and a Master of Education degree from the University of Virginia. He currently teaches guitar, piano, and English with Albemarle County Public Schools. Tim has three kids enrolled In CHEC, and homeschools them with his wife, Amber. Fun Fact: Tim has his own music streaming on Spotify.
Hi! I’m Shelley Marshall. I have been a CHEC parent and volunteer since 2018. I strive to offer CHEC classes that are interesting, educational, and fun. It is my top priority to teach classes that are of value to both students and parents. I have a BS in Philosophy, a background in office management, and am a former massage therapist. My favorite color is rainbow!
Katie Michelli is a first time teacher here at CHEC but she’s been teaching and tutoring for over 30 years. She is the first cousin of CaraLeigh Williams and a native Virginian who lived in Louisiana, then Texas, and now lives in Louisiana (again) with her husband of 33 years. In addition to homeschooling her four sons, Katie started and ran a homeschool co-op for many years. Now she homeschools some of her nine grandchildren. Her passion for Spanish began in Houston public schools when she realized she couldn’t communicate with many of the students. That passion for Spanish and for Latino culture started her on a journey that would include mission work in Central America.
I'm Aaron Reilly, a Charlottesville native, graduated from CHS and majored in Philosophy at JMU. I love taking walks by the river and hanging out in parks with my kids, preferably during a farmers market.
Erica Shackelton is the lead teacher for CHECstra Tween (alongside Coach West), an academic pod that meets on Tuesdays from 10–2 to explore unit-based topics through community learning and project-based study. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Weber State University and has experience teaching public 4th grade, co-running a forest-based homeschool co-op in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, and providing seven years of enrichment-based early childhood care. With more than seven years of homeschooling experience, Erica brings creativity, curiosity, and connection to her teaching. A lifelong learner, she believes that “children learn best when they feel connected to the topic and the people.” Outside the classroom, Erica enjoys music, dancing, poetry, art, and spending time in nature with her family and pug.
Alena Solenne received her Masters Degree in Education from Antioch University, New England. She is certified in traditional public school education, Integrated Learning, and in Waldorf pedagogy. Alena has served the homeschooling community of the Shenandoah Valley since 2014 as teacher, private tutor, and evaluator. She has taught a wide variety of classes at several local homeschooling cooperatives and through her own teaching business. In addition to managing her business and her family, she creates art in a variety of mediums including pottery, fiber arts, painting, and circus arts (fire spinning and aerial). She is also a certified Kundalini Yoga instructor. She loves to explore the beautiful mountains and streams of Virginia with her husband and daughter.
Hello, I’m Cameron Steege, and my pronouns are he/they. I am new as a teacher, but I have been attending CHEC as a student for a couple of years prior. I’m somewhat known in the community for my masks and costumes, but I dabble in all kinds of crafting and art, animation being my favorite! In class, I do my best to host a fun, creative, and welcoming space where students can express their unique artistic visions, and every student's voice is heard and respected. Two fun facts about me are that I am secretly a strange assortment of creatures disguised as a human, and me and a team created a short animated film about cats that was the winner of the 2025 Youth Film Festival Audience Award!
I'm Kristen Steege. I have a B.S. in Mathematics and worked for many years as a software developer before deciding to homeschool my two children (now 13 & 18). Now I work at a pet store! I have been exploring more of the arty side of life since having especially artistic kids, and am excited to share some of the cool things I have been learning. I personally learn by doing (sometimes over many iterations) and love that moment when a new skill or technique really clicks.
Hello, my name is Louis (with a silent s) Torkornoo, your friendly neighborhood Renaissance man. I've been blessed to work with children for 27 yrs, from academics (mostly math) to musical instruments (5 of them), from coaching soccer to teaching karate, from summer camp counseling to Sunday school, from creative writing/poetry to college advisory, and from local volunteering to international missionary work. I'm a life long learner and a life long teacher and I'm fortunate to be part of your CHEC learning development team.
I'm Cara Leigh Williams and I have been in and around education for over 20 years now! I've homeschooled my children for the last 12 years and graduated my oldest last year who is now attending Longwood University. I worked in special education, specifically with autistic and adhd populations and in public and private school settings. In 2020, I started and ran a homeschool co-op in Northern Virginia before moving to Charlottesville 3 years ago. I'm loving being a part of this CHEC community!