Maine Homeschool Convention

Annette Vaughn

Annette is a dedicated mother to her three boys and a devoted wife to her husband; Annette Vaughn has always had a passion for encouraging others that has found its way into many areas of her life.

After completing 15+ years working as a Human Resources professional, she found her true calling when she decided to leave her career behind and become a homeschool mom in 2017.

When she's not working one-on-one with moms, planning fun activities for fellow homeschool families or serving in her local church, Annette can be found enjoying some quality introvert time at "Vaughn Acres" with her two dogs and three adorable miniature goats (Alvin, Simon, & Theodore). 

Natalie Mack

Natalie is a seasoned author, TEDx speaker, educational consultant, and military homeschool advocate with over 23 years of experience supporting military homeschooling families. A proud mother of five homeschooled to college graduates, she combines her personal and professional expertise to inspire and guide others through her business, Natalie Mack LLC, and as the founder of the Military Homeschoolers Association (MHA), a nonprofit offering advocacy and resources.

Natalie developed the HSLDA Military Community Outreach Program and has collaborated extensively with military and educational organizations. She is the author of 101 Tips for Homeschoolers and has written numerous articles on homeschooling. Natalie has also been featured as a guest on many podcasts, sharing insights from her more than two decades of homeschool experience.  Her TEDx talk on The Impact of Homeschooling has surpassed 37K views. Her commitment to homeschooling and military families has established her as a respected leader and advocate in the homeschooling community. 

Natalie is passionate about encouraging and inspiring you to love your homeschool experience and to GET IT DONE. 

Trent Emmack

Trent was born in Ozark Mountains of 

Southwestern Missouri but now lives in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia. He brings energy and nonstop ideas to the table at Unbound where he is currently an Admissions Counselor. Trent is a deep thinker, has a well-informed and unique perspective on current culture, and is passionate about distilling big ideas into easy-to-understand principles. When speaking, Trent loves to incorporate personal stories that make his sessions hilarious and energetic, but always with the purpose of reinforcing the bigger ideas he is trying to communicate. 

Nick Adolphsen

Nick serves as the Executive Director of the Christian Civic League of Maine, a position he assumed on January 1, 2025. Prior to this role, Nick was a State Affairs Director for the Foundation for Government Accountability and served as a Health Policy Advisor for Governor Paul LePage. A lifelong Mainer, Nick is deeply committed to his faith and family. He and his wife, Hannah, homeschool their five children and are active members of Littlefield Memorial Baptist Church in Rockland, where his father pastors. 

Kathleen Cotter Clayton

Kathleen is the daughter of Dr. Joan A. Cotter, author and developer of the RightStart™ Mathematics program. Kathleen is involved with curriculum development and has written or co-authored 18 manuals. She has a degree in Home Economics and a minor in Business from the University of Minnesota and has two Masters Degrees from the University of Mary in Bismarck, ND.  

Kathleen and her husband Steve have six adult children and six delightful grandchildren. She teaches online middle-school classes, designs and creates mathematical quilts, loves to travel, and speaks across the US and Canada, and presented at Cambridge University in England in 2022 and in Bologna, Italy in 2024, sharing the mission to help children understand, apply, and enjoy mathematics.  

Raylene M. Hunt

Raylene is a veteran homeschool mom and Maine certified educator with 25 years of experience in Maine's homeschooling community.  She provides support services to homeschooling families who are new or struggling, leads enrichment classes and provides year end assessments.  She is the author of the book Nuggets of Encouragement for Your Homeschool Journey. 

Michelle Collomy

Michelle is Mom to 12 children. She and her husband started homeschooling in 1996. They will be graduating their 10th homeschool student this Spring. In addition to homeschooling her last 3 teens, Michelle is also helping with homeschooling some of her grandchildren and teaching in a local homeschool co-op.

Michelle and her husband serve Homeschoolers of Maine as Regional Representatives for Oxford, Cumberland and York counties. It is their passion to see other families flourish in their homeschool journey.

Patricia Hutchins

As a veteran homeschooling parent, Trish is a firm and cheerful believer in the benefits of home education.  Trish homeschooled her own children from kindergarten through high school.  Currently, Trish teaches Latin, laboratory science, and the Great Books at a small classical conservatory for local home-educated students.  Trish serves as secretary for the HOME board and enjoys providing guidance for students who are homeschooling during high school or transitioning to college. 

Maresa Kelleher

Maresa is a 20-year military spouse and homeschool mom of three, one of whom she has homeschooled through graduation (with the second set to graduate this year). She serves as the Military Family Leader and as a member of the Communications and Social Media Team for Homeschoolers of Maine, as well as the Podcast and Content Manager for the Military Homeschoolers Association.

A committed advocate for military-connected homeschool families, she is dedicated to providing resources, community, and support through the unique challenges of military life, as well as showing all homeschoolers that life can be your school! She and her husband Sean, raise their three children to seek God in all things and to BE A LIGHT to everyone around them. Because you never know when you are the only light someone will see in the darkness.

Alyssa Kelly

Alyssa Kelly is an educator, author, and singer-songwriter. She has been playing guitar, composing songs, and performing musically since the age of twelve; she currently entertains audiences with her Belfast-based band Muskeg. Having earned a master’s degree in creative

writing, her professional focus has primarily been teaching English. With over twenty years of experience, she is well versed in creating inclusive, innovative learning environments that foster

personalized growth. Her philosophy is that students of all ages deserve the support to be playfully curious and the permission to celebrate their own voice. Alyssa teaches Music Together at Midcoast Music Academy and is thrilled to introduce students and families to the limitless, lasting impact of music’s power. 

Cherie LaFlamme

Cherie is passionate about special needs children and homeschooling. She has two grown daughters whom she homeschooled for 11 years and one teenage granddaughter whom she has been homeschooling since the spring of 2020. She and Tom have been married since 2005 and we live in Lewiston with their dog Oreo.

Professionally, Cherie was once a special education teacher and has been a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2012. She has worked with children with developmental disabilities since 2000, first as a 1:1 Ed Tech/BHP in special purpose schools, then as a special education teacher, and now as a BCBA. For 4 years she helped build autism programming in public schools.  She currently works for an agency that provides home and community support for children with autism and developmental disabilities and on the side, she provides private consultation, mostly for preschool aged children through CDS. In her free time, she loves to encourage parents and grandparents who want to homeschool their differently abled child.  

Grace Mack

Grace is the New England Field Representative for Turning Point USA's High School program, Club America. She has been working for TPUSA for about eight months now, and has loved every minute of it!

Monica McKeen

Monica is a children's author, family pastor, and missionary at YWAM with deep roots in children’s ministry. She has served with Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and Kids in Ministry, bringing the love of Jesus to families around the world through creative, Spirit-led outreach. Most recently, Monica has shared Bible stories and faith-filled reflections on The Arrow, a program of Worship Radio Network, helping children and families encounter the Lord through bible storytelling, and hands-on ministry, at Church events for Families. Monica’s calling is to make God’s Word come alive inviting every generation to experience His presence, truth, and joy.  

June O'Donal

June O’Donal homeschooled her two children from kindergarten through high

school, where she learned real history. She is the author of the series of historical fiction designed for homeschoolers called The Fryeburg Chronicles. She is currently working on Book VII. 

Kathleen Reed, M.Ed., J.D.

Kathleen has homeschooled her own children for many years and is currently the owner/director of a nature-based educational program called Sweet Tomatoes Learning Center, located at a farm in Jay, Maine. Kathleen is a national speaker on gifted education topics, the author of newly published Bright from the Beginning (Royal Fireworks Press), and the author of the OneWorld Gifted blog. Kathleen is an advocate for nature-based learning, and she is an educational consultant and legal advocate on alternative learning options and countering the myths about bright children. 

Kelly Warner

Kelly is a seasoned homeschooling mom from Maine, where she lives with her husband and their four children—two of whom are proud homeschool graduates. With years of experience navigating the ups and downs of home education, Kelly is passionate about helping families simplify their journey and find encouragement amidst the chaos of daily life. She shares practical tips, inspiration, and real-life homeschooling wisdom on her website, Hope in the Chaos, and across social media. 

Lucy Martin

Lucy’s passion is what God says about marriage and surrender as a path to freedom. She’s a happy wife, homeschooling mom of five, licensed therapist, and certified relationship coach. She has a thriving coaching practice helping women who love Jesus have victory in marriage. She loves exploring new places and singing on The Anchor Church worship team. She has a podcast, website, and Facebook group called Easy Biblical Marriage.