Lilah Barth; B.S. in history from Liberty University. history teacher

Miss Barth has blessed CHESS with her amazing teaching skills since December, 2021. She is a born teacher, and her enthusiasm for relaying amazing historical facts and analysis and promoting critical thinking in her students is evident the minute her class starts.

Miss Barth loves to serve her homeschooling students! She, herself, was homeschooled beginning with the 4th grade and up through grade 12. She graduated as a homeschooler, and she loved being homeschooled so much that she says, “Actually, when I hit my final year I didn’t want to graduate, I wanted to continue homeschooling :).” (And if God blesses this Christian young lady with a family, homeschooling is definitely on the agenda!!)

Miss Barth’s credentials include not only her history degree, but also her several past years’, and ongoing work, at a living history museum. She loves the many opportunities there to talk about history and to study it. Miss Barth also spends much time on the side studying history, including a current study of church history.

Miss Barth on history: History in general is such a fun subject to teach. There’s so much to explore, and inspiring my students to get excited and curious about the past is probably one of my favorite things to do. I love the look students get when something just clicks with them. History has so many complexities. When I get questions or that moment where I can audibly hear “oh” in the class makes me so excited. One thing I also love about CHESS is that I can teach history from a Christian standpoint, and just be honest about my opinions. For example, I’m preparing to teach Colorado history [at CHESS], which means I have to talk about Native Americans. At the museum I can’t share my opinion on this very morally complex issue, but at CHESS I can teach that God owns the land and sovereignly has control over who is living on it. It’s such a blessing.

Favorite Bible Verse: There are so many amazing Bible verses I don’t have one…I have many! My favorite quote from church history though is, “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” This is from Jonathan Edwards, my favorite Puritan preacher.

Hobbies/Interests: I have too many :). I am an avid audiobook listener, artist (digital and sketching), a wannabe novel writer, and playwright. I also love dancing (folk, square, and line dances), and over the summer I teach middle school and high school kids’ theater.

Phil Boonstra, Entrepreneur. teaches Economics, Computer Science, High School Math

Mr. Boonstra studied history and education at CSU. He has been teaching at Christian schools for the past few years, the most recent of those years gracing CHESS with his gift of teaching and his enthusiasm for our school and for our students. Mr. Boonstra’s dedication and talents are integral to the fabric of our school.

Mr. Boonstra on Christian Education: Though I currently own a residential construction company (PR Builders based out of Loveland, Colorado), my passion is Christian Education. I was blessed from my youth to go to great schools. My parents pushed education on me and my siblings, all 8 of us! They highly valued a liberal arts education for us while teaching us skills on the farm. I also had great teachers throughout who dedicated their lives to educating Christian youth. I believe a Christian education is crucial for Christian young people as they go out into the world.

Mr. Boonstra’s passion for education is not just in words, but also in action. Mr. Boonstra dedicates two days a week from his busy schedule to teach classes at CHESS. His wealth of knowledge and experience in real-world work challenges and demands gives him a distinct advantage and ability to teach our students how to analyze and to apply what they learn to real-life situations.

Favorite Bible Verses: Psalm 56 and Galatians 5:22-23: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

April Clausen, Bible certificate Prairie bible college. Spanish teacher

Mrs. Clausen attended Prairie Bible College (now Prairie Bible Institute) in Canada where she and her husband both studied for a one-year Bible certificate.

Mrs. Clausen’s love and enthusiasm for teaching the Spanish language is quite evident in her classroom at CHESS. Her proficiency and dedication are a benefit to her students.

Mr. and Mrs. Clausen have homeschooled their four children since the beginning of their education. The Clausen family has also been a part of CHESS for the past nine years.

Mrs. Clausen’s thoughts on homeschooling and on CHESS:

I love homeschooling, despite the challenges. I believe that homeschooling has not only shaped my children, but also sanctified me and caused me to lean more strongly on the Lord. I’m very passionate about homeschooling, and I’m a huge advocate of it because of the many benefits, not only for my children’s education, but also for their spiritual growth and the precious time with them that passes all too quickly.
I’m so thankful for CHESS and how the classes, staff, and other parents have supported us through our homeschool journey, and I feel extremely honored to have the privilege to teach here and give back even a fractional amount of the blessings we have received along the way.

Hobbies and Interests: Homemaking, arts and crafts, particularly jewelry-making, shopping, organizing, home decorating, country dancing.

Mary DeJong, A.A. in Early Childhood Education. Zoology teacher

Mrs. Dejong comes to CHESS in our 2024/2025 school year with a deep commitment to Christian Education. Her three previous years teaching in a Christian school gave her valuable and solid experiences and knowledge that will bless her students at CHESS.

Mrs. DeJong is recently married (October 2023!) to her best friend, Calvin.

Mrs. DeJong’s interests: I enjoy plants and flowers; so, you can often find me working in my garden or watering my flowers! I love to play volleyball, go to the beach, and go camping.

Mrs. DeJong’s favorite Bible verse: I read/recall often Lamentations 3:21-23. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

Amy Kearns, B.A. in Sociology. Math and Drama Teacher*

Mrs. Kearns’ Homeschooling Journey: “I have been homeschooling since before my oldest was in kindergarten. Neither my husband nor I had been homeschooled. In fact, neither of us even knew homeschooling was a thing. Then, as new Christians, we encountered a homeschooling family of nine. I was so impressed with those homeschooled kids. They were very capable of talking to all ages, older and younger than themselves. They were amazingly socialized! That's when we knew that we would homeschool. We have encountered so many joys through the art and discipline of homeschooling our children. We've encountered some heartbreaks as well, but the benefits have always shown themselves to outweigh the doubts that sometimes arise. We've now homeschooled for 16+ years and have four more years to go before our youngest graduates from high school.

“I have a BA in Sociology. That being said, I do not recommend college for all students. I believe that college is a waste of time and money for a large population of kids. I thank God for leading me and guiding me through my life even before I acknowledged His existence. I thank Him and His ability to save me and all those who accept Him into their hearts. I met my husband in college through the Lord's leading. However, that is the only real use to my college career. IF a student KNOWS what he or she wants to do, and it requires college, then, by all means, this student should go to college and get that degree. But no one should go to college just because that's what everyone does, or because the student doesn't know what else to do. However, with the difficult post high school decisions students sometimes face, they can also have the confidence that God can work miracles ‘and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.’ Romans 8:28”

Mrs. Kearns on Drama and Math:

Drama... the word itself brings good memories and not so good memories to mind. We parents all dread the "drama" that can invade the life of our child and can probably remember drama from our own childhoods. That type of "drama" tends to be the result of sin - sometimes our own, but sometimes solely the sin of those around us. Being grounded in the Word of God helps reduce that type of drama in our lives, or, at least, helps each of us be at peace while coping with it. Our Heavenly Father created us with an amazing imagination and our own creativity. Learning how to develop His creation in us can lead and grow the good type of Drama. I have always enjoyed being in plays and becoming characters. I enjoy helping my students learn how to do the same.

Math: I was a good student. I always wanted to please my teachers. I was always a good tester. Sometimes I even tested well by guessing without knowing the material. (That got me into a bind once, so it's not necessarily a good thing.) I never memorized the basic math facts as a child. That made math more difficult the older I got. By the time I got to long division, I felt sunk. In long division, you have dividing, multiplying, and subtraction. If you're completing each and every problem while counting on your fingers, you are setting yourself up for a lot of hard work and wasted time. Then I went into Pre-Algebra. All the sudden, there were letters in math. It was so much fun! (Yes, I do hear myself and understand that this is a sentiment not shared by many.) Math was still lots of hard work for me. I often compared myself to my Valedictorian brother. He was so smart - and everything, learning-wise, seemed to come so naturally to him. I even had a Chemistry teacher say to me in class in front of my classmates, "You really aren't as smart as your brother, are you?" I thought that needing to work hard to understand my schoolwork made me a lesser student. But, in fact, it helped me learn how to learn, and it set me up for success in life. (My brother failed out of college in his first attempt because he didn't learn how to learn in high school.) Math was work for me, sometimes hard work. But I enjoyed it and the sense of accomplishment it gave me. I feel that this hard work has helped me be a better math teacher than I would have been if math had come easily to me. I can show my students how to understand and work the new concepts because I also struggled with these same concepts at some point.

Final thoughts from Mrs. Kearns: I am so very thankful that God has worked in my life, led me, and saved me. It's wonderful to know that He is in control, and that I don't have to be. I can leave the anxiety behind and "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, [I can let my] requests be made known to God, and let the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding [guard my heart and mind] through Jesus Christ." Philippians 4:6-7 "God is [my] refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore [I] will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though it's waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling." Psalm 46:1-3

*Mrs. Kearns is also our talented and proficient Admissions Coordinator for the Independent School and Academy.

Paul leDuc, studying pastoral ministry at Chamber’s College. teaching Junior High Literature & Come Ye Children (A Bible class for grades K-2)

In 2015, my parents enrolled me in Colorado Heritage where I learned the value of a solid education that is Christ-centered. I graduated from the Colorado Heritage Diploma Program in 2021 and have since been enrolled in Chambers College where I am working on a degree in Pastoral Ministry. I am trusting in the Lord to guide me in future plans.

Mr. leDuc’s Favorite Bible passage: I love Philippians 2:5-11 as I believe it summarizes the Gospel message and the calling of the Christian in Christ. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore, God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Mr. leDuc’s interests: I love anything Bible-related and enjoy having long in-depth conversations with people about the Scriptures. Outside of that, I enjoy hanging out with my friends and doing a bit of everything with them, whether it be hiking, turtle-hunting, board games, sketching pictures of each other, trying weird foods, going on scary rides at amusement parks, and many other such adventures. I am always up to trying something new at least once.

Cliff Smart, b.a. bIOLOGY, minors in chemistry and psychology. science teacher

Mr. Smart has been a science freak all his life, and it’s only gotten worse! For over 40 years he worked as an analyst in testing laboratories and as a chemist and environmentalist in a power plant.

He and his wife, Christina, homeschooled their three children from kindergarten to college, and both have taught in co-ops, enrichment programs, and now both are teaching at Colorado Heritage! (See Chris Smart’s bio).

Mr. Smart’s Interests: Mr. Smart enjoys a wide range of interests, including astronomy, ISS flybys & space flight, studying God’s Creation, firearms, Ham radio, fixin’ things, history, current events, politics, reading, and pursuing the Lord.

Favorite Bible Verse: Eph 6:10 & 11, “Be strong in the Lord and His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Mr. Smart on Christian Repurposing: “I asked God to ‘re-purpose’ me after retirement, and now, I am teaching science to young people! I am blessed to have been given this opportunity and am THRILLED to be working with junior and high school students!”

Alice Wishart, B.A. Chambers College; majored in Communication and minored in Education. art teacher

Mrs. Wishart was not only homeschooled, but she was also born the year that CHESS was founded by her parents, Pastor and Mrs. Ong!! She was happily homeschooled by her parents from kindergarten through high school, and she took CHESS classes from age 4 - 18. Alice graduated from the CHESS Diploma Program as an Highest Honors, All Star Student.

Mrs. Wishart on homeschooling and on creativity: “I am in the process of homeschooling my very own children and plan to continue for the foreseeable future. I loved being homeschooled, and I am enjoying the journey myself of homeschooling.

“I have always loved being creative. I enjoy beautiful things. And I love understanding why they are beautiful - from book art to fine art. God has created us to be makers, and it is delightful to use that in re-creating His lovely world in the form of art. In recent years, I have taken several mini, online art classes to keep advancing my own skills.”

My favorite Bible verse: Psalm 73:28: But as for me, the nearness of God is good for me; I have made the Lord God my refuge, So that I may tell of all Your works.

My hobbies and interests: Making things. I love painting, drawing, floral arranging, house renovation projects, building with wood, exploring nature with my husband and kids. I enjoy playing my instruments cello, piano, violin, and plan to learn the hammer dulcimer. I love good Bible studies and playing a variety of board games.

Stay tuned for more bios on the rest of our wonderful teachers!!

Meet Our Faculty