Ashley is a wife, a proud mom of three handsome boys, and a passionate educator with a heart for helping children grow and thrive. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and brings a unique understanding of child development to her teaching. With three years of experience working in the Norris School District and five years of homeschooling her own children, she has developed a well-rounded, hands-on approach to education. Her experience working with youth and as a homeschool mom, allows her to connect with students and families in meaningful, personalized ways.

Beth received her BA in Elementary Ed from ORU in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and then returned to Bakersfield for her fifth year at CSUB, thereby earning her CA Teaching Credential. She taught the Stockdale Christian School from 1986 to 2023, originally as a fourth grade teacher. After her two sons were born, she was trained as an educational therapist through NILD and worked part time as an educational therapist for grades K-8 so she could spend more time at home raising her kids. She now enjoys babysitting her grandson. She looks forward to getting to know and love the her families as she offers enrichment in math classes.

Mr. Ross has a background strong in painting with all mediums, print making as etching, lithograph, screen printing and graphic design. His high level of computer expertise comprises a wide range of software such as CorelDRAW, Adobe Pagemaker, MS Office, Powerpoint, PhotoShop, as well as HTML design and digital photography. He has taught art in school settings, as well as doing graphics design work as a profession for over 30 years. He is committed to serving the Lord in all walks of life, and serves faithfully at his church.

Brenda Barrientos has been married for 18 years and is currently in her 4th year home schooling her 2 children...one in High School and another in 6th grade.  She is a graduate of EBHS and is fluent in Spanish.  She values family quality time together and has pursued a career in real estate for almost 27 years.  As a devoted wife and mother she prioritizes her family's spiritual growth and education and supports her husband as the Spanish pastor at Grace Bible Church.  She is thrilled to serve with HERC in the same capacity---helping your children thrive and have fun while learning the Spanish language.

Carla home schooled three now-grown sons with the encouragement of her husband. She has taught with HERC for the past 17 years. Carla graduated from Cal State Northridge with a B.A. in Liberal Studies, a Multiple Subject credential and a Special Ed. credential. She also studied French 5 years stateside and received a certificate of completion from Eurocentre language school in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Love of reading and fine literature was engendered in Carla’s home as a child growing up and has continued her whole life. Carla has been studying/teaching philosophical worldviews for the past 18 years—beginning with her own children. It is her passion to provide young people with a clear understanding of why they believe and to enable them to defend their most reasonable of worldviews.

Conway has been in the tree care service industry his entire life and has been self employed since 1986. He has an AA degree from Bakersfield College in welding and machine shop and is a Certified Arborist and a certified welder. He is also passionate about sports and loves to collect vintage cars, restore them, and attend car shows. He’s helped homeschool his four children since 2014, has been active serving on boards in various non-profit service organizations in town including the Tree Foundation of Kern and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

Ms. Baker graduated with Regents High Honors at Jasper Central High School in New York, after which she studied Psychology, Intermediate French, and others, at Corning Community College. She has studied ASL at Bakersfield College, and pursued Bible Leadership coursework as well. She has taught every age group at churches since the age of 12, and has taught at HERC for several years. After homeschooling for 8 years, she recently graduated her youngest child with HERC.

Emma was homeschooled from the age of 7 and graduated high school through Turner Christian Academy in the summer of 2024. As a proud HERC alum, she is currently studying at Bakersfield College and working as a reader in the court reporting program at Taft College. Emma has a passion for learning and seeks to impart that enthusiasm to her students.

Jessica has been married for 15 years and is currently in her 4th year of homeschooling 4 beautiful daughters. Her husband is an elder at Grace Bible Church of Bakersfield where they have been thriving for nearly 7 years. Her family enjoys good food, serving at their church, making memories, and just being together. As a young woman Jessica was certified in Early Childhood Education, and studied Child Adolescence and Family Studies in college. She spent 3 years as a preschool teacher in the quaint little town of Taft and 3 more years running a co-op preschool in her own home. In all avenues of her life, she has always found herself teaching and surrounded by young children. She looks forward to serving at HERC in that same capacity.

Preston Brittain earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering at Cal Berkeley in 1971. He has worked as a consulting engineer, both mechanical and civil engineering, in the oil and gas industry here in Bakersfield ever since. He enjoys helping others learn to maneuver in, (and even love), math and STEM. He has a grandson here at HERC who has been instrumental in drawing him into the robotics program. Robotics is a great place to exercise and grow students' mechanical and programming "muscles" in a very fun, team-building way---and most importantly, to encourage students to reflect Christ within their team and their community.

Mr. Cowart graduated from UC Berkeley with a BS in Chemical Engineering. He has worked 38 years as a Control Systems Engineer, designing systems and specifying the instruments, valves, and computer equipment for various oil, chemical, and manufacturing companies. He committed his life to Christ at age 17. He and Darlene privately educated their son from K-12. Randy learned chess at age 11 and enjoys many strategy games. Randy has been interested in science and math from a very young age.

Rebecca Asi is a homeschool graduate who is currently attending Boyce College, where she is pursuing an A.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies. She has been blessed with the opportunity to teach a Sunday school class for middle school girls at her church and she is thrilled to have the opportunity to teach a reading class at HERC, another subject she is passionate about. Though not a HERC student, Rebecca always enjoyed attending the HERC events her cousins were involved in, and is honored to now have the privilege to participate in the HERC community herself.

Sandy earned her BA in English and Philosophy before working as a PR specialist and publications supervisor for the county superintendent of schools, a junior high teacher, and a book, newspaper and magazine writer/editor. Since she finished homeschooling her children through high school, she has felt called to help other homeschoolers find their way through the maze of legalities and possibilities. She now supervises North Kern Christian School’s home study program, and serves on the board of Home Educators’ Resource Center, doing high school advising and private tutoring in the areas of writing and college test prep.

Ms. Affleck comes to us with 30 years teaching experience in the private, public, and international school setting, which has taken her from CA, to China, to TX, and back to CA. She helps her daughter to homeschool 3 of her grandchildren and operates ‘Ms. A’s Tutoring’ business. She has 3 children and 9 grandchildren ranging from 20 years down to 5 years. 7 of whom are homeschooled. She loves instilling joy into her lessons and has a passion for teaching, especially Reading, Writing, and Grammar. She will be teaching an enrichment class in Writing for HERC students this fall.