Antonia is a proud HERC alumni who is currently studying Creative Writing at The Master’s University in Newhall, California. She graduated from North Kern Christian School in the summer of 2025 and is thrilled to be teaching kids how to learn and grow in their skills. She has a heart for hard work and learning and hopes to pass that joy on to all her students.

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.

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.

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.

Jessica Salmeron Jessica holds a Bachelor of Science in Business with a concentration in Finance, Real Estate, and Law from Cal State Long Beach. She has home educated her children for four years and is loving the journey. She has worked in accounting, real estate, teaching kindergarten and Sunday school. She's had an amazing opportunity to teach ESL to students who live in China. She is thrilled to be part of the HERC community where she hopes to build wonderful relationships.

Joe Brown is a 45-year veteran youth worker. He learned a little at Colorado Christian University, Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, and Billy Graham School of Evangelism. He is an Eagle Scout, he climbed Mt. Whitney a dozen times, and he baked an award winning pie in the county fair. He has been recognized by HERC, Kiwanis, Jay Cees and Lion’s community service clubs. In 1994, Mr. Brown founded the Christian Youth Film Society in Bakersfield, CA. The C.Y.F.S. slowly gained momentum as youth around the world began creating visual stories of faith and competing for awards and recognition. Brown saw that movie making helped develop conviction, communication, and collaboration. Furthermore, young people learn how to make better movies through the CYFS workshops, seminars, and film camps. And every year, the annual festivals provide encouragement and inspiration to the young filmmakers and their families. In addition to serving as Executive Director of the CYFS, Brown is a certified presenter for Real World Parenting. He also teaches film making at Legacy Christian Academy, and Woodworking at Valley Oaks Charter Schools. In addition to all things movies, Mr. Brown loves his family and likes film making, woodworking, backpacking, racquetball, and scuba diving.

Rachel grew up in Northern California, but has made Bakersfield her home since 1990, and has been married to her husband Richard since 1991.  After several years of working as an Executive Assistant, she studied Architectural Design and Drafting with CAD at Bakersfield College, and has worked with several local Engineers to provide permit-ready architectural drawings, specializing in Landscape Design.  Homeschooling her children became a priority in 2014 when her oldest was in first grade, and she has volunteered in many positions since then to help provide fun and educational learning and social opportunities for her own children as well as many others. Over the years this has included co-leader of a Rainbows preschool class and leader of the Prims Girls Club class at a local congregation, table mom at MOPS, co-leader of an elementary science co-op studying Life Science (Grades 3-6), hosted many homeschool field trip events and activities, and for the past 6 years, Girl Scout Troop Leader for a multi-level troop. She truly appreciates the freedom we have to give our children a God-centered education and is passionate about sharing this knowledge with others.

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.

I am currently attending Bakersfield College & Arizona State University with a major in Architecture.

I have two years of drafting, art and architecture classes completed with straight "A's".

I also have nearly perfect grades in a "by-hand"/Computer Aided Drafting (CAD) course, one design/CAD class and two architecture major classes.  Although more design based, most of our coursework has been drafting.  I have also taken many different art courses with which the principles of drafting overlap.  Through my experience in the past with the Girl Scouts I have had the responsibility of putting together lessons.  I also have helped fellow students understand difficult concepts on multiple occasions.  Although I am on the "younger side", I am confident I can teach others about the basics of drafting.  My mother, Rachel Basta (who used to be a design-build contractor--drafting real building plans) will also be co-teaching with me.

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.