https://jomi317.myportfolio.com

The first recorded act of God is to “create”. 

As image bearers of Christ, creativity is woven into our nature-yet so often, we hesitate. 

My goal as an educator is to cultivate an environment that encourages innovation and originality. Art and design provide a powerful platform for developing these skills because they embrace exploration rather than a single definitive answer. 

To quote Albert Einstein, “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” 

Personal education and experience:

Baylor University – B.S. in Interior Design, Minor in Business Administration

Interior Designer – for model homes and private residences

Private school art teacher – grades PK through 8

Homeschool mom

Foster care parent

Globetrotter

jomi317@yahoo.com

Yaritza Ortiz is a dedicated educator, innovator, entrepreneur, and real estate consultant with a fervent commitment to empowering students through inventive thinking and practical applications of STEM. She earned her Master of Science in Organizational Development, Learning, and Technology from Texas A&M University-Commerce and serves as the founder and president of 4wardInnovation, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting creativity, problem-solving, and intellectual property education.

At THEO, Yaritza teaches Biology, From Inventor to Entrepreneur, and Integrated Physics and Chemistry. She integrates her extensive experience in innovation and entrepreneurship into her curriculum, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of scientific principles and their real-world applications. As a Master Teacher of Invention and Intellectual Property Education, Yaritza collaborates with NASA HUNCH, the USPTO, and the InventEd community to enhance STEM education and inspire the next generation of inventors.

In addition to her educational endeavors, Yaritza is a proficient real estate consultant, recognized for her negotiation skills and problem-solving abilities. She applies her entrepreneurial acumen to assist clients in achieving their objectives, demonstrating her versatile expertise and dedication to making a positive impact across various sectors.

Guided by her Christian faith, Yaritza strives to live her best life while serving others, embodying the principles outlined in Galatians 5:22-23. She views her work as a means to uplift and empower communities, instilling values of integrity, perseverance, and purpose in her students and clients alike.

Yaritza has been honored with accolades such as Teacher of the Year, Teacher of the Month, and the CTE Career Catalyst Award. She seamlessly blends her educational and professional experiences to inspire others, proudly embracing her Puerto Rican heritage as a fundamental aspect of her identity and approach to innovation.

yaritzaortizcarrillo@gmail.com

Contact Me

Email:  kristel.koukoua@gmail.com

Website:  https://www.koukoua.com

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristelkoukoua

Education

• B.A. in English for Secondary Education from Montana State University Bozeman, 2009
• B.A. in Spanish for Secondary Education from Montana State University Bozeman, 2009
• Graduate Certificate as a Library Media Specialist from Montana State University Bozeman, 2018
• M.A. in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from Grand Canyon University, 2024
• Certification as a Virtual Teacher from The National Virtual Teachers Association, renewed 2025
• Certification in Teaching Proficiency Through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS) 2.0 from TPRS University, pending program completion in 2026

Licensure

AZ, MT, NJ, TN, TX, WV, VI

Bio

My name is Sra. Kristel Koukoua, and I’m thrilled to be a part of THEO this year! I grew up in southwestern Montana along the Big Hole River, where my mom’s intellectual background in Biology and Animal Science and my dad’s background in Range Science inspired a love for exploration and Truth. During my teens, I took on leadership roles at our summer Bible camp and church youth group, which shaped my understanding of faith and community. College challenged my beliefs and taught me to embrace diversity, and I was involved with Chi Alpha at Montana State University for almost 6 years, except for a semester studying abroad in Murcia, Spain.

After college, I felt called to mission work and spent a year in Honduras as a missionary teacher, where I worked at a bilingual school and tutored children in a foster home. I met my husband, an Ivorian electrical engineer, while salsa dancing in Missoula, MT where I was creating a Spanish program at Valley Christian School at the time. Today, we have two energetic sons, ages 8 and 3, who give me so much hope for their generation! As a family, we enjoy outdoor activities, reading The Wingfeather Saga (both the books and the animated series), soccer, and board games, especially Seven Wonders. My mission is to continue to mature in my walk with God and to disciple others in finding true freedom as well.

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit […] Therefore, you will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:18,20, CEB)

I’m so happy to join the community of home schoolers at THEO.  

I’m married with two children and a precious daughter in law.  I’ve been homeschooling since 2010 and will be graduating my youngest in the spring of 2025.  I’m passionate about homeschooling and helping others reach their educational goals.  

I’ve been part of the N-TECH co-op for over a decade now and have been serving with the Charlotte Mason in North East Texas team for 3 years.  I’ve taught a variety of classes over the years with my favorites being chemistry and history.  I’ve taught chemistry at N-TECH for over 7 years now and plan to continue teaching there as well as THEO.  

I also do private homeschooling and tutoring for friends out of my house.  

Feel free to reach out with any questions. 

janna4520@hotmail.com

https://www.instagram.com/charlotte_mason_in_ne_texas

Fatherpower365@gmail.com

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve at THEO. With a background in music education, leadership development, and ministry, my passion has always been to help others grow—not just in their talents, but in their faith and character as well.

I hold a Master’s degree in Music Conducting from the American Band College and a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from the University of Southern California. Over the years, I have had the privilege of teaching and directing music programs at various schools from elementary to high school, mentoring youth in faith-based settings, and even performing as a lead trumpet player for the Los Angeles Lakers Band. I’ve enjoyed serving as an adjunct music professor, a youth ministry leader, and recently founding Father Power 365, a mentorship and discipleship initiative. 

Whether in the classroom, on the stage, or at home, I strive to make a lasting impact by fostering leadership, faith, and creativity in those around me. Through every experience, I have seen God’s hand at work, shaping my journey and deepening my desire to pour into the next generation.

More than any accomplishments, my greatest joy is my family. I have been blessed with a wonderful wife of 20 years and three incredible children—two sons, ages 13 and 11, and an 8-year-old daughter. Our home is filled with music, laughter, and daily reminders of God’s grace.

I am a creative teacher who loves to encourage, support and motivate students to be lifelong learners and critical thinkers. I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas. I have years of experience in education and program development; from teaching in the classroom, faith development in Children’s Ministry, as well as homeschooling my two daughters for 10 years and counting. My oldest is a 2024 graduate!

In my free time, you can find me being active outside, playing with our pups, baking & cooking up delicious goodies or slowing down to create & paint.

leighab@myyahoo.com

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart.” Proverbs 3:5

Education:

Associate of Science- Collin County Community College

Bachelor of Science (BS) with a major in Nursing- Texas Woman’s University

Personal:

I’ve always loved science ever since I was young. I was fascinated with God’s creation and how everything worked, but it took me a while to find the calling that God would put on my heart. I was homeschooled my whole life, from Pre-K to senior year of high school. I even took classes from THEO my 4 years of high school (Class of 2014).  Shortly after graduating, God lead me down the path to nursing. I started off at Collin County Community College and is where I took anatomy and physiology. I fell in love with that class and all the different systems in the human body. I knew for sure, in that class, that nursing was what I was meant to do. Now, I’ve been a Neonatal ICU nurse for over 6 years and have loved the time I’ve spent there. As young mom, who hopes to homeschool my own children one day, I’m very excited to start my teaching journey at THEO. I look forward to showing students how incredibly, and beautifully, God made the human body. I’m so excited for students to experience some of the hands-on learning that made me fall in love with this class!

My name is Craig Callon, and I have been an educator for a total of twelve years at the high school and college level. I have a Bachelor’s & Master’s degree in history from Sam Houston State University, and a Master’s in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. My teaching subjects have included U.S. History, World & Church History, Systematic Theology, Biblical Books, and various Biblical topics for local churches. My full time job is as a financial planner, for which I hold a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation.

My passion is to help students better understand Scripture and the Christian faith. The Bible richly rewards diligent study, and I hope to equip students to do their own Bible studies and to deepen their walk with Christ. I grew up Baptist and am now a part of the Anglican tradition at Christ Church in Plano. My wife Cheryl homeschools our daughter Vera Dei, who also attends THEO.

craigcallon@gmail.com