Leslie Dougherty
Activity Coordinator
[email protected]

The Activity Coordinator is the heartbeat of BHEA’s community events. They oversee the planning and execution of a wide variety of activities that bring families together, including:

• Coordinating and maintaining a yearly calendar of BHEA-wide events

• Supporting volunteer teams that organize key activities such as:

  • Holiday parties (Fall Fest, Christmas, Valentine's, etc.)

  • Kindergarten Graduation

  • Spelling Bee

  • Elementary field trips

• Communicating with event leaders to provide guidance and resources

• Assisting with event publicity (in collaboration with the Communications Coordinator)

• Recruiting and encouraging volunteers to help host or lead events

• Ensuring events align with BHEA’s mission and values

Dana Rose
Communications Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]

Dana and her husband, Josh, have been part of the BHEA family since 2017. They began homeschooling their two children in 2015. BHEA quickly became more than just a support group; it became a true community rooted in shared values, encouragement, and faith.

Dana joined the communications team in 2019 and now serves as the coordinator, helping connect members and share the heart of what makes BHEA so special. For the Rose family, homeschooling is about more than academics—it's about growing together in faith, character, and curiosity. They enjoy reading widely, hiking and camping, and gathering around the table for family board games.

BHEA has been a blessing to their family, providing friendships, support, and opportunities to serve. Dana is grateful to give back to a community that continues to pour into their lives in meaningful ways. The Rose family are active members at Maryville First United Methodist Church, where their faith continues to shape their lives and homeschooling journey.

The Communications Coordinator ensures clear, timely, and effective communication between BHEA leadership and membership, helping every family stay connected and informed. This role is vital to the smooth functioning of our co-op and requires strong organizational and communication skills.

Responsibilities include:

• Managing and updating website content

• Sending out organization-wide emails

• Creating or approving announcements for Facebook groups

• Maintaining consistency in voice, tone, and branding across all platforms

• Assisting members and team leaders with promoting BHEA events and activities

• Ensuring members are informed of registration, events, deadlines, and volunteer opportunities

• Recruiting and training members to serve on the Communications Team

• Delegating and overseeing communications-related tasks, such as event reminders and email announcements

• Creating graphics and visual content for Facebook, email, and the website

• Helping edit and review the BHEA Yearbook

• Maintaining and uploading the updated Handbook annually

• Contacting and working with the website host to troubleshoot and resolve technical or access issues

• Collaborating with other coordinators to create a communication workflow that supports both leadership and general membership

Jennifer Thompson
Enrichment Team Coordinator
[email protected] 

Jennifer has been a part of BHEA since 2015 and joined the Enrichment Team in 2021. She and her husband live in Maryville and are the proud parents of five children—two grown and three still homeschooling. The younger three have been homeschooled from the very beginning, starting in kindergarten.

Jennifer has a deep love for serving within the Enrichment Program and is grateful to be part of BHEA’s vibrant homeschool community. Before beginning her homeschooling journey, she studied computer science at ETSU. When she's not teaching or reading with her children, Jennifer enjoys sewing, gardening, and exploring the outdoors through hiking.

The Enrichment Team Coordinator ensures that our weekly Enrichment program runs smoothly, safely, and successfully. This role includes:

• Overseeing the planning and logistics of Enrichment sessions

• Supporting class day volunteers and teachers

• Coordinating Enrichment setup, cleanup, and supply needs

• Communicating expectations to families and volunteers

• Managing class rosters, schedules, and room assignments

• Addressing questions or concerns during Enrichment days

• Collaborating with the Communications and Membership Coordinators to ensure all participants are informed

Jessica Fall
High School Events Coordinator
[email protected] 

Jessica and her husband, James, have two teenage sons. They have been BHEA members since 2019 when they began homeschooling, and she has also instructed enrichment classes. With a degree in Business Administration, her professional background includes banking, project management and coaching. She currently serves in a part-time capacity as the Dean of Admissions for a professional life and leadership training institute, and is a professionally-certified coach herself.

Fueled by a deep passion for helping others grow in their spiritual life, Jessica has many years of ministry leadership experience with both students and adults. She enjoys leading teams, planning events and connecting people. Jessica and James are southern-California transplants who relocated to Sevierville in 2009. The Falls are active members of City Church in Knoxville, and love traveling, reading, games, musical theatre and spending time with family and friends.  

The High School Events Coordinator works to foster community, connection, and growth among BHEA’s high school students. Responsibilities include:

• Planning and overseeing events specifically for 9th–12th grade students (e.g., dances, service projects, socials)

• Supporting and mentoring student leadership where applicable

• Communicating event expectations to students and parents

• Ensuring all events are safe, appropriate, and well-supervised

• Collaborating with the Academic Advancement Coordinator when needed

• Encouraging connection and spiritual growth among older students

Katie Smith
Membership Coordinator
[email protected]
[email protected]

Katie Smith has been homeschooling since 2008 and a member of BHEA since 2018. She has 4 children with 3 graduated and one still homeschooling in high school. Katie enjoys crafting, spending time with her family and pets, helping with her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, and supporting her daughter at Tristar Rowing.

The Membership Coordinator helps new and returning families feel welcome and ensures a smooth registration experience. Duties include:

• Managing membership applications and renewals

• Assisting with registration processes and troubleshooting

• Answering questions from prospective or new members

• Tracking and verifying member requirements (e.g., forms, fees)

• Collaborating with Communications and Enrichment teams for onboarding

• Maintaining accurate and confidential membership records

Megan Slover

Middle School Events Coordinator
[email protected]

Megan and her family have been a part of BHEA since moving back to the Knoxville area in 2019. She and her husband Dave have been homeschooling their 3 children (Maddux, Maclyn, and Miller) since the oldest started Kindergarten 9 years ago. In her time with BHEA, she has taught and assisted classes, led field trips, and helped with various activities and get togethers. Megan loves both coaching and watching her children play sports, gardening, horses, houseplants, reading, camping, drinking copious amounts of coffee, and spending time with her family.
Megan is excited to serve on the board and looking forward to planning activities and events for our middle school students in the coming years!

The Middle School Events Coordinator is key to keeping 6th–8th grade students connected through fun, age-appropriate activities. Responsibilities include:

• Planning and coordinating middle school events and socials

• Recruiting and supporting event volunteers or chaperones

• Creating opportunities for fellowship, fun, and connection

• Collaborating with other coordinators to avoid schedule conflicts

• Providing structure and supervision guidelines to ensure safety

• Building community during a critical transitional stage for students

Nikki Turnmire
Ministry Coordinator
[email protected]

Nikki and her husband Samuel started their family’s homeschool journey in 2014 with their daughter, Della Ro, as a 4th grader. That first year at-home litmus test proved positive for their homeschool venture, and after what they considered a successful start, they brought their other daughter, Eliza, into it beginning with her 1st grade year in 2015. This is when BHEA became a beacon of hope and a source of friendships and learning ever since! Nikki and her girls have participated and enjoyed many years of BHEA’s member activities such as field trips, park days, member picnics, holiday parties, Mom’s Night Out events, dances, Spring formals, and clubs such as American Heritage Girls for a time. The best part of membership participation has been their involvement of Enrichment program days. Nikki has been a part of the Enrichment program since 2016 starting with serving at the Welcome Table where she realized how special BHEA was to the homeschool community, and how her service to others just felt right after being involved with other Moms just like her!

Nikki has been a Christian since childhood and was baptized at 8 years old. She has always had a heart for service to others where community service projects held center stage during her high school days as a leader in the JrROTC program at William Blount HS. The Lord continued to call her into various seasons of ministry in adulthood from serving at-risk inner city children with Emerald Youth Foundation for 8 1/2 years, and after she and Samuel started their family, she began serving the leadership of her church by watching their children while they worked. The most recent service that has just come to its end this year, has been to her own family by being a caregiver for both her parents in her home for over 14 years and then outside her home for 2 more.

Nikki is excited to begin her next service journey with BHEA as she has stepped into the role of Ministry Coordinator. She can’t wait to meet those in BHEA membership that she hasn’t yet had to opportunity to introduce herself, find out how best to pray and minister to the BHEA families and those in the community who want to know more about homeschooling, and plan fun events for all the BHEA Moms to grow in relationship and friendships this year and in the ones to come!

The Ministry Coordinator helps foster a Christ-centered culture in BHEA, ensuring spiritual encouragement and service opportunities are woven throughout our community. This role includes:

• Coordinating prayer support and spiritual encouragement (e.g., prayer requests, devotionals at meetings)

• Organizing service projects or ministry opportunities for members

• Planning community care efforts (e.g., meal trains, bereavement support)

• Collaborating with other coordinators to incorporate ministry into events and programs

• Encouraging unity and support through a shared faith foundation

Natalie Abercrombie
Treasurer of the Board of Directors
[email protected]

Natalie and her husband, Daniel, have two children and began homeschooling in 2014. After
spending six years living in Haiti as medical missionaries, they returned to Blount county in 2021
and jumped right back into BHEA. Their family has enjoyed participating in field trips,
enrichment sessions, middle school and high school events, and BHEA’s Boy Scouts and
American Heritage Girls troops. They have been blessed by the BHEA community, and Natalie is honored to serve on the BHEA Board.

The Treasurer ensures BHEA’s financial health through responsible stewardship and accurate record-keeping. Key responsibilities include:

• Managing all organizational accounts and financial transactions

• Creating and maintaining a working budget in coordination with the board

• Collecting and depositing membership dues, Enrichment fees, and other payments

• Reimbursing approved expenses and maintaining receipts

• Preparing financial reports for the board

• Ensuring tax documentation and nonprofit compliance are maintained

• Advising the board on financial decisions and limits

Mike WIlliams
Member At Large

Mike and his wife, Donna have been actively homeschooling with BHEA since 2005. Three of their children; Caleb 2018, Rebekah 2020 and Elisa 2022 graduated as members of the BHEA 13-year club. Their youngest son Micah is currently a sophomore and will graduate in 2027. During Mike's 19 years of BHEA membership, he has been involved in various ways, including leading BHEA's Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop and teaching ACT prep classes. Mike served previously for 5 years on the BHEA Board of Directors, including 3 years as BHEA President, and is currently serving a 1-year term as a Member at Large.

Mike enjoys hiking, camping, and backpacking as well as attending theater and watching his kids participate in their activities. You've probably seen Mike around at various BHEA functions, but most likely identify him as Mr. Donna Williams.