SCHEA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

REX AND SUZANNE BROWN

Rex and Suzanne Brown have been married since 1989 and have seven children: Abby (married to Craig Williams), with 2 children, Phillip (married to Lauren Turner), with 1 child, Adam (married to Ellie Wilson), with 2 children, Andrew, Sam, Jacob, and Sammy Yeargin. They have been homeschooling since 1995 and live on a small farm in Travelers Rest.

Suzanne has degrees in education from Furman University and taught several years in the public school setting until their children were born. She is the founder and  Executive Director of the Upstate Homeschool Co-op which serves over 700 students and started in the Brown home in 1997. The Lord, with His sense of humor, gave the Browns no two children that learn alike. Her passions include working with developing young leaders, helping families make educational choices that work effectively for their children, and being outside on her farm or in the woods

JANIE GIBSON

Janie Gibson is a follower of Christ, wife to her favorite person for 33 years, mom to five, and  teacher in her 20th year of homeschooling. She has worked with homeschooling families in homeschool support group leadership for 15 years, 8 of those years as president of Family Education for Christ in Savannah, GA.  Janie co-founded the Coastal Homeschool Athletic Association in Savannah, GA to benefit homeschooled high school athletes. Chartering both an American Heritage Girls troop and a Trail Life troop, she co-leads on her AHG troop board as Vice-Coordinator and Unit Leader. She is a Development Associate for the documentary film Schoolhouse Rocked: The Homeschool Revolution which is currently in production. Camping, kayaking, curling up with great books, fellowshipping with friends and family, drinking tea or coffee with cream, cheering on her fellow Baylor Bears (Sic ‘Em!), and encouraging homeschooling families are a few life’s good things.

 

GENE GIBSON

Gene Gibson has been married to his wife Janie for 33 years, and has been by her side in homeschooling their 5 children now entering their 20th year. Gene has been a leader in homeschool support group sponsored youth activities for many years, and co-founded the Coastal Homeschool Athletic Association in 2010 to provide homeschooled athletes in the Coastal Georgia and Lowcountry South Carolina area an opportunity to play competitive varsity level sports. The organization has positively impacted the lives of hundreds of homeschooled athletes and their families with teams now offered for both boys and girls middle school, JV and varsity teams in multiple sports. Professionally, Gene has been in the banking industry for 30 years and currently serves as the Chief Administrative Officer, Community Banking for a large community bank operating in four southeastern states. Gene has an undergraduate degree from the University of North Texas, and an MBA from Mississippi State University. Favorite activities include golf, camping, kayaking, hiking and spending time with family.

BETH MARTIN

Beth Martin is the Middle & High School Director for the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools (SCAIHS).  After teaching math in public school for four years, Beth spent the next twenty years raising and educating her children at home along with her husband.  During this time, she and her family were actively involved in their church, a local homeschool support group, NCFCA Speech and Debate, and PAC soccer.  In 2013, Beth began working part-time for SCAIHS, and in 2015 she transitioned into the full-time Middle & High School Director role.  Beth loves sharing her triumphs and failures with other homeschoolers to encourage and assist them in their journey.  In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, scouring antique and thrift stores for bargains, and snuggling with her two dogs.

KELLY ROWE

Kelly Rowe holds a Bachelors degree in Elementary Education and a Masters degree in Early Childhood and Development. She is married to Jeff, a structural engineer and business owner, and they are parents to 9 children, ages 21 to 8 years of age. Being a believer in Jesus, a wife, a mother, and a homeschooler have been the priorities of her adult life. Beginning their homeschool journey in Charleston, SC, where they currently reside, they have served on the board of directors for a local support group.

Kelly has served with SCHEA since 2013, is a member of the SC Governor's Commission and Foundation, sits on The Palmetto Alliance Conservative Foundation Board, and intermittently works on political campaigns. She has served as board member for a local Republican Women’s Club, as Vice-Chair for the Spartanburg County GOP, and as legislative liaison in several capacities. She enjoys babies and children, cooking, flower gardening, reading, and event coordination and planning.

ZAN TYLER

Zan’s homeschool journey began in 1984, at which time the State Superintendent of Education threatened her with jail. For the next eight years, she and other homeschool families battled for homeschool freedom and the establishment of landmark homeschool legislation in South Carolina. Zan has served on the SCHEA board since the 1980s. In 1990, she founded the South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools and served as its president for ten years. Her fight for homeschool freedoms has led her to serve as the National Grassroots Director for ParentalRights.org, to advocate for homeschooling in the media (appearing on NBC’s Today Show) and at the nation’s capital, and to write profusely about the benefits of homeschooling.

ANNA WRAY

Anna Wray lives in Lexington with her husband, Brandon, and their four children.  The Wray family is active in their church and community.  The Wray family knew that they wanted to homeschool before their children were school-aged and jumped in feet first to the homeschool community in 2011.  Anna found SCHEA in 2017 because she is passionate about legal issues facing the homeschool community and wanted to get involved.