Kelly Blake (Communications and Documents) Kelly is the proud mother of four children, two girls and two boys, and has been homeschooling for 17 years. She graduated her oldest in 2017 and her second in the midst of the 2020 pandemic last May. A native-born Marylander, she attended Hampton University and the University of Maryland at College Park where she received her degree in Early Childhood Education. Kelly taught Kindergarten in the Montgomery County Public School System for four years before embarking on her full time career as mom. She enjoys intentional family time spent experiencing new adventures or movie and game nights. She also enjoys themed party planning and decorating. Teaching little ones in Children’s Ministries has been a long standing calling for Kelly, and she has served twice as the Children’s Church Director of her church. While she has been most comfortable educating younger children, homeschooling has allowed her to broaden her range and teach various ages at homeschool co-ops. This year, she is excited about the opportunity to follow God’s lead to teach American History, to assist her brother in his passion for engaging teens in personal finance, and to continue working with the fun, gifted, and God-fearing ladies on the BTM Leadership Team for a fourth year. Alongside Martin, her wonderful husband of 25 years, Kelly helps with the operations of their eye care practice in Pasadena. They are enjoying watching God’s plans unfold for their daughters in college and graduate school and welcome their input in preparing their third high school senior for life beyond homeschool at a four year university. Kelly loves living and doing community life in Bowie.
Kelli Edwards (President, Registrar, Tutor Liason) Kelli is a native of Pittsburgh, but has resided in the DMV since attending Howard University. She received a degree in Physical Therapy and has worked part time since becoming a mom. She has been married for 28 years and has 6 children ranging from 16-26. She and her husband also served 15 years in youth ministry, but now lead the marriage and family ministry at their church. Kelli has homeschooled for 21 years. Her family has been a part of the BTM community since fall 2012. Kelli has served as support to the BTM tutors for 3 years and then on the BTM Leadership Team for 4 years. She enjoys assisting families in connecting with qualified tutors and like minded families while on their homeschool journey.
Trina Ferguson (Student Liaison, TAAT, Grade-keeping/Google classroom Support) Trina has a B.S. degree in Psychology and has worked with children ages 2 – 17 since 1996 in schools, day care centers, church, homeschool co-ops, as well as through internships in Child Psychology and Early Childhood Education. She began homeschooling in 2009 and resides in Bowie with her wonderful husband, her three children, and their Yorkie. Trina loves working with children and having fun using games and hands on activities to teach about God through various subjects. She wrote and published a book, in 2016, about her homeschooling journey and how God used homeschool to change her life. Trina believes, every body has a story to tell and something to share. She is looking forward to combining this belief with her love of teaching to usher young people into a world of their own creation through education.
Megan Heath (Treasurer, Legal, Social Media) Megan Heath began homeschooling in 2012. She has five children who will all attend BTM for one year before her oldest graduates in 2023. Megan moved to Maryland in 1999 to attend graduate school at University of Maryland, College Park. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular and Cell Biology from UMD. Megan is currently the Women's Ministry Director at Bay Area Community Church after working for 12 years in healthcare recruiting and working at NIH in Bethesda. Megan is grateful for the extra time with her children homeschooling has provided. She enjoys serving the BTM community as it has been a great blessing to her family.
Lynn Jerdal (Secretary, Website and Tech, Assistant Registrar) For the past decade, Lynn’s primary focus has been homeschooling and educating her five children, one daughter and four sons ages, 9-19. Prior to that, her professions included paralegal work, working for the Jesus Film, dance instruction and gaining editorial and writing experience working with various magazines, print media and blogs. Occasionally, she contributes to local publications. She received a B.A. in English from Westmont College, a small Christian college in Santa Barbara, California, where she met her husband, Andy, and acquired her profound passion for literature, especially Irish and Russian literature, minority voices and, her guilty pleasure, crime novels. Lynn has lived in the Annapolis area for over thirty years, but grew up in Boise, Idaho, and holds fast to her deep love for the mountains and the outdoors. Through it all, Jesus has been apex of her life.
Jualecia Malone (New Leadership Team Member!) Jualecia is a native of Savannah, Georgia who attended DODDS (Department of Defense Dependent Schools) in Germany for 1st through 12th grades. She is a graduate of Howard University’s Physician Assistant (PA) program and former adjunct faculty member of Howard’s PA program. She and her husband have been married for 22 years and have homeschooled their four children for the past 14 years. Jualecia has served in youth ministry at her church for over 18 years and is passionate about developing a love for Christ in teens.
Christina Rafter (New Leadership Team Member!) Christina Rafter loves to learn, and that is something she hopes to pass on to every student. Christina was home educated and is currently homeschooling her four inquisitive children. She developed an enthusiasm for tutoring in college and went on to work two years in Anne Arundel County public schools in special education, mathematics and the sciences. After her oldest daughter was born she left the school system to raise her children and later began working again as a private math tutor. In 2014 Christina was introduced to Bridge Tutorial Ministries and was excited for the opportunity to teach some of her favorite sciences in the classroom again, while still being able to pursue her passion for home education. Christina lives on Kent Island and when she’s not dreaming up new ways to teach cellular respiration or cracking bad math and science puns she enjoys reading books with maps, cooking without recipes, and long walks with her family--the more scenic the better.
Shara Steele (Facilities, Designated Parent Oversight, Supplies) Bio coming soon!