Faculty & Staff

Cindy Marler

CHEC Director

The Director of CHEC oversees all aspects of the program. They set the schedule, seek counsel and make decisions that align the offerings each year with the Mission and Vision of the community.   
 
Born and raised in South Florida, Cindy had the privilege of attending one of the finest private schools in the state for 9 years. At that institution she developed a passion for learning that is never satiated. As an adult, she realized how much of that was due to the environment cultivated at school.  When your passion collides with your gifts and talents you have found your place. Children, education and homeschooling are her passions and organizational leadership is her gift.  

“I pray for God’s guidance over CHEC and firmly believe that He is our true leader.  I strive for CHEC to maintain a standard of excellence in all we do and that everything we do bring as much value to the students as possible on a part time basis. It is very special to be part of a group where everyone is committed and focused on what is best for their children and their families.”

Lorianne Porcelain

Artistic Director

CHEC’s view of Fine Arts is that it is fundamental to a whole education, which distinguishes us in Palm Beach County homeschool communities. Our artistic director teaches an array of subjects and classes to the students and coordinates the yearly schedule to guarantee exposure to as many skills as possible in the arts.

Lorianne graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Theatre from Union College in Kentucky and received a 2nd bachelor’s degree from PBA in Ministry. She has been a professional actress for over 30 years working in New York, abroad and all over Palm Beach County. She lives in Lantana with her husband, Daniel, and their 2 children.   

Jessica Figueroa

Director of Operations

The Director of Operations manages the school budget, assists in the admissions process and coordinates the master school schedule. Preparing students to be competitive in the college admission process starts well before high school; our Director of Operations oversees the school’s role in assisting families through this process. 

Jessica and her husband, Javier, are from Puerto Rico and met in college on the island. After graduating from University of Puerto Rico as engineers, they both left Puerto Rico and headed to California to pursue their master’s degrees in engineering at California Polytechnic State University. Jessica worked as an engineer moving around the country for different opportunities until they made their home in Lake Worth shortly after welcoming their daughter.  Jessica oversees CHEC's STEM program and ensures our students are preparing themselves for STEM careers if that is their area of interest.

Jamie McCubbin

Campus Monitor

As a former firefighter/paramedic for most of her adult life, Jamie now uses her skills at CHEC full time.  She manages the halls, provides basic first-aid and makes sure our days run safely and smoothly.  She also publishes our weekly school updates for our families, which are a highlight for everyone.

Jennifer Weiler

Junior High Science Teacher

Jennifer graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Psychology and a minor in Communications. Always desiring to work with young adults, she pursued a career in teaching, achieving her goal via the Alternative Certification route. Jennifer began with the Palm Beach County School District in 2007, and over the course of her 14 year career, she received her teaching certifications in k - 6 elementary and 5 - 9 middle grades Sci, SS, Math and ELA, with endorsements in Gifted teaching and Reading. Jennifer has worked with all 3 middle school grades, and has taught Social Studies, Intensive Reading, Language Arts, and finished her last 6 years in 7th and 8th grade Science. She left the PBCSD in June of 2021 to manage the office side of her husband's inspection business, and started homeschooling her 3 children in September of 2021. 
 
Jennifer, Sean, Caden, Adalyn, and Bryce live in Wellington, and love the community and fellowship they have found within their CHEC family! 

Lexi Hebda

Music Teacher

Chec's elementary students take a traditional music class following a curriculum. Here they learn to read music, learn music combinations, learn traditional school songs and children's music, study classical composers, musical history and musicals, learn beat, rhythms and more. Junior High students learn to play the ukulele while learning to read music.

Lexi holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with Instrumental Emphasis in French Horn from the University of Florida, and a Masters Degree in Performing Arts Management from the University of Oregon. Lexi has performed with the 2011 Disneyland All American College band, The Eugene Ballet, Kings Academy, The Maltz Theater, Palm Beach Symphony, and more. She currently plays French Horn with Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, and Punta Gorda Symphony. She was in The United States Navy Fleet Bands for four years from 2012-2015, performing 250 concerts with the Naval Forces Europe Band in the Woodwind Quintet, Brass Quintet, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, and Ceremonial Band. She has worked for several non-profits including Palm Beach Symphony, The Eugene Symphony, The Vermont Arts Festival, and Singing Creek Educational Center. Lexi has been teaching private lessons for 17 years. She currently has 50 private piano, horn, and ukulele music students and is the K-9 Music Teacher for CHEC (Community Home Education Center) in Palm Beach County.

https://lexismusicstudio.com/

Giuliana Sisk

STEM Teacher

Giuliana has had a passion for working with children since a young age! She attended the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s Degree in Special Education (Go Gators!). She is Endorsed in Reading, ESOL, Teacher Leadership, and Instructional Coaching. 

After graduating from the University of Florida, Giuliana wanted to experience “big city life” and moved to Atlanta, GA where she was a First Grade Teacher for 3 years and then a K-5 Math Interventionist for 3 years. During her time teaching in GA, she took on numerous leadership roles and learned that she also has a passion working with teachers. After moving to Palm Beach in 2021, Giuliana became an Instructional Math Coach for grades K-7. 

Giuliana lives in West Palm Beach with her husband—Zach, their baby girl—Giada, and their dog—Ty! She feels so welcomed into the CHEC Family and is enjoying every second learning more about the world of homeschooling and the positive culture it holds!

Liz Fitzgerald

Student Coordinator & Elementary Teacher

Mrs Fitz, her husband Alex and their daughter live in Delray Beach.  Originally from Oklahoma, her family vacationed in South Florida from the time she was young and she considers both South Florida and Oklahoma her home.  As Valedictorian of her high school she has always been persistent, strived for the best and loved learning. She worked at FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) and most recently taught at First United Methodist Preschool. Her desire to give her daughter the unique education only homeschooling can provide led her to CHEC and she is irreplaceable on our team.  She loves creating an environment for the CHEC students so they are able to focus and thrive.  

Kerstyn McNally

Elementary Core Enrichment Teacher

Kerstyn has been with CHEC since 2020. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Palm Beach Atlantic University with her Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Leadership. Before determining her major, she was a substitute teacher for the School District of Palm Beach County. While attending PBA she spent time in Guatelamala with a group of colleagues. Their mission was to share God’s word through songs and stories in a newly established and constantly expanding school in Escuintla. She has a passion for having a hand in developing young human minds and being a strong supporter to them in the process. She was born and raised in Palm Beach County and now lives in Lake Park. She is dedicated to her students, plants and animals and in addition hopes to have children of her own in CHEC one day. 

Patty Giacomino

Kindergarten Teacher

From a very young age Patty dreamed of being a teacher and working with children. Following that dream, she graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelors in Elementary Education. She worked as an elementary school teacher in Palm Beach County until she had children of her own.

Patty and her husband Chris have lived most of their marriage in Boynton Beach and are the parents to four children. After homeschooling the last five years, Patty is excited to expand her classroom to new friends through Chec. She also enjoys volunteering in her church’s children’s ministry. 

Jillian Homan

Junior High/High School History Teacher

As long as she can remember, Jillian has always wanted to be a teacher. Originally from Georgia, she attended Berry College which is known for being the world's largest college campus and having an innovative hands-on Teacher Education Program. 

Jillian received her B.S. in Early Childhood Education and began her teaching career in Georgia. Over the past thirteen years her teaching experience has included being a second grade teacher, a private tutor, Montessori Educator and then Administrator, and now a homeschooling mom of three. Her philosophy for teaching has always been "follow the lead of the child."

Recently she, her husband, and their three sons moved to Loxhatchee where they have fallen in love with South Florida and homeschooling. She is excited to add CHEC to her teaching and homeschooling journey.

Hilary Kozikowski

Art Teacher

Hilary was born and raised in Missouri and went to college at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA where she met her husband Aaron.   After getting married in 2008 they moved to northern Virginia where Hilary worked for George W. Bush’s administration.  Later she worked at Virginia International University as an Admissions Counselor and a Program Manager for the School of Business.  Hilary and Aaron had their daughter Taylor in 2018 and their daughter Bailey in 2020.   Soon after Bailey was born they moved to Florida to be closer to Hilary’s parents. 

Hilary first learned about CHEC from a fellow homeschool mom.  Her passion for art, homeschooling, and equipping the next generation with life skills landed her at CHEC. 

Hilary and Aaron live in Delray Beach and she enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and going to the beach.

Melissa Dragone

Little CHEC'ers Coordinator

While their older siblings are at “school” little CHEC’ers have options to stay and play with their family in our great preschool rooms. They can spend time together playing and getting fresh air and, at times, even go on adventures around the school to see their big sisters/brothers in class. 

Melissa has been volunteering and working with nursery and preschool children for over 10 years.  Her welcoming smile radiates warmth and love from your first interaction with her. Her family has been at CHEC for 4 years and she loves her role in our preschool rooms and can often be seen taking the young children on “field trips” around campus to see their siblings.