Volunteer IRHSA Board Members

Contact any board member by emailing: irhsa.families@gmail.com

Melanie Lockhart, President

Jacquelyn Ballough, Treasurer 

Lindsey Moore

Carrie Thomas

Jess Harlan

Volunteer IRHSA Coordinators:

IRHSA Homeschool Parental Rights Coordinator: Patti Sullivan

Patti Sullivan has worked for thirty-five years in organizational management and leadership development.

She served a four-year term (2012-2016), as president of IRHSA. During that time IRHSA grew from 70+ families to 220+ families within the first two years. She credits the growth to developing and implementing new parent-led initiatives, activities, co-ops, and a mentoring program that assisted new homeschooling parents and their families.

Since 2012, Patti has also served as State Coordinator for Parental Rights Florida, working with Florida legislators to pass good parental rights laws for Florida families. She presented simple parental rights language to Representative Erin Grall in 2018. Representative Grall became the author and principal sponsor for the Parents' Bill of Rights. Patti mobilized a grassroots movement of Florida parents to support the Parents' Bill of Rights and engage in the legislative process. It took three years, but the Parents' Bill of Rights passed and was signed into law by Governor DeSantis in 2021. She credits the combined effort of a genuine parental rights grassroots movement and Florida legislators working together to pass the Parents' Bill of Rights. The bill emerged as law just as a nationwide parental rights movement began to take shape. The parental rights movement and legislation continue to make progress across the nation.

Patti has been married to Jim for almost thirty-four years. She had a beautiful miracle daughter at the seventeen-year mark of their marriage. Even though Patti attended public schools and college, she always knew that homeschooling was the path for her daughter. The impact of how the gift of time has given a more profound connection as a family is evident amid a high quality and valuable education. Time with our children is priceless. Time provides opportunities to influence our children. Having that time, influence, and heart-to-heart connection within their family life has made all the difference.

IRHSA School District Assistance Coordinator: Jacqueline Rosario

Jackie Rosario began her teaching career in 1992 as a Teacher of English as a Second Language. Several years later she became an Assistant Principal at an Alternative High School in Brooklyn, New York. Fourteen years ago, she relocated to Vero Beach where she continued in this same career path.

Jackie has a bachelor’s degree in Social Science / English as a Second Language, a Master’s in Special Education with a concentration in Deaf Education, a Master’s in School Supervision and Administration and a Master’s in Divinity. With almost three decades of educational experience as both a teacher, school administrator, and now an elected School Board Member for Indian River County schools, Jackie has always loved her work in all things “education.”

She is a fierce champion for parental rights and school choice. And like you, she chose homeschooling as her option to educate her son, Nicholas who is now 13 going on 31. For the past 8 years, homeschooling has been incredibly successful. Over the years, Jackie has participated and lead multiple coops, activities, and field trips within our homeschool community. Homeschooling is the best decision for her son and your family.

IRHSA Homeschool Dual Enrollment Coordinator: Jennifer Dowell

Jen Dowell grew up in Northern Virginia and moved to Florida in 2012. She and her husband, Jesse, met on a church mission trip and have been married 26 years. They have homeschooled for 20 years.

They have three children: Aiden (24) works as a software engineer at a tech company in Florida. He holds a BS in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Florida. He got his start as a homeschool student who participated in INTEL Science Fair and various science competitions, dual enrolled at IRSC, and volunteered at the Smithsonian Marine Station (GIS mapping Bahama conch data).

Rachel (21) is employed as a research and development software engineer in Colorado Springs. She also graduated from the University of Florida with a BS in Computer Science and Engineering after homeschooling and dual enrollment. In highschool, Rachel traveled to Japan with 4H as an exchange student, competed at INTEL Science Fair, volunteered at the Florida Oceanographic Center, and dual enrolled at IRSC (where she developed her passion for math).

Erin (16) has been homeschooled in the Classical Method since Kindergarten and is currently dual enrolled at IRSC. She enjoys art, foreign language, and ancient history. She tentatively plans to finish a BA at IRSC and transfer to a MA or PhD program to study Fine Arts or Business.

Jen is a freelance writer and artist. She has directed plays for homeschool groups, taught local homeschool classes, and served on the board of non-profit organizations. Currently, she is working on a combination BA/MA degree at UF Online in Media Production, Management & Technology/Digital Strategy. Jen is excited to provide support and encouragement to IRHSA families in their high school dual enrollment adventures!

Volunteer Event Coordinators:

IRHSA 2023-2024 Team Coordinator for the IRHSA-sponsored Senior Graduation/Events: Jenna Featherstone

IRHSA 2023-2024 IRHSA-sponsored Kindergarten Graduation Coordinator:

• If you need to contact an event coordinator about participating, please send an email to IRHSA.families@gmail.com

Volunteer IRHSA Mentors: Visit our Mentorship page.