Executive Board of Directors
RUTH SHOVAN
DIRECTOR
HEATHER SMOES
VICE DIRECTOR
I never saw myself being a homeschooling mom. But when it came time to sign our oldest up for kindergarten, nothing about it felt right. Since that time, homeschooling is where we settled in and put our roots. Some of our children’s best homeschool memories are with our Agape family. They agree that it is/was the best part of being homeschooled. It’s where they’ve made their best friends, left on Fridays after class for sleepovers, and learned amazing new skills from other talented moms. I personally look forward to mom-nights-out, and love the women in our group and on our leadership teams, as they have become some of my close personal friends.
JEROD SHOVAN
TREASURER
I’m Jerod. I’ve been the Treasurer for Agape for many years now. I’m married to Ruth and I have 5 kids. I support our homeschooling journey and take on the role of “math teacher”. Because of my business degree, I’ve decided to serve in this capacity. I like playing hockey and biking and I love spending time with my family.
SANDY WILLIAMS
SECRETARY
Hi! I’m Sandy. I live in Freeport on a small hobby farm, along with my husband of 22 years and our 14-year-old daughter. We’re so very thankful for our Agape family! Prior to getting involved here, my daughter and I were both finding it hard to make meaningful friendships. Agape encourages both education and quality time together, which is a treasure! We’ve really felt love and encouragement here, and I want others to feel the same. This program is very much team oriented and everyone is needed and appreciated. I’m privileged to serve on the Executive Board to play a role in making sure our program continues being exceptional and maintains its firm foundation on God’s Word, so that we can keep meeting together, learning, and encouraging one another in Christ.
REBECKA VANKUIKEN
ALTO CAMPUS DIRECTOR
Hello! It’s hard to wrap up all this crazy in a quick bio, but I’ll try. I’ve been married to my husband for 20 years now (what!) and we are raising two boys who couldn’t be more different from each other. They are the absolute joy of our lives. The idea of homeschooling them was a literal drop in my lap from God. He kept sending very loud hints, and two weeks before my eldest was to join Kinder, I made the choice to keep him home. I’ve never looked back, and now he will be a 7th grader this Fall. My youngest going into 3rd.
I have a family of movers, and we thrive on the outdoors, enjoying sporadic trips like camping, biking and swimming. I am a large advocate for exercise of the body but can also really hammer a Saturday on the couch with some movies.
Keeping Christ at the center of our family is our top priority, and we are blessed that both boys came to the decision on their own to accept Him into their hearts.
Agape is a treasure to me, and I typically get labeled the “mama bear”, as I am fiercely protective of it. I encourage an environment of love, sisterhood in Christ, and support. As the director, loving one another as Christ would is top priority. The beauty of it all, is that some of my closest friends I have found, are from Agape. I have been with Agape for over 7 years, and love seeing it grow and help guide others on their homeschool journey. I hope that I too can bless you the way I have been blessed with this group!
MANDY HOPKINS
CALEDONIA CAMPUS DIRECTOR
Hello, I’m Mandy! I am a homeschooling mom of 3. Our homeschooling journey began in 2020 (during COVID), when we pulled our kids from the public school they had been attending. We decided to homeschool for many reasons surrounding what was going on in the world at the time. I had no idea when God called me on this journey of homeschooling that I would love it as much as I do! God told me he doesn’t call the qualified, he qualifies the called. I hold that so close to my heart & find it so true! We found Agape & joined in 2021. We love everything Agape stands for & the community that we now have through Agape!! I want to do whatever I can to give more families the same opportunity to experience the love/community/support that our family has experienced through Agape. I was 1 of the 3 ladies who helped to open our Caledonia Campus in Fall 2022. We had a great first year & I can’t wait to see what the Lord does in the future at our Caledonia Campus & Agape as a whole!
A few (non- homeschooling) things about me & my family. I have been happily married to my husband & best friend, Nick, for 13 years. We have 2 daughters & a son. As a family, we love to go camping, play games, spend time outside (geocaching, riding bikes, swimming in the pool, etc.) & one of our favorite places to visit is Cedar Point!
HEATHER SMOES
LAKE ODESSA CAMPUS DIRECTOR
I never saw myself being a homeschooling mom. But when it came time to sign our oldest up for kindergarten, nothing about it felt right. Since that time, homeschooling is where we settled in and put our roots. Some of our children’s best homeschool memories are with our Agape family. They agree that it is/was the best part of being homeschooled. It’s where they’ve made their best friends, left on Fridays after class for sleepovers, and learned amazing new skills from other talented moms. I personally look forward to mom-nights-out, and love the women in our group and on our leadership teams, as they have become some of my close personal friends.
