April Thome earned a B.A. in history education from the University of Washington and completed her fifth year at Central Washington University. Additionally, she completed training as an educational therapist through the National Institute for Leaning Disabilities located in Norfolk, Virginia, and special training in study skills through the National Institute for Secondary Principals in Boston, Massachusetts. April taught 5th grade for 5 years in the Selah public schools and worked for 11 years at West Side Christian School; serving 6 years in the classroom and 5 years as elementary principal. In 1997 she founded the private program called “HomeLink Yakima” that offers once-a-week classes for home-schooled students of all ages.

Shannan Golladay graduated from Azusa Pacific Univ. with a degree in Life Science. She served as a Young Life volunteer for eight years and worked as the Young Life middle school coordinator in the Yakima Valley for six years. Shannan has been with HomeLink since the beginning and has taught middle school and high school science classes for over 20 years.

Silvia attended Texas Tech University and was a home schooling mom for seventeen years. She was very active in her local home school support group and began working with HomeLink in the 2006. She’s the voice on the phone and the first face you see at the front desk. Email: sjohnson@narhs.org

Pia Morris is the name behind the friendly face you have seen working at the HomeLink office for a couple of years. Pia grew up in the South and graduated from the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. She homeschooled and graduated her three children.

Tracy Christianson is originally from western Washington. She graduated from Central Washington University with a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a minor in special education. Later she received her Master’s degree in education from Grand Canyon University. Tracy and her husband of 30 years have homeschooled their five children, 3 of whom have graduated.

Rachel Hawkins, a nurse by education, has developed a love for theater and storytelling through her work at Shiloh Bible Camp and Tieton Drive Bible Chapel. There, she and her husband co-wrote and directed drama with teens to teach Bible lessons, the story of Pilgrim’s Progress, missionary/martyr stories, and puppet plays. Rachel Hawkins began with HomeLink in January 2023 directing the middle school theater in several epic tales: Around the World in 80 Days, Prince or Peace, and Long, Long Journey: the Adventures of Marco Polo. She looks forward to working with the Theater Arts class.

Alyssa studied Spanish Education and has taught both public and private classes for the past seven years. She and her husband, Bryce, are both born and raised in the Yakima valley where they now raise their three young children. Alyssa enjoys reading, spending time outdoors, and gardening.

Katie attended George Fox University earning a BA in Music-Pre-teaching and MA in Teaching. Prior to moving to Yakima she taught K-12 music in Oregon. Katie has been teaching music, theater, math, science, and now, history, with HomeLink and Montessori School of Yakima for more than 10 years, and also homeschools her own children.

Born in the Bay area and later moved with his family to Washington in 1983. Tom played sports for Selah High School before going into the Air Force, where he was a military working dog handler. Having a working dog allowed him to assist the Secret Service during a Presidential visit. He has secured areas for dignitaries and World Leaders. His love of history has brought him to HomeLink as an advisor.

Joy Nelson grew up in Yakima Washington, but soon left to live in other states, getting her teaching degree while in Texas. She taught Special education there and homeschooled her kids for 6 years. in 2018 she moved to Bujumbura, Burundi to develop a Special education program at Discovery School, a Christian English Speaking school. She then moved into the role of counselor and Bible Teacher there. She now is back in Yakima and teaches American History and Literature, Algebra 1 and Geometry at HomeLink. She enjoys helping to teach a Good News Club in Union Gap, spending time with family and friends, as well as seeing God’s beautiful nature here in the Northwest!

Ms. Sandlin earned a bachelor of arts in education in 2014. She has a master of arts degree in literature and language and in 2025 gained a master’s degree in theology. Ms. Sandlin has eight years of teaching experience, teaching in the U.S. and abroad. Outside of working with students in the classroom she enjoys exercise, language learning, research, and is learning to play guitar.