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BY IVAN SANDERS
STAR STAFF
ivan.sanders@elizabethton.com

Parents who homeschool their children or want more information about the process can attend an upcoming expo.

TEACH (Tri-Cities Education Association for Christian Homeschoolers) will host the expo from 2 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 6 at the Elizabethton Parks and Recreation Center.

The expo will feature dozens of vendors, classes, resources and much more. It is being co-sponsored by the Carter County Drug Prevention organization.

“TEACH hosts a homeschool expo every year, but regulations in place prevented it from happening in the traditional way last year and a virtual expo was held,” said Jilian Reece, Carter County Drug Prevention director and TEACH board member.

“We are so excited to be back in person this year and able to gather and share resources with other homeschoolers from throughout the region. I am blessed to have a position as the director of Carter County Drug Prevention that also allows me to be a homeschool mom and serve in the TEACH organization. This partnership allows us to offer SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Club and many other opportunities to the homeschoolers in our community as well as co-hosting events like this to support parents.”

Dozens of businesses, organizations and resources will be present at the event to share information about their programs.

These include The Cardinal Kitchen, Rebecca Marr Travel, NE TN Save A Life/Sullivan County Anti-Drug Coalition, Trail Life Troop TN 6123, Miss Paula’s Music Studio, King University, First LEGO League, Heritage Alliance, Civil Air Patrol – Greeneville Composite Squadron, Johnson City Parks & Recreation, TN, A Step Ahead Tri-Cities, TCAT Elizabethton, PEAK Mentors: Youth Mentorship for Carter County and Surrounding Areas, East Tennessee Ballet Academy, Elizabethton Parks and Recreation, UT Extension – Carter County, UT Extension – Washington County, Girl Scouts of the Southern Appalachians, Birthplace of Country Music Museum, Atlas Culinary East, Elizabethton/Carter County Public Library, MC Professional Cleaning Solutions, Mental Health Association of East Tennessee, Carter County Drug Prevention Coalition, Sequoyah Council – Boy Scouts of America and many more.

In addition to visiting vendors, Reece has worked to create a full schedule of classes for homeschoolers with a variety of interests.

The full schedule is as follows:
2:30 to 3 p.m.
Classroom 1: All About The Birthplace of Country Music Museum
Classroom 2: Substance Use & Overdose Awareness (for parents and students)

3 to 4 p.m.
Classroom 1: Mental Health 101 for Families (for students and parents)
Classroom 2: 3-3:30 p.m. All About The Civil Air Patrol

4 to 5 p.m.
All About TEACH (for parents)

5 to 5:30 p.m.
Classroom 1: King University Session
Classroom 2: All About Girl Scouts Session

The TEACH program includes more than 250 families from across the region and offers athletics, an Elizabethton and a Johnson City weekly co-op, field trips, special events including graduation, spelling bee, science fair and more.

Matthew Wine, president of TEACH, will be on hand to answer questions and explain what TEACH offers.

Any local organizations or businesses who offer services to homeschoolers are welcome to participate in the event as a vendor at no cost. More information about this event can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/327516488885952 or by contacting Reece at director@cartercountydrugprevention.org.