Our Founder and Director
Mrs. Victoria Rose
Born to teach, Victoria Rose taught in her first Sunday School classroom at the young age of fifteen, because she saw a need and knew what to do. From that day to this, she has been inspiring students and teaching from a Christian Worldview. She is the founder, director, and visionary of the STARS program.
Mrs. Rose began homeschooling her youngest two boys in the early 2000’s. She and her friends wanted to find academically solid classes and ended up joining together and hiring teachers. This was the beginning of STARS (Springfield Teachers and Resources) which is now a non-profit organization serving the Northern Virginia Homeschool Community.
A lifelong learner, Victoria has chosen to learn from the best of the teachers she brings in and is currently a masterful teacher of the sciences, history, and math among many other subjects. She inspires her students to love learning and rejoices with them in every lightbulb moment.
Director and Worldview Teacher
Major Bowen Rose
Major Rose graduated from the Naval Academy in 1971 and served in the Marines for twenty years, retiring in 1991. Major Rose was commissioned in the USMC Infantry. During his time in the Marines, Major Rose served as a platoon commander in the Vietnam War. He traveled the globe, served as military social aide to multiple presidents, led an award winning drill team, and learned to think critically about leadership, government, politics, and life from a Christian worldview.
Since founding STARS in 2000 with his wife Victoria, Bowen has endeavored to teach his students to look at the world from a Christian perspective, demonstrating mastery of his subjects, sharing keen insights and impactful personal stories, and delighting his students as he teaches the powerful worldview classes and Geography at STARS.
Director and Chairman of the Board for STARS, Major Rose continues to serve the homeschool community, inspiring loyalty and training up students who know how to stand on their own two feet — well-grounded in the faith as they enter college and the workforce.
Science Teacher
Mr. Larry Swindell
A public school physics teacher for many years, Larry Swindell loves science and loves sharing with his students. Besides being in the public schools, Mr. Swindell is a retired pastor and opens his class sessions with prayer. He is often overheard sharing faith stories with his students before and during class.
Delighted to find the Berean Builders Science series by Jay Wile, which he was introduced to by Mrs. Rose, Mr. Swindell is enjoying the freedom to share science from a Christian worldview with students who enjoy learning.
Music Teacher
Mr. Joshua Rose
A masterful performer and teacher, Joshua Rose graduated from Liberty University with a Bachelor of Music in Guitar Perfomance in 2018 and completed his Master of Music Education in 2019. He began studies at Peabody Conservatory in 2020.
Mr. Rose has studied under Mr. Julian Gray of Peabody Conservatory, Dr. Sean Beavers or Liberty University, and Mr. Christopher Parkening of Pepperdine University.
Mr. Rose has over six years of experience teaching both in the classroom and in private studios. He teaches classical, folk, rock, electric, and bass guitar, as well as piano. He has also taught the Kodaly method of singing in the classroom.
Joshua loves to encourage his students to delight in every opportunity to share their music with others. His students are encouraged in solo and group ensemble recitals.
Spanish Teacher
Mrs. Christine Lillo
An experienced teacher, Mrs. Christine Lillo has taught in the public schools, private schools, private tutoring, and the homeschool classroom for many years.
A Masters of Education with a specialization in Bilingual/Multicultural Studies, Mrs. Lillo is adept at handling students of all abilities and learning styles. She brings fun and games to the classroom whenever possible and enjoys helping her students love learning.
Mrs. Lillo has homeschooled both of her daughters for a collective total of 21 years and has over 40 years of teaching experience, beginning in 1984 and continuing to this day.
At STARS, Mrs. Lillo has taught Spanish, in which she is fluent, history, Analytical Grammar, IEW, and more. She looks forward to working with homeschooling students who love learning and understand the art of applying themselves to their work.
Classical Education Teacher
Mrs. Jennifer Edwards
Jennifer Edwards has been homeschooling her three children alongside her husband, John, since 2010. They are active-duty Air Force family and have homeschooled in four different states!
Mrs. Edwards has educated her children classically, and has over 13 years of experience as a teacher and tutor in the homeschool community. Jennifer desires to give her students an excellent education that enables them to fulfill their God-given purpose and glorify Him.
She enjoys being the “lead learner” in her family and is passionate about fostering a love of critical thinking, communication skills, and apologetics. She also enjoys taking online courses and is always looking to deepen her understanding of effective teaching methods.
Writing Instructor
Mr. John Jenkins
Mr. John Jenkins is a publisher, author, and conference speaker with 22 years of experience teaching homeschool students.
Renowned in the NOVA area for teaching with excellence, Mr. Jenkins’s classes include effective writing and literature for high school, college prep, critical reading and thinking skills, professional fiction writing, plus business and technical writing.
His writing credits include nine short stories for Focus on the Family, including “If One Falls” which took the Higher Goals first place award for fiction in the EPA publisher’s competition for Breakaway magazine.
John is married and a proud father of two adult sons, four lovely granddaughters, a grandson, and two great-grandchildren. John has lived and worked in NOVA all of his life. A Christian since 1970, John attends and serves at Clear River Community Church. All of John’s books are available at Inspirethehero.com and are fulfilled by Amazon.