About Us
Your state organization for
over 35 years…
we are here for you!
Our Mission
For over 35 years, CHEO has served as the state homeschool organization for Ohio and has remained committed to our mission “to preserve the God-given, constitutional right to home educate, and to support and encourage families in fulfilling this biblical responsibility”.
CHEO offers a variety of programs and events throughout the year that seek to encourage, train and equip families on their homeschool journey. Our legislative liaison, Melanie Elsey, has been on staff for over 25 years and attends monthly meetings in Columbus to stay informed of any changing legislation that could affect home educators. We are truly blessed to have her on our team and watching out for Ohio families.
CHEO also offers a year-round office staff who remains available to help with any issues you may encounter during your school year. We love serving home educating families across the state and are grateful for your continued support!
What We Do
Member Supported
CHEO is a member supported 501(c) 3 non-profit organization with the Christ-centered ministry of supporting equipping and protecting families in the home education of their children.
Year Round
We are a year-round ministry that functions to inform and educate families through various means including a co-sponsored state convention, regional “Getting Started” events, monthly newsletter, notification assistance and much more!
Experienced Legislative Liaison
We diligently work to monitor the Ohio legislative process in order to protect our freedom to home educate. Melanie Elsey, Legislative liaison for CHEO, has been on staff for over 25 years and is a well known fixture at the statehouse and works closely with HSLDA.
Supporting All Families
While our beliefs and views are distinctively Christian, we seek to serve and protect all home educators in Ohio, regardless of ethnicity, religion or creed.
Our Mission Statement
“CHEO acknowledges that the Lord Jesus Christ must be central and supreme in the rearing of our children, and that biblical education is an inseparable part of the Christian faith.
CHEO seeks to preserve the God-given, constitutional right to home educate, and to support and encourage families in fulfilling this biblical responsibility.”
Meet our Leadership Team…
Ed & Rachel Ballard
CHEO Leadership Team
Ed and Rachel have been long-time friends of CHEO…and we are thankful to have them serve on our Leadership Team.
Ed serves as the Vice Chairman for the organization.
Email: ballard@cheohome.org
John & Melanie Elsey
CHEO Leadership Team
John serves as the current Chairman for CHEO.
Melanie is the legislative liaison for CHEO and has served in this capacity for over 30 years.
Email: lzjoshua@aol.com
Chris and Casey McCracken
CHEO Leadership Team
We are thankful to have
Chris and Casey McCracken on the Leadership Team and are excited for their energy and desire to serve Ohio families.
Email: clmccracken9@gmail.com
Matthew & Jeannine Ramer
CHEO Leadership Team
We are happy to have
Matt and Jeannine Ramer
on the Leadership Team to help guide the organization as we seek to serve the Lord.
Email: mjramer@icloud.com
Dan and Jennifer Beck
Leadership Team
Dan and Jennifer have served on the Leadership Team for a number of years and we are grateful for their talents.
They are the 419 area reps.
Email: cheo@cheohome.org
Phone: 419-604-1342
Rich & Mary Ellen Sementilli
Leadership Team
Rich and Mary Ellen have served CHEO families for countless years and have a wealth of knowledge. They are the 740/220 area reps.
Email: cheo@cheohome.org
Phone: 740-698-9515